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I’m interested in getting a computer to be used mainly for digital photography using photshop. What system configuration would you recommend? What graphics card, video memory, ram, etc? Also, what monitor would be best? Thanks for any information!
Mark
I used to have a file with the particulars in it for this question, but cannot find it. Basically, for PS-only use (obviously you can do other things with it, but "optimized" for PS), your first consideration is:
RAM – get as much as your OS will access. This will get you started with MoBo selection, as you want all, and as fast, as you can get.
Next: HDDs*, plenty, big, and fast. SCSI-360M, or SATAII (III should be right around the corner). Get all that you can fit into your case. Just saw a 750GB ATA-300 7200RPM for US$320. I got 4 SATAII 500GBs and a 2TB Gigibit network drive for image files.
Now: processor(s). Again, get as many as you can fit and as fast as you can afford. A neat setup would be 2 dual-core CPUs, or on a MAC 4 processors. This isn’t going to be cheap, but if you have any money left over from 1 & 2, spend it here.
Before Vid card, I’d say to get the best cooling that you can fit into the case.
Vid Card: about anything with good drivers from 128MB (I’d opt for non-shared) will work. You want good drivers, and reliability here. It will not be a " gamer’s" dream, but you don’t need it with PS.
Last: I’m still a fan of CRT’s, so I’d go with 2 – 21/24" units with fairly flat screen and great refresh rate – clear, fast, and stable.
I’ve simplified this a ton, but you should get the picture.
Hunt
* You want separate PHYSICAL drives, not partitions.
