PC for lightroom and PS, have build picked out but can't decide

[dliveleyphotography]

Ok I am currently running a AMD 64x2 5000+ (2.61ghz) with 2GB DDR2 and 320GB 7200rpm HDD and it is just lagging like hell in lightroom and PS CS3 with raw files, lightroom crashes about 2-3 times everytime i use it and takes about 3 sec to load each picture.

At first I was going to get the macbook pro but then realized I can't swing the cash for the setup I wanted, $2999. Next I skipped a PC notebook decided I would get the most powerful build working around the i7 core so I put this together:

Intel i7 core 920
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115202

EVGA x58 Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188039

Corsair XMS3 6GB DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145222

Corsair 650 Watt powersupply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

EVGA GeForce GTX 260 896MB DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130370

WD VelociRaptor 150GB for OS and Programs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136296

WD Caviar Black 640GB x 2 for storage
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136319

LG DVD+/-R, free with something in my cart forgot what
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136144

Antec 900 case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

Rosewill internal card reader
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820223073

Going to attempt to run Windows 7 64bit, if there are to many problems I will use Vista 64bit

Grand total: $1,516.90




Had all that in my cart ready to hit send until I started thinking again about how it would be nice to edit pics while traveling/not at the house which is what my original plan was. So then I started looking at notebooks and really have no idea what would be required to run lightroom and PS without lag or if it is even possible on a notebook. Plus there are so many screen types available I don't even know what would be good for editing.


My Budget is around $1500 max.

So the question is, do I stick with i7 and just use my current notebook as a storage area till i get home or do I go for notebook and loose power for convenience. If you have a notebook in mind that would run lightroom 2 and CS3 without lag please throw me a link or name.

[LANCE B.]

Hi David,

I'm in a similar situation but also mulling the hopefully soon to be announced Mac Pro. That is until my current desktop PC's motherboard croaked this past week. I've spec'ed an almost identical build to yours and have still considered a MBP just because I can't stomach vista and all this ram I plan to buy will be collecting dust in XP. I know Windows 7 is really a tweaked Vista but I'm praying it's more useable in practice. Back to the question, I'd stay with your current laptop for sorting and basic PP corrections while on the road and build your screaming deamon box. That is, unless, you spend more days on the road than at home. If that's the case, buy a better laptop and increase your effeciency. However, $1500 on a laptop does not go near as far as a desktop as you know. I can't think of any laptop in that range which will provide the benefit you are seeking. JMHO.

Lance-

[GypsyHighSide]

I think you would get more bang for the buck out of the new desktop system. From my experiences LR is slow because it is rendering 1:1 previews. Stick with your current notebook for storage.

In my current travel workflow. I download the images to the laptop with Downloader Pro. I then use Breezey Browser to do a first edit (in focus). Then I open LR and create a new catalog with metadata that would apply to all images and render the 1:1 previews. When I get home I import the RAW files and the LR catalog into my desktop. Here I do another edit, add metadata that would be specific to each photo, rate the images and process them.

FWIW, I set up Windows 7 on an AMD 64 bit 3800+ machine with 2GB RAM. I installed LR64 v2.2. It does take time to render, but it runs smooth. I have had no problems with the OS or with LR64.

Rob

[dliveleyphotography]

Thanks for the replys guys, after looking over laptops last night I know I wouldn't happy with anything less then a macbook pro. I have decided to go forward with the i7 build and then maybe pick up a MBP in fall or maybe even wait till they receive quad core processors. Till then I will just stick with my current laptop as a mobile storage center till I get back, its only a P4 single core with a 1 GB ram so CS3 is rather painful to use, although it works in a pinch.

Anyways I am going forward with the specs I listed above minus changing out the Antec 900 for a Cooler Master HAF 932 full tower. I should hopefully have it all by this weekend, getting the i7 and HAF case local and the rest is coming from newegg.

[Peacock]

David,
How is your current system setup? Drive wise? You can get some performance by first adding more RAM, second, splitting you harddrive, C (system) drive should be just that, system and apps, and second drive for page file, and a third drive for scratch, then a fourth for storage! You will be suprised how much more you can get out of your system! If running 64Bit max out the memory on your board! 10,000 RPM drives make a big difference too! That would be you cheapeast option and save you cash!

[dliveleyphotography]

Originally Posted by Peacock

David,
How is your current system setup? Drive wise? You can get some performance by first adding more RAM, second, splitting you harddrive, C (system) drive should be just that, system and apps, and second drive for page file, and a third drive for scratch, then a fourth for storage! You will be suprised how much more you can get out of your system! If running 64Bit max out the memory on your board! 10,000 RPM drives make a big difference too! That would be you cheapeast option and save you cash!

My current desktop is about 3 years old and doesn't really lend itself to upgrades. The motherboard can only take dual core AMD chips, limited to 4 GB DDR2 at 533, power supply is only about 320 watts since it was built on the cheap, it currently uses internal graphics card since my old ATI finally killed over and its all stuffed into a mini tower since it was originally located in a tight amount of space. Basically I would end up replacing over 3/4 of the parts and still only have mid level performance.


With that said, I picked up a few items from micro center yesterday while they were on sale and ordered the rest from newegg. I got the i7, case and DVD drives, I get everything else on friday minus the video card and harddrives which don't get here monday since they shipped from different warehouse

Final build:


Upgraded XMS3 memory to dominator series since ram is very important part of this build, went from 74gb 10K raptors X 2 to a 10K rpm 150GB velociraptor then scratched that for 3rd 640GB cavair black after seeing benchmark tests confirming that was hardly any difference between the two and 640GB was half the cost and has alot more memory, upgraded to superclocked edition GPU since it went on 24hr sprecial for the same price as standard unit, and then lastly changed from antec 900 mid tower to cooler master HAF932 full tower since it was on sale at micro center.


It sucks having a new processor and case stare at you from across the room and you can't do anything with them for 5 days

[Randy Edens]

Here's a link to Adobe's writeup about how to optimize your pc for CS4:

http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/view...4439&sliceId=1

--- Randy

[dliveleyphotography]

Thanks for the link Randy, I'll be sure to run through all of it after running some baseline test. I have everything ready to go, just have to throw in the harddrives and video card when they show up tomorrow.