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Bpete
Posts: 113
Joined: 12/3/2001
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida USA
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Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/18/2002 23:15:23
Trying to decide on an upgrade from my old Pent. II 450. Got a project coming up quickly to do a series of large prints (up to 20 x 24) for an exhibit. I will be working with scans from 2 1/4 B&W negatives, and also some color transparencies.
These will end up as pretty humungo files and I don't think I can bear the wait after every click on my old PII, especially to work on the 20 shots involved.
So I'm looking at the offerings on the Pent. 4 machines. Assuming 512 megs of RAM, how much difference between the 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2 Pent.4 machines? There is a big difference in price from the 1.4 to the 2.0 for instance. Questions like is it better to go for a 1.4 and spend the difference for another 512 megs of ram, or will the 2.0 or 2.2 with only 512 do a better job?
I've got extra 80 gig Hard Drive from the old PII so the storage isn't an issue. Also since you can tell it's been a while since I went computer shopping I sure could use some help deciding ... PS: price counts. Thanks !!
Bpete
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godshall2
Posts: 370
From: Telford PA USA
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/19/2002 9:02:21
Hello,
I was never much for the extra thosuand dollars to get a 2.0 instead of a 1.4
I currently use a Dell 1.6 with 512 ram and its extrememly hard to slow down. I use Photoshop everyday and trust me when I say the best investment you can by is a top notch graphics card.
Troy | www.aplustemplates.com
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Bpete
Posts: 113
Joined: 12/3/2001
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida USA
Status: offline
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/19/2002 9:15:41
Thanks Troy ... that's the sort of opinion I am looking for. Do you work with any 60meg plus size files? Also can you suggest a good graphics card to invest in?
Bpete
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godshall2
Posts: 370
From: Telford PA USA
Status: offline
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/19/2002 10:03:06
I occasionally work on files that large for photographers...
I use the ESLA Gladiac GeForce MX... I think its a great card for its $150 price tag. Will satisfy gamers and graphics..
Picking a card depends on what you want it for, why type of machine an OS you have.
Research and choose wisely as you can spend as much on a card as you can a system..
Troy
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PBailey
Posts: 907
From: San Antonio, Texas USA
Status: offline
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/19/2002 16:03:19
Graphics card and memory and more memory.
Another suggestion is to dig through some of the techie boards and look at benchmarks. At the risk of starting a mad controversy which isn't my intention.....Pentium 4 isn't the only guy around. The AMD Athlon XP processor is one nice processor. Checkout some of the AMD benchmarks. Fast and usually less cost. DDRAM is really fast and cheaper then RDRAM.
There are other considerations that speak well for AMD over Pentium. I'd suggest checking out the AMD systems.
http://athlonxp.amd.com/benchmarks/
Paula
Edited by - PBailey on 03/19/2002 16:05:23
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Bpete
Posts: 113
Joined: 12/3/2001
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida USA
Status: offline
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/19/2002 20:26:24
Hi Paula,
You are right AMD Athlon's are ok in my book as well. It's just that most of the "deals" happening right now that I'm seeing are for the Pent 4. I.E.: Dell, Compaq, Gateway, HP.
My main concern is a quick mindless as possible system that will do the job of handling Photoshop file in the 80 to 200 MB range. I've at least 20 maybe 24 to do rather quickly and don't want to click sharpen (for instance) and have to go get coffee while it grinds it's way through. It's going to take enough hours just to get through the project if Photoshop is humming along. So I'm looking for experience, folks that have lived through working with files to make quality 20 x 24 prints. Wondering how much computer it takes to keep you sane and working.
The DDRAM tip is a great one. I'm still not clear on what I ought to be wanting in the way of a graphic card, and what it does for Photoshop. I emailed some photographers and am waiting for answers. One that did respond so far said the processor wasn't so important as the memory, at least a gig he said.
Thanks again for the effort in getting me on the right path ... three years since my last computer ... what's that in computer years about 12 or 13 years?
Bpete
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garyb
Posts: 208
From: North Clarendon Vermont USA
Status: offline
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/21/2002 9:30:57
I work with quite a few large files. Anywhere from 100 - 150 MB for print work. I use a 1GB Dell with 512 MB and a 32 MB video card and it cooks just fine. No going for coffee. I'm sure if you took one of the Dells or equal in the 1.6 - 2GB range with the 64 MB cards and 512 MB of memory you'll do just fine. Generally, you figure 2x the size of the file for memory or you'll do a lot of swapping. Depending upon what operating system you are using, too much memory doesn't buy you anything. I'm on XP now. Win2000 is also really nice as long as the drivers for your equipment are available. Of course, that would be true with XP as well.
Gary
Ready Page Graphic Design
www.ready-page.com
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Bpete
Posts: 113
Joined: 12/3/2001
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida USA
Status: offline
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/21/2002 13:27:09
Thanks Gary,
Prefect! Exactly the sort of info I was hoping for. You didn't say what you were working the files with ... I'm running PhotoShop 6.0. I would expect it to be XP compatible, but haven't checked it out yet. I've been swamped trying to figure out scanning needs and suppliers, printing methods and which is best quality/cost route, mounting, etc., to get prints up to fill 40' of wall.
The computer info is a great help as I'll likely have to decide and buy without going into the research and compare mode that would be normal for me. So thanks again, and plz add anything else that comes to mind.
Bpete (Bill)
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garyb
Posts: 208
From: North Clarendon Vermont USA
Status: offline
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/21/2002 15:24:05
Using Photoshop 6 for image editing. The high end pentiums will do you well with the 64 MB graphics cards and 512 memory.
Gary
Ready Page Graphic Design
www.ready-page.com
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Bpete
Posts: 113
Joined: 12/3/2001
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida USA
Status: offline
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/30/2002 8:04:15
Made the purchase ... Thanks for all the help, I went with a refurbished Dell 8200 2.0 gig with 512megs of RDram, 80gig HD and a 17" LCD with a Force 3 graphics card. Should be here next week ...
Will report if anyone wants to know.
Thanks again,
Bpete
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garyb
Posts: 208
From: North Clarendon Vermont USA
Status: offline
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 3/31/2002 21:37:06
Better order a crash helmet with all that power! It make take a while to get the hang of controlling all that power after what you had;)
Gary
Ready Page Graphic Design
www.ready-page.com
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Bpete
Posts: 113
Joined: 12/3/2001
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida USA
Status: offline
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RE: Computer Power & Photoshop ... how much? Ideas plz - 4/10/2002 10:26:46
Howdy,
Quick report back on the Dell ... It's doing good and I really like it, but I want more Ram memory. The files I'm working with are over 300 megs and it's still a bit slow on some of the filters etc. Not bad-bad I don't mean that but sort of impatient amount of time. I should mention that on my old system I would have already commited my self to an early and honorable death rather than try and work on these files.
The LCD 17" Dell screen is really bright and great looking, better than my 19" CRT. I've gotten used to it already and won't go back.
I'm struggling with the XP operating system a bit, mostly because it's different and I don't have time to study up on it if I'm to get these pictures done by the deadline. I've upgraded to PhotoShop 6.0 for the project and that's enough learning curve for the moment.
So I'm happy ... thanks all for the advice.
Bpete
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