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Community Newsletter: Q&A: New PC recommendations needed for graphic-intensive programs
- 4/18/08 11:26 AM
iMac - No thanx
by IanMatthew - 4/22/08 4:08 AM In reply to: graphics programs by Kenneth.cnetAn Imac is a consumer Mac. Not a bad machine at all. However, the iMac is a laptop on a stand. Limited expandability, the memory being the only upgradable item. Good job the hard drive is reletively roomy.
As for graphics work, you'd best stick with the 24" iMac then, not so much the bigger screen size. More the fact the the 20" iMac has a poor screen displaying just 262,144 colours compared to its 24" brother's 16.7 million. Guess which is best for publishing and graphics folks?
See below:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/01/apple_imac_class_action/
I would NEVER buy an all in one Mac OR PC for that matter. Why? Well, what if your hard drive in your iMac went pop? You'd have to take it to you're local neighbourhood Apple dealer, have tham ship it off to Apple. And you're without a computer for 1 week - 2 weeks??? Hope you make regular exernal backups!!
If that happened to my PC, I can order a new Maxtor, Seagate, WD, Samsung or Hitatchi disk online and install it myself the next day. If I can't wait less than 24hrs, I know of 3 PC hardware vendors within walking distance and a couple within driving/bus distance.
Or how about the screen/monitor? Any defects, and back to Apple the whole lot goes. Do Apple promise to give you back the same iMac or is is a straigh replacement? Either way, you're probably losing all you programs and more importantly, your files. This happened to me fairly recently. Even though i build my PC, my monitor is a 20" HP model (very nice it is too). It stated to develop a white spot on thebottom let-hand corner of the screen. I contacted HP and a couple of days later I got a replacemant monitor. Nor interuption to my PC, programs or files. The same advantage is afforded to the Macpro tower systems too.
psst
by puma - 4/24/08 6:02 PM In reply to: iMac - No thanx by IanMatthewpc users should stay with win2k or xp as vista is a nightmare. even the trolls believe that but will not admit it publicly. and i'm just referring to general computing. for graphics, Mac is still 2nd to none... read this current eWeek interesting article: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Careers/Is-It-Time-for-IT-to-Learn-a-Mac/?kc=EWKNLNAV042408STR4
Save your mony -- get what you need
by Ahmed sultan - 4/12/08 12:21 AM In reply to: wide screen monitor by mdaygerJoan,
Well, first, you are suffering from a common mis-conception about graphics programs: In general, the programs you list are not "graphics intensive", and you could do quite well with a low-end video solution. Programs become "graphics intensive" when the video card has to CREATE 3-D content. This does not happen when processing photographs, video (DVDs, video editing, video capture from, say camcorders ... with one exception, that being very fancy scene-to-scene transitions) or creating web pages. It does happen when playing games, using CAD software or doing video editing involving CGI or a lot of fancy transitions from scene-to-scene. You didn't mention any of those. In all of your applications, the "image" comes from the file (e.g. the JPEG or TIFF files from your video camera directly contain all of the pixels in the image), and is not CREATED by the video card. This is classical 2-D video, it is not demanding, and you would do quite well even with just a modern low-end "chipset" integrated video system (in the case of Intel chipsets, AT LEAST GMA950 or later, but any current product will have that), or a low-end dedicated video card that is at least powerful enough to run Vista WITH the Aero interface. Note that being capable of running Vista with Aero is a threshold test of minimally acceptable video card "power", without regard to (and having nothing to do with) the entirely separate question of whether you actually use XP or Vista.
Now that we have that out of the way, lets talk about CPU: The "dual core" pentium has been created by Intel to go in-between the very low-end "Celeron" and the more powerful "Core 2 Duo" line of CPUs. A dual core Pentium might work well enough, but get a Core 2 Duo, which is still a dual-core CPU, but more powerful than the "dual core Pentium" CPU line. However, you don't need, and probably would not even benefit from a quad core CPU. Look for one of the Core 2 Duo CPUs with the larger cache memory system (say 4MB instead of 2MB) and you will have a fine system at a reasonable CPU price.
As to memory, 2GB should be plenty, especially if you are sticking to XP.
You didn't mention the hard drive, but I'd go with a 500GB drive, it won't cost much more than anything smaller, but going larger will really push the cost up and probably isn't necessary.
I don't see any reason why you can't get a system like this for WELL under $1,000, and perhaps more like $600, exclusive of an exotic monitor, however. I see nothing in your post that suggests a need to spend anything like $1,500. Or probably even $1,000. One other suggestion, if you are considering a Dell system (and even if you are not), check out a web site by the name of www.techbargains.com for deals on Dell computers. They come and go, and some of these deals literally last only hours. You have to be patient if you want to save money, but by watching this site for a period of about 90 days, you will likely find a deal that will save you nearly half of what you would otherwise pay for the exact same system..
Best Regards
Ahmed Sultan
laptop hardware for adobe 'premiere elements'
by dgrifo - 4/12/08 9:49 AM In reply to: Save your mony -- get what you need by Ahmed sultansince your answer for the photoshop desktop hardware was so practical and knowledgable i was wondering what you would recomend for running adobe 'premiere elements' on a laptop. I would like to go to peoples houses, scan in 10 of there best old photos, use Premiere to lay down a voice track of there memories and drop in some music on the bottom.
any suggestions / considerations.
Daniel Grifo
Laptop hardware for adobe 'premier-elements'
by lois228lois - 4/12/08 5:48 PM In reply to: laptop hardware for adobe 'premiere elements' by dgrifoThis is a way more fun because you have more options on how you plan to use your project. Final Cut Express 4 is now on sale at Mac Store for $199, Check out what you can do with application. Read through this post then go to link for overview at apple-mac-: Don't forget to check out the system requirements on right column at the site:
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=MB278Z/A#overview
This is the best afordable and you can use multiple tracks for video and audio. You didn't mention if you have a laptop yet or do you have a digital camera? Even though they just started making this program for PC-MS Windows, I went with MacBook with 1GB SDRAM, dual core Processor with 80 GB's. It has Bluetooth wireless and has Super Drive (plays and burns CDs and DVDs). Also comes with Photo booth, You will be able to do a lot more when your ready. Plus look for microphone built in or external one to use with USB connector. Later you can get Western Digital -My Book-with 7200RPMs, 250GB if you need extra Hard Drive Space, and that leaves good amount of space to work on project. Each time you finish a short movie, find in Movies and put into your project folder or you can archive it for reference when making a new redo, you just drag and drop into your external hard drive and if you think you want to save it you can burn a data disk on CD or DVD, Later you can create a DVD to use with TV or HDTV. If you get a Mac or MacBook Laptop it comes with iPhoto and you can make slide show and add your sound to individual pieces and export to Quicktime format defaults your move to moves folder each time and than assemble in Final Cut Express application. Mac also comes with Garage Band where you can create or use live instruments with it and edit it too. Then you export it to Quicktime Format default to iTunes folder which you can copy-drag to your project foler. Collect all your materials in one folder for your project. Then 'in Final Cut Express,' import that to your show. Has help manual under Help file to learn how to start and use Final Cut Express or go online under support at apple-mac where you can also learn tutorials.
Lapto hardware for adobe 'premier elements' Lois A.
by lois228lois - 4/12/08 6:00 PM In reply to: Laptop hardware for adobe 'premier-elements' by lois228loisFrom Lois A.
'I see I made a type o in the word move should be movies' where they appear where I state and and shouod read: 'Quicktime exports to default movie to movies.'
Save your mony -- get what you need
by chajebi - 4/13/08 11:34 AM In reply to: Save your mony -- get what you need by Ahmed sultanThanks Ahmed, for answering the original question without getting into a Mac vs Windows vs linux fight.
regards,
Carolyn
I'd stay with XP go with 3 GBs high speed ram and an intel
by intrepi - 3/21/08 7:09 PM In reply to: New PC recommendations needed for graphic-intensive programs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'd go with an Intel dual if you are not doing a lot of multitasking, quad core if you are. Then 3 gbs ram, the higher speed the better but I would reserve your big cash outlay for a high end graphics board that will serve your software purposes. If you can't do what you want to do with the graphics card the rest doesn't matter as you need the power where it's needed.
PC needed for INTENSE graphic usage!!
by mcmillan968 - 3/21/08 7:12 PM In reply to: New PC recommendations needed for graphic-intensive programs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Well Joan
My suggestion to START since you dont mention it is UPGRADING YOUR puter??
A dual core is FINE a coupleof gigs is a GREAT place to START.
BUT the REAL UPGRADE is in your GRAPHICS CARD or MAYBE you'll want to use a dual cards!!THAT is WHERE your POWER IS HIDDEN!!
I hate recommending ANYTHING because I feel WHAT YOU HAVE may be UPGRADABLE!!
When you upgrade your screen and I DO RECOMMEND IT!!
I suggest you look online at the USUALL places THEN look at Sams Club.
Another rather COOL IDEA is a HD TV that has a puter hook-up!!
I got a 37INCH HD TV that doubles as a monitor for $450.00
THATS the same asking for I think a 25 inch monitor
Just aother tought is XP MEDIA EDITION over regular XP.
Well this gives you OODLES of stuff to START WITH!!
GOOD LUCK
Neil
didn't read very close
by cesareDH - 4/11/08 6:24 PM In reply to: PC needed for INTENSE graphic usage!! by mcmillan968His graphic needs are 2D, not 3D. No reason to get crazy on video cards. A Nvidia 7600 is more than adequate for his needs. Unless he's plann ing on becoming a gamer, save some m oney.
I'm running a core2duo with 1 G mem on a Dell and it's fine
by bjnovack - 3/21/08 7:26 PM In reply to: New PC recommendations needed for graphic-intensive programs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm in Webdev and routinely run Dreamweaver, Fireworks, PaintShop Pro, sometimes PhotoShop or Flash, at least one other editor (either Topstyle Pro or PHP Designer), sometimes ArtRage with my Tablet, as well as two or three browsers, email, sometimes my MainType Font Manager, etc etc etc. And the machine is going full blast all day every day.
The ONLY time I see a slight slowdown is when my AV is scanning, and it's minimal. I may decide to kick up the memory a notch, and last I looked I could double it for under 100 bucks.
Machine is a Vostro slimline desktop, with the 20" HD monitor running XP, purchased last September. And I spent much less than the budget you're quoting-- roughly half, actually. Make sure to check out all the deal hunter sites for coupons if you're buying a Dell. There's usually at least one or two floating around. I've found that Back To School time is the best time to buy a computer, since they're trying to offload the older models right before they introduce the new ones at Christmas Time. And I've found that the most cutting edge is usually more than I need.
The specs you're quoting would be necessary if you were planning on running Vista, but I think they're overkill if you're sticking with XP (which I recommend.)
PC recommendation needed for intense graphic usage
by stoney439 - 3/21/08 7:27 PM In reply to: New PC recommendations needed for graphic-intensive programs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I will list my recommendations for working with large graphics files in order of importance. I am assuming you will be using 32 bit Windows XP.
1. 3 Gigs of memory running in dual channel mode.
2. A large (320GB minimum) SATA2 hard drive. A large drive keeps files near the outer edge of the disk improving performance.
3. A minimum of a 256MB PCI-Express video card.
4. A Core 2 Duo processor in the 2.0 GHZ range will play with what you are doing. Don't waste money here.
5. A good quality monitor is important when you will be spending a lot of time creating images.
6. A spacious case with good cooling.
7. If you are paranoid like me, a cheap external hard drive to back up your work every day.
If you were gaming or compiling, these requirements would differ but you should be able get what you need for less than $1500. Especially if you build it yourself.
Working with graphics
by Abverv - 3/21/08 7:34 PM In reply to: New PC recommendations needed for graphic-intensive programs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Dear Joan,
I don't know who has been advising you but I work with Corel Graphics X3 (Corel Draw, Corel Photopaint and Corel R.A.V.E.)and Macromedia Studio on a Mobile AMD Athlon XP 2600+, 2 GHz, 448 Md Ram laptop. It's not the fastest way of course but I have no problems whatsoever.
I should advise you to work Adobe Photoshop (SE??)- and just name any - on your present computer. Most probably it'll work fine.
(These Adobe software guys are just not crazy enough to market software that'll only work on a quadcore/2 Ghz :-); maybe in the future).
Suggestion on computer.
by Alain Martel1 - 3/21/08 7:34 PM In reply to: New PC recommendations needed for graphic-intensive programs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
For most peoples, 2Gb and a single core CPU are more than enough when running Windows XP.
Now, you intend to do computer art, that's usualy memory intensive. Given that, investing in some extra RAM can be a very good idea.
If you ever want to dabble into 3D computer art, that extra memory is even more usefull. If you run out of RAM and start using the swap file, your work will slow down to an often painfull crawl. Here, more RAM often help more than a powerfull multicore CPU.
Before looking at multicore CPU, check with the softwares you intend to use if they can benefit from those cores. If the rendering engine is single treaded, then there will be no benefit from using even a dual core.
The products you mention are essencialy 2D. To my knowlege, you could be well off with the actual dual core CPU available. You may not even need the more powerfull dual cores available. Look for the upper middle range CPUs.
You'll also need a good graphic card. BUT, you don't need a top of the line one. About any middle range one will give exellent results. Invest in a very good monitor. In your case, the monitor performance will be way more importent that that of the video card.
Memory and Photoshop,etc....
by dan501 - 3/21/08 7:35 PM In reply to: New PC recommendations needed for graphic-intensive programs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It is hard to answer your question with out more details on you working files. If you are just working on images for the internet, 2 gigs is probably enough. If you are working 10, 20 meg files and larger with many layers and/or many files open at the same time, definitely get all the memory you can. As a starting point, PS usually uses about 10 times as much ram as the file size and each layer adds as much to the file size as the orginal file while open.
As far as being graphic intensive, these programs are not nearly intensive as a lot of computer games. I would still make sure you have a seperate video card with at least 256 megs of ram on board as oppose to a card on the motherboard that uses system ram.
The software you mentioned costs at least what you are considering paying for the computer, why hobble the programs for a few dollars savings in ram. If the budget is really tight, by the minimun amount of ram from Dell and buy the addtional ram from a cheaper source.
Dan
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