Looking for an Image Processing Computer

[bondarnes]

I'm looking for a new machine primarily for PhotoShop and Lightroom. I admit that I don't know much about motherboards and chipsets. The one I have now seems to be really slow, so I am primarily looking for image processing speed. I came across this refurbished HP for $470.00 Is this a good deal?

Features
Product number: NY549AAR
Hardware
Base processor: Phenom II X4-810 (D) 2.6 GHz (95W)
# 4000 MHz HyperTransport 3.0
# Socket AM3
Chipset: AMD 785G
Motherboard:
# Manufacturer: Foxconn
# Motherboard Name: H-RS780-uATX
# HP/Compaq motherboard name: Aloe-GL8E
Power supply: 300W
Memory Installed: 8 GB
Maximum allowed:
# 16 GB (4 x 4 GB) (64-bit OS)
# 4 GB* (4 x 1 GB) (32-bit OS)
*Actual available memory may be less
Speed supported: PC3-10600 MB/sec
Type: 240 pin, DDR3
Hard drive:
# 750 GB SATA 3G (3.0 Gb/sec)
# 7200 rpm
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology drive:
# Interface: SATA
# Data buffer memory: 2 MB minimum
# LightScribe: yes
# Disc diameter: 120 mm
Wireless: 802.11 a/b/g/n PCI Express x1 wireless card
Video Graphics: Integrated on motherboard (see motherboard and chipset)
Sound/Audio:High Definition 8-channel audio
# ALC 888S chipset
Network (LAN): Integrated 10/100/1000 Base-T networking interface
Memory card reader:
# Supports the following cards:
Compact Flash I
Compact Flash II
IBM Microdrive
Secure Digital (SD)
mini-SD
MultiMediaCard (MMC)
Reduced size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC)
MultiMediaCard Plus (MMC plus)
MultiMediaCard Mobile (MMC mobile)
Memory Stick
Memory Stick Pro
Memory Stick Duo
Memory Stick Pro Duo
SmartMedia
xD Picture Card (xD = extreme digital)
External I/O ports
# I/O ports on the front panel
15-in-1 (4 slot) One
USB Two
Headphone One
Microphone One
# I/O ports on the back panel
USB 1.1 Two
Optical S/PDIF digital audio output One
VGA One
DVI One
USB 2.0 Four
1394a One
LAN One
Audio (side speaker out, rear speaker out, center/subwoofer-out , line-in, line-out, microphone) One Each
# Expansion slots
PCI Express x16 One (One available)
PCI Express x1 Three (Two available)
PCI Express x1 minicard socket One (One available)
# Drive bays
5.25" Two (One available)
3.5" Three (Two available)
Keyboard and mouse:
# HP USB keyboard
# HP USB optical mouse
Software
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
CD/CD-RW/DVD/DVD+RW:
# MediaSmart DVD
# Windows DVD Maker
# CyberLink DVD Suite 6
Entertainment, Music & Games:
# HP Games
# HP MediaSmart Software Suite
Productivity:
# Microsoft Works 9
# Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 Trial
Security:
# Norton Internet Security 2009 (60-day security update subscription)
# Norton Online Backup (30-day trial)
Support:
# HP Advisor
# HP Hardware Diagnostic Tools
# Help & Support Center
# HP Support Assistant
Recovery: HP Recovery Manager
Internet Solutions:
# Microsoft Internet Explorer
# ISP offers

[dmcantrell]

Don, that machine looks pretty nice.

Here's some reviews of the processor : Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 810 Deneb 2.6GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 4MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

Overall, it has 92% good reviews from newegg (which is a tough crowd).

The notable features to me are : 4 cores, 8GB of RAM (with max 16GB), and Windows 7 64-bit O/S.

The fact that it's built by HP and not some home-builder is nice because you know that the components are (probably) tested to work with each other which lessens the chance of instability.

It doesn't list a video card, so you may want to look into a dedicated video card to offload some of the image processing.

I also notice that it doesn't list a eSATA port, which would speed up the transfer of your backups to a external drive. This may be a "dont care" for you though.

[ldelacruz]

Good PC for the price! More RAM will help tremendously so if you can get the 64 bit Windows then I would. Do your homework because some programs might not work with 64 bit.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

Don, that machine looks pretty nice.

Here's some reviews of the processor : Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 810 Deneb 2.6GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 4MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

Overall, it has 92% good reviews from newegg (which is a tough crowd).

The notable features to me are : 4 cores, 8GB of RAM (with max 16GB), and Windows 7 64-bit O/S.

The fact that it's built by HP and not some home-builder is nice because you know that the components are (probably) tested to work with each other which lessens the chance of instability.

It doesn't list a video card, so you may want to look into a dedicated video card to offload some of the image processing.

I also notice that it doesn't list a eSATA port, which would speed up the transfer of your backups to a external drive. This may be a "dont care" for you though.

Thanks for the info. I was considering adding a 3 port Firewire card for a card reader and external HDD. I would also probably add a 1T internal HDD for Raid mirror backup. I will also need to add a dual monitor card if it is not already there.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

Good PC for the price! More RAM will help tremendously so if you can get the 64 bit Windows then I would. Do your homework because some programs might not work with 64 bit.

I will only need PhotoShop and LightRoom and as I understand it they will both run in 64 bit.

[Rson]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

The fact that it's built by HP and not some home-builder is nice because you know that the components are (probably) tested to work with each other which lessens the chance of instability.

It doesn't list a video card, so you may want to look into a dedicated video card to offload some of the image processing.

I also notice that it doesn't list a eSATA port, which would speed up the transfer of your backups to a external drive. This may be a "dont care" for you though.

Apparently you haven't met me, Hi I am a home builder that you so speak of. Let me tell you that builds are better than a box for a few reasons, first I would never use the crappy PS that comes with HPs(300 watts is crap). Second, I would never use a micro ATX board. Third, I would spec out a dedicated video (not because of the reason you listed because you are wrong for the most part) but because it takes away from the ram. Fourth, I would always include a RAID assembly for B/U. Fifth, Oh damn you don't get the 100 programs that preload and hog system resources. Sixth, I can tell you every component on my build and I DO HAVE MY FAVS. Those have been used time and time again in my builds. Seventh, instead of a cramped case that gets no airflow, my luscious Mid/full case supports many drives and free airflow. Eighth, Brands....Foxconn Mobo isn't known for it's quality. My builds are usually Corsair Power, Asus Mobo, XFX Graphics, Coolermaster cases, WD Harddrives.

Do I need to say more? I know my computers and I know my builds.

As for the above computer. Looks good, PS is skimpy though and I would get a video card.

[Rson]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

Good PC for the price! More RAM will help tremendously so if you can get the 64 bit Windows then I would. Do your homework because some programs might not work with 64 bit.

Onone photo tools is the only I have seen. So far I have yet to find a prog that won't run in Win7 x64.


LR is written for x64 specifically ans PS CS4 has both versions (x32 & x64) on the CD.

[dmcantrell]

Originally Posted by Rson

Apparently you haven't met me, Hi I am a home builder that you so speak of. Let me tell you that builds are better than a box for a few reasons, first I would never use the crappy PS that comes with HPs(300 watts is crap). Second, I would never use a micro ATX board. Third, I would spec out a dedicated video (not because of the reason you listed because you are wrong for the most part) but because it takes away from the ram. Fourth, I would always include a RAID assembly for B/U. Fifth, Oh damn you don't get the 100 programs that preload and hog system resources. Sixth, I can tell you every component on my build and I DO HAVE MY FAVS. Those have been used time and time again in my builds. Seventh, instead of a cramped case that gets no airflow, my luscious Mid/full case supports many drives and free airflow. Eighth, Brands....Foxconn Mobo isn't known for it's quality. My builds are usually Corsair Power, Asus Mobo, XFX Graphics, Coolermaster cases, WD Harddrives.

Do I need to say more? I know my computers and I know my builds.

As for the above computer. Looks good, PS is skimpy though and I would get a video card.

You're right I haven't met you, so I'm not exactly sure where the aggressive nature of your post comes from. I build all of my own computers as well, but I don't really have the energy to argue nitpicky points about computers on yet another internet forum. I can say with a fair amount of confidence that most home-builds are doomed to suffer from instability problems because the builder doesn't do their research on inter-component dependencies and conflicts. You may be the -exception- to that rule. -shrug-

For $470 the machine isn't a bad deal.

[ldelacruz]

Rich,
I don't know if Don uses specialized software for accounting or CRM so it would be smart to check first. In my line of work I run into specialized programs that aren't supported for 64 bit. I know your just talking out loud but surely the PC's you build can't be anywhere near $470 with operating system! I would have to agree with David that there is some positives about buying an assembly line PC like HP or Dell. Not that you don't make a stable PC but in Don's case I am sure time is money?

[ramiro]

Originally Posted by Rson

Apparently you haven't met me, Hi I am a home builder that you so speak of. Let me tell you that builds are better than a box for a few reasons, first I would never use the crappy PS that comes with HPs(300 watts is crap). Second, I would never use a micro ATX board. Third, I would spec out a dedicated video (not because of the reason you listed because you are wrong for the most part) but because it takes away from the ram. Fourth, I would always include a RAID assembly for B/U. Fifth, Oh damn you don't get the 100 programs that preload and hog system resources. Sixth, I can tell you every component on my build and I DO HAVE MY FAVS. Those have been used time and time again in my builds. Seventh, instead of a cramped case that gets no airflow, my luscious Mid/full case supports many drives and free airflow. Eighth, Brands....Foxconn Mobo isn't known for it's quality. My builds are usually Corsair Power, Asus Mobo, XFX Graphics, Coolermaster cases, WD Harddrives.

Do I need to say more? I know my computers and I know my builds.

As for the above computer. Looks good, PS is skimpy though and I would get a video card.

+1 What Rson said. I used to build my own rigs, right down to water cooling and I was always happier and got much better performance than a stock machine from retailer.

I don't build them anymore becasue I switched to Mac about 3 years ago. The only recommendation I would make is to get an SSD for your OS and programs. I have an old early 2007 MacBook Pro and I just switched the stock hard drive, a 120Gb Fujitsu, for a Corsair P128 SSD for OSX and programs, and a 320Gb Hitachi 7200rpm drive (for data) that now occupies the CDROM drive slot, and let me tell you, the thing flies. I went from about 18-20 bounces fo the PShop icon on the dock to about 3. The hard drive is the single biggest bottleneck on the machine, so for your OS and apps, get the fastest drive you can buy, or set a couple of drives in RAID, but if you can swing an SSD, don't even think about it, heck, if you can swing 2 of those SSDs, set them up in RAID and you'll really have a screaming machine. The Corsair P128 is only $375 at Newegg, and if you are loading only PShop and LR + Windows 7, you'll have plenty of room left. All the best!

[Rson]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

Rich,
I don't know if Don uses specialized software for accounting or CRM so it would be smart to check first. In my line of work I run into specialized programs that aren't supported for 64 bit. I know your just talking out loud but surely the PC's you build can't be anywhere near $470 with operating system!

Oh hell no. :)

[ngoduyviet]

Rich is right on the money.

You don't want to cheap out on a good PSU, and a good graphic card if you were to do a lot of media processing.

Also, if you can get 2 Solid State Drives (SSD).
One for your main boot + programs and one for your PS / LR catalog scratch disk, it'll scream :) although if you have a lot of RAM, it'll be the same.

[Rson]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

You're right I haven't met you, so I'm not exactly sure where the aggressive nature of your post comes from. I build all of my own computers as well, but I don't really have the energy to argue nitpicky points about computers on yet another internet forum. I can say with a fair amount of confidence that most home-builds are doomed to suffer from instability problems because the builder doesn't do their research on inter-component dependencies and conflicts. You may be the -exception- to that rule. -shrug-

For $470 the machine isn't a bad deal.

Not aggressive, just pointing out that your blanket statement is very inaccurate for a number of reasons. IMO, HP isn't buying the parts because of their "inter-component dependencies and conflicts(or lack there of)" it is because they are CHEAP. Nothing more nothing less. The listed computer is there to fit a price point not a quality niche.

[ldelacruz]

Rich,
$2000?

[dmcantrell]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

I would have to agree with David that there is some positives about buying an assembly line PC like HP or Dell. Not that you don't make a stable PC but in Don's case I am sure time is money?

I once built a machine for my mother. It was rock-solid, never had any instability issues, was quiet, and had enough horsepower for anything she could ever throw at it. The only problem was that she called me all the time for "tech support" and to analyze the log files from her virus scanner. When it came time to replace the machine, I bought her a Dell and had it drop shipped to her house and paid for the white-glove delivery. Was it more expensive? Yes. Was it less powerful? Yes. But the Dell customer support that came with it was worth every penny.