new 2d graphics computer

[buck52]

Howdy

I know there was a thread about the same basic thing awhile ago but I can't seem to find it... anyhow...

Thinking about building a new system to look at, and edit/manipulate my digital still photos...no video at all

A couple of months ago I bought a 6 mega-pixel camera and it taxes my current main system....PIII 850 512RAM...

Would like to stay with a PC and Pentium...rather not switch to a MAC... but I do love the MAC plasma display :-)...wish it would work with a PC

At the moment I have about 30 gigs of pictures scattered over three PC's

I have Photoshop7 and Paint Shop Pro that I use equally depending on what I'm doing

I would like to hear any thoughts and suggestions anyone has re: mobo,dual monitor setups, monitors in general

thanks

buck

[saphalline]

A PIII w/512 RAM is more than powerful enough to edit digital still pics. Something else must be holding you back. What video card do have? It isn't onboard video, is it? *blech*

If you do need a video card for 2D pic editing, I would suggest the Matrox G550. 32MB of DDR RAM, and it's the best 2D video card under $200. In fact, it's less than $100 on Newegg! :D Dual monitors, too!

[buck52]

Howdy

well... It is onboard video I think it's a Asus MX3S mobo that I put together maybe 2 years ago. Maybe I'm asking for to much...When I open 2 or 3 25mb tiff files to make a pano it takes some time and I can hear the HD workin' :)

buck

[saphalline]

One of the many problems with onboard video is that it uses main system RAM for video memory, which not only causes a performance hit (RAM must be used for both video and regular duties) but also sucks up RAM that could be used for other things. A dedicated video card, on the other hand, has its own memory on the card and it's usually faster RAM so performance goes way up.

At this point, just about any video card you buy would help you enormously! Matrox is the best for 2D work and offers multi-monitor set-ups, but the G550 is no gaming card. Don't know if this makes a difference, but if it does, ATI makes awesome gaming cards that are good for 2D, also. For a mere $86, you can get a Powercolor Radeon 9000 (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=POWERCOLOR+9000+128) video card with 128MB of DDR RAM and both VGA and DVI connectors, and it plays games, too! :D

With a video card upgrade (and maybe another hard drive ;) ), I see no reason you can't squeeze maybe another year of use out of your current PC. Then, when you do upgrade the whole thing, you'll get a very nice boost for practically no money.

[buck52]

Howdy saphalline

thanks for the info...I do no gaming at all so I will have a look at the Matrox card you mentioned

First I'll see if the onboard video can be turned off

buck

[mjc]

With the stills from a 6 megapixel camera I would consider moving to an OS that can handle a gig or RAM and max out your RAM too....you are working with some awfully large tiffs. So in order to have sufficient RAM to manipulate them and still not use a swap file (which you may be doing now) you should probably get more RAM.

[buck52]

Howdy mjc

That's part of the reason for thinking about a new system... 512 is the max for the mobo I have now

I don't work with tiff's that big all the time but if I'm stitching a 3 or 4 shot panorama I like to keep them as TIFF's while I work on it.


buck