BURKEPHOTOS
Technical User
I'm a professional photographer looking for suggestions to configure a new Photoshop Workstation. I currently have a Dell Precision 650.
Thanks,
BURKEPHOTOS
Thanks,
BURKEPHOTOS
Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!
Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!
-
Congratulations TouchToneTommy on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
PHOTOSHOP COMPUTER RECCOMENDATIONS 4
- Thread starter BURKEPHOTOS
- Start date
- Status
You'll wants lots of RAM 4GB specially if you want to install VISTA (totally not recommend it). Large Hard drive fast processor, good graphics card.
I'd sya get an iMac, but I'd probably get lynched here. So Perhaps an Alienware Area 51 ALX.
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
I'd sya get an iMac, but I'd probably get lynched here. So Perhaps an Alienware Area 51 ALX.
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
For starters, I believe the newer versions of Photoshop are multi-core friendly, so a quad core like a Q9350 would be a good place to start. I always like to start with a CPU, and base everything around that. Next comes the chipset and motherboard. I like the Intel P45.
For graphics, you're in luck, the competition between nVidia and ATI/AMD has led to some good cheap mainstream cards. The ATI 3000 & 4000 series are all excellent.
Finish it off with a good PSU & case...wait a minute...you've not specified budget. That's important in the final selection of parts.
Tony
Users helping Users...
For graphics, you're in luck, the competition between nVidia and ATI/AMD has led to some good cheap mainstream cards. The ATI 3000 & 4000 series are all excellent.
Finish it off with a good PSU & case...wait a minute...you've not specified budget. That's important in the final selection of parts.
Tony
Users helping Users...
-
1
- #4
BURKEPHOTOS, as you can see by vacunita's responce...this question is just too wide open and you are either going to get generalisations eg; lots of ram/big hard drive/latest motherboard/good power supply OR get pointed in completely the wrong direction (naughty naughty vacunita) with a top gaming PC which is NOT what you are looking for.
Really you need to come back to us with a budget and storage requirements.
But here are a few ideas:
A quality full or midi case from Lian Li,Coolermaster, Thermaltake, Antec or similar with good cooling.
An Intel motherboard with one of the later chipsets (X48, P45 etc)
Perhaps a redundant Raid aray made up of 2 or 4 X 1 TB Western Digital RE3's and seperate plug in storage for extra security.
An intel Quad Core 9000 series
A good 600watt plus power suply from Antec/Enermax/Tagan/Corsair/Seasonic/FSP/Zalman etc
A couple of DVDRW writers, take your pick
You really don't need to be spending several hundreds of dollars on graphics power for Photoshop. You could go dedicated workstation graphics at a cost but to be honest a mid range 512mb ATI 4850 or Nvidia 9600GT will do just fine.
And perhaps a good aftermarker CPU cooler to keeps things quiet and cool.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
Really you need to come back to us with a budget and storage requirements.
But here are a few ideas:
A quality full or midi case from Lian Li,Coolermaster, Thermaltake, Antec or similar with good cooling.
An Intel motherboard with one of the later chipsets (X48, P45 etc)
Perhaps a redundant Raid aray made up of 2 or 4 X 1 TB Western Digital RE3's and seperate plug in storage for extra security.
An intel Quad Core 9000 series
A good 600watt plus power suply from Antec/Enermax/Tagan/Corsair/Seasonic/FSP/Zalman etc
A couple of DVDRW writers, take your pick
You really don't need to be spending several hundreds of dollars on graphics power for Photoshop. You could go dedicated workstation graphics at a cost but to be honest a mid range 512mb ATI 4850 or Nvidia 9600GT will do just fine.
And perhaps a good aftermarker CPU cooler to keeps things quiet and cool.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
- Thread starter
- #5
BURKEPHOTOS
Technical User
Thanks for the responses. I'm not really looking to build my own machine. I would say $5K would not be out of the question (I shoot with $10K cameras). Macs are out, my software is PC.
From what I've read Photoshop will use dual processors. Not sure about dual core, quad core, etc. Photoshop also works best with at least two drives. Now my 80GB drive for apps is far from full, but I filled my 160GB current 2nd drive, a 1TB drive for image storage would be nice. I've also read that high end video cards are wasted on a 2D app like Photoshop. Many other photogs use the high end Dell Precision Workstations and reccomend them, but there are many options. I'm looking at the Ezio CG222 monitor.
Thanks again,
Burke
From what I've read Photoshop will use dual processors. Not sure about dual core, quad core, etc. Photoshop also works best with at least two drives. Now my 80GB drive for apps is far from full, but I filled my 160GB current 2nd drive, a 1TB drive for image storage would be nice. I've also read that high end video cards are wasted on a 2D app like Photoshop. Many other photogs use the high end Dell Precision Workstations and reccomend them, but there are many options. I'm looking at the Ezio CG222 monitor.
Thanks again,
Burke
Well you won't need anything like 5K for a very capable photoshop machine.
Photoshop can take advantage of quad core so definately quad 9000 series.
Quality well ventilated case as described
Quality power supply as described
Middle range graphics card as described.
Intel chipset motherboard P45 or X48 from Intel themselves
(stable and well sorted bios)
Big aftermarket cooler so things are cool and quiet as described
Photoshop works best with second scratch disc (as in second partion or physical drive so) my recommendation would be two 500 gig Western Digital RE3's in a performance raid configuration with a large 1TB Western Digital Black Edition for back up and storage plus safety.(so all your images are kept in two places.
Screen of your choice
May be a graphics tablet?
good quality imput devices
less than 4K
Sorted
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
Photoshop can take advantage of quad core so definately quad 9000 series.
Quality well ventilated case as described
Quality power supply as described
Middle range graphics card as described.
Intel chipset motherboard P45 or X48 from Intel themselves
(stable and well sorted bios)
Big aftermarket cooler so things are cool and quiet as described
Photoshop works best with second scratch disc (as in second partion or physical drive so) my recommendation would be two 500 gig Western Digital RE3's in a performance raid configuration with a large 1TB Western Digital Black Edition for back up and storage plus safety.(so all your images are kept in two places.
Screen of your choice
May be a graphics tablet?
good quality imput devices
less than 4K
Sorted
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
Since you don't want to build a machine, I would recommend contacting a custom PC-builder like . They are up on the latest hardware, can make recommendations for your specific uses and budget, and their warranty experience is nowhere near a huge OEM like Dell.
With Maingear, the person that built your PC is responsible for support...for LIFE. In case of his absence, another tech will help, but this is US-BASED support. There are many other boutique vendors, get a magazine like Maximum PC or CPU and start calling. I wouldn't worry that these places most often build gaming machines, they will realize your needs and custom-fit a PC for you.
Post back here with their gear list and we'll tell you if it's right. Most of us would not DREAM of buying a pre-built machine, but boxes like these are the next-best thing. I would not spend $5K on a Dell.
Tony
Users helping Users...
With Maingear, the person that built your PC is responsible for support...for LIFE. In case of his absence, another tech will help, but this is US-BASED support. There are many other boutique vendors, get a magazine like Maximum PC or CPU and start calling. I wouldn't worry that these places most often build gaming machines, they will realize your needs and custom-fit a PC for you.
Post back here with their gear list and we'll tell you if it's right. Most of us would not DREAM of buying a pre-built machine, but boxes like these are the next-best thing. I would not spend $5K on a Dell.
Tony
Users helping Users...
Burke,
You've gotten excellent advice so far. I would just emphasize that the suggestion you were given about Photoshop and "two drives" was likely referring to a RAID configuration. Typically a RAID 0 config will consist of two identical drives striped together for faster read/write performance. Martin touched on this above.
Also, you are exactly right that the video card will have practically no impact on Photoshop. If this PC will not be used for anything else, then any mid-level video configuration will do. The exceptions to that rule are high-end $5k workstation cards that are used to display extremely high-resolution images like they have in medical imaging workstations at hospitals.
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.
You've gotten excellent advice so far. I would just emphasize that the suggestion you were given about Photoshop and "two drives" was likely referring to a RAID configuration. Typically a RAID 0 config will consist of two identical drives striped together for faster read/write performance. Martin touched on this above.
Also, you are exactly right that the video card will have practically no impact on Photoshop. If this PC will not be used for anything else, then any mid-level video configuration will do. The exceptions to that rule are high-end $5k workstation cards that are used to display extremely high-resolution images like they have in medical imaging workstations at hospitals.
~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.
-
2
- #9
Really, if you like Dell, I don't see why it's a problem. Using RAID would be good, and available with almost any modern PC if you are going to go with 2,3, or possibly even 4 drives.
It is loaded, just missing a RAID config - which I'm sure they'd add if you call. It has maxed out warranties and all, all for under $2400, including a 24 inch LCD.
Here were the specs:
--------------------------------------
CPU was a Q9400 or something like that, I forget (I lost the list just when I was typing this thread - oops!)
8GB Ram, so I'm assuming Vista 64bit
1TB Hard Drive
Blue Ray multi-drive and a DVD burner, I believe it was.
24 inch LCD
ATI 3800 series card, I forget which.
It was a "Studio Mini" setup.
Biggest warranties you could get - 4 year on site for the normal part, and 4 year on the accidenta/stolen part.
--------------------------------------
If you got something like that, and just had them add 2 or 3 hard drives, you're still looking at under $4,000 I'm sure.
The thing is, with Dell having the resources it has, you'll know the company will be around if something does go wrong.
------------
Of course, I'd agree that I'd just prefer to build my own PC ESPECIALLY with a budget of $5k! I could just IMAGINE what all I could stick in that thing!
If you change your mind about building your own, I'm sure you'd get MORE than enough help in this forum on what to choose, what not to choose for components and why.
------------
Basically, as long as you get a system that has at least even just $1,000 to $1,500 worth of components, you're going to do well enough for Photoshop. The modern components can outwork our ability to keep up with them on most items. Now, video editing, that can be another animal. But still, even at under $1,000 (minus the monitor, if a really good one), you can very well get a capable PC, whether custom built, Dell, HP, or whatever.
-------------
One last thing: The site mentioned to you, looks cool, but what they actually recommend for Photoshop usage and related was a system based around an AMD Phenom CPU. I would imagine (and so far it's been the case) that most if not all people here will HIGHLY recommend the Intel Core architecture (especially the Quad core Q- series) for the CPU. That site might also build with those, but it's just something to keep in mind. The new AMD CPUs are supposedly good as well, but if you check any non-biased source, you'll find that AMD has quite a ways to go in catching back up to Intel currently for Desktop/Laptop CPUs.
--
"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me
It is loaded, just missing a RAID config - which I'm sure they'd add if you call. It has maxed out warranties and all, all for under $2400, including a 24 inch LCD.
Here were the specs:
--------------------------------------
CPU was a Q9400 or something like that, I forget (I lost the list just when I was typing this thread - oops!)
8GB Ram, so I'm assuming Vista 64bit
1TB Hard Drive
Blue Ray multi-drive and a DVD burner, I believe it was.
24 inch LCD
ATI 3800 series card, I forget which.
It was a "Studio Mini" setup.
Biggest warranties you could get - 4 year on site for the normal part, and 4 year on the accidenta/stolen part.
--------------------------------------
If you got something like that, and just had them add 2 or 3 hard drives, you're still looking at under $4,000 I'm sure.
The thing is, with Dell having the resources it has, you'll know the company will be around if something does go wrong.
------------
Of course, I'd agree that I'd just prefer to build my own PC ESPECIALLY with a budget of $5k! I could just IMAGINE what all I could stick in that thing!
If you change your mind about building your own, I'm sure you'd get MORE than enough help in this forum on what to choose, what not to choose for components and why.
------------
Basically, as long as you get a system that has at least even just $1,000 to $1,500 worth of components, you're going to do well enough for Photoshop. The modern components can outwork our ability to keep up with them on most items. Now, video editing, that can be another animal. But still, even at under $1,000 (minus the monitor, if a really good one), you can very well get a capable PC, whether custom built, Dell, HP, or whatever.
-------------
One last thing: The site mentioned to you, looks cool, but what they actually recommend for Photoshop usage and related was a system based around an AMD Phenom CPU. I would imagine (and so far it's been the case) that most if not all people here will HIGHLY recommend the Intel Core architecture (especially the Quad core Q- series) for the CPU. That site might also build with those, but it's just something to keep in mind. The new AMD CPUs are supposedly good as well, but if you check any non-biased source, you'll find that AMD has quite a ways to go in catching back up to Intel currently for Desktop/Laptop CPUs.
--
"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me
O.k first an apology. went kind of haywaire with the Alienware sorry about that.
Anyway you've gotten excellent recommendations, and as was said 5K really is way higher that is realistically expected. a good Photoshop machine should run you in the neighborhood of 1.5 to $2K. And that's being overwhelmingly generous.
Probably a custom build as was pointed out, would be the best option, but if you want to go pre-built and from a known Manufacturer, you'll have to take a look at their higher end PC's. Gateway has a media version with 1.5TB of space. Maybe a little much but since its media based it has a decent video card, and decent processor speed to accommodate Photoshop.
As for the software being PC, well Mac's can now run Windows, and as such can run anything PC based, additionally: Photoshop does come in a Mac variety as well.
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
Anyway you've gotten excellent recommendations, and as was said 5K really is way higher that is realistically expected. a good Photoshop machine should run you in the neighborhood of 1.5 to $2K. And that's being overwhelmingly generous.
Probably a custom build as was pointed out, would be the best option, but if you want to go pre-built and from a known Manufacturer, you'll have to take a look at their higher end PC's. Gateway has a media version with 1.5TB of space. Maybe a little much but since its media based it has a decent video card, and decent processor speed to accommodate Photoshop.
As for the software being PC, well Mac's can now run Windows, and as such can run anything PC based, additionally: Photoshop does come in a Mac variety as well.
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
Cdogg, good morning to you...
I was just looking at what you posted and wanted to fill in some gaps as to my comment about a scratch disc.
I was a professional photographer myself (for 13 years in a past life lol) and so in the couse of my job 'and being a bit techy' I have setup and configured quite a few versions of Photoshop on various machines.
I know that on some versions you actually see a prompt after intalling recommending that for optimum performance that a second scratch disk be selected (I presume for swap filing or rendoring etc) I have always considered this to be either a different partition but better still a seperate drive to the one the program is installed on.
Hence my recommendation for a fast raid setup with a seperate additional fast storage drive.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
I was just looking at what you posted and wanted to fill in some gaps as to my comment about a scratch disc.
I was a professional photographer myself (for 13 years in a past life lol) and so in the couse of my job 'and being a bit techy' I have setup and configured quite a few versions of Photoshop on various machines.
I know that on some versions you actually see a prompt after intalling recommending that for optimum performance that a second scratch disk be selected (I presume for swap filing or rendoring etc) I have always considered this to be either a different partition but better still a seperate drive to the one the program is installed on.
Hence my recommendation for a fast raid setup with a seperate additional fast storage drive.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
I suppose after my last post I should have gone on to say that generally you are not going to get this sort of specialised setup from a 'ready made' name branded vendor.
You will however be able to specify this or any other setup from a custom builder.
If you had been in the UK I would recommended Breathe PC in Nottingham as a reliable and conscientious builder able to supply such a machine. But I'm sure given these guidelines you will have someone local to you that can do the job.
Get them to spec it up and post back with the list for comment.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
You will however be able to specify this or any other setup from a custom builder.
If you had been in the UK I would recommended Breathe PC in Nottingham as a reliable and conscientious builder able to supply such a machine. But I'm sure given these guidelines you will have someone local to you that can do the job.
Get them to spec it up and post back with the list for comment.
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
Very minor but may be over looked. Get your self a little 12 - 15 inch screen, that can ideally pivot and run in portrait mode. This is a great way of shoving all the tools and menus off the main screen, leaving this free to run in full screen mode, making editing, much easier.
Most people spend their time on the "urgent" rather than on the "important."
Most people spend their time on the "urgent" rather than on the "important."
- Thread starter
- #14
BURKEPHOTOS
Technical User
Thanks everyone for the great advice. When I first posted my main imaging machine was down and I was desperate for a replacement. Now, I've found that machine is working, although verrrry slow and I've eliminated my order backlog. Since many have suggested building my own machine, can anyone offer where I might find info to do this and sources for equipment?
Thank you,
Burke
Thank you,
Burke
Didn't think about it, but I wonder if you did get a 12 to 15 inch screen just for menus and such, if you could use touch-screen capabilities (since those are out/coming out now) on that screen? That's be purty nifty, I'd think...![[ponder]](/data/assets/smilies/ponder.gif "[ponder] [ponder]")
Well, whatever, I'm sure you'll come out fine.![[smile]](/data/assets/smilies/smile.gif "[smile] [smile]")
--
"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me
Well, whatever, I'm sure you'll come out fine.
--
"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me
Didn't think about it, but I wonder if you did get a 12 to 15 inch screen just for menus and such, if you could use touch-screen capabilities (since those are out/coming out now) on that screen? That's be purty nifty, I'd think...
Well, whatever, I'm sure you'll come out fine.
As for where to find info to build your own machine... it's MUCH easier than you might think nowadays, particularly if you aren't looking to overclock the machine..
--
"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me
Well, whatever, I'm sure you'll come out fine.
As for where to find info to build your own machine... it's MUCH easier than you might think nowadays, particularly if you aren't looking to overclock the machine..
--
"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me
BURKEPHOTOS if you were this side of the pond then there are certainly a few sources for parts but as you live
in____________? please fill in the gap...![[2thumbsup]](/data/assets/smilies/2thumbsup.gif "[2thumbsup] [2thumbsup]")
Where are you?
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
in____________? please fill in the gap...
Where are you?
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
- Thread starter
- #18
BURKEPHOTOS
Technical User
Martin,
I'm in Michigan, USA.
Thanks,
Burke
I'm in Michigan, USA.
Thanks,
Burke
Now you got me....but I know there will be someone along soon with parts supply recommendations very soon...
Put together quickly
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
Put together quickly
Martin
On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep
I'm a bit tied up at the moment, but I'll put together a list for you later. My hometown shop, will assemble your selection of parts,load the OS and bench-test the PC for a few $$$.
They have excellent prices and personal service. They're Texans, so you know they're nice folks!
Although I'm a hard-core builder, if you've never built a PC before I'd recommend starting with a personal machine, not one that your livelihood is dependent upon. Not for your first build anyways. It's very easy, but not much fun if your build's not working and there's work to do.
Tony
Users helping Users...
They have excellent prices and personal service. They're Texans, so you know they're nice folks!
Although I'm a hard-core builder, if you've never built a PC before I'd recommend starting with a personal machine, not one that your livelihood is dependent upon. Not for your first build anyways. It's very easy, but not much fun if your build's not working and there's work to do.
Tony
Users helping Users...
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Question