Which desktops match my requirements?

[ChinaMark]

Hello all,
This is my first post here and I'm hoping to get some guidance on which desktop computers would best suit my needs. My main hobby is photography and I do a lot of post processing using Photoshop CS3 and a lot of image manipulation using other programs, which require a lot of RAM to run smoothly.

From the research I've done so far, I've made a list of the things that I'm looking for in a new desktop:

AMD Athlon 64x2 4400+ (or higher)
I'd really like about 2gb of RAM
A built in memory card reader
DVD r/w (t be able to copy and store images on DVDs)
A good quality, large monitor for viewing images (around 20")

I've read that AMD CPUs are better for multi-tasking which is really important to me, to be able to have 3 or 4 large programs running at the same time.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

Added note: I should also say that although I'm not a hard core gamer, I do like to play games now and again so a good graphics card is also important.

[odannyboy000]

Intel's Core 2 Duo outperforms AMD in all multi-tasking categories.

2GB of RAM is a must.

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001096&Tpk=226bw

[Erik]

If you are really into photo editing and multitasking I would recommend looking at 2GB RAM as a minimum, and possibly even doing 3-4GB.

I will also second the Intel C2D recommendation. They are the best performers currently, and can move up to a quad core on the same socket if desired. What is your budget for this?

Also, are you looking to build something yourself, or buy a pre-built system?

[iduser105]

Hello all,
This is my first post here and I'm hoping to get some guidance on which desktop computers would best suit my needs. My main hobby is photography and I do a lot of post processing using Photoshop CS3 and a lot of image manipulation using other programs, which require a lot of RAM to run smoothly.

From the research I've done so far, I've made a list of the things that I'm looking for in a new desktop:

AMD Athlon 64x2 4400+ (or higher)
I'd really like about 2gb of RAM
A built in memory card reader
DVD r/w (t be able to copy and store images on DVDs)
A good quality, large monitor for viewing images (around 20")

I've read that AMD CPUs are better for multi-tasking which is really important to me, to be able to have 3 or 4 large programs running at the same time.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

Added note: I should also say that although I'm not a hard core gamer, I do like to play games now and again so a good graphics card is also important.
ChinaMark, your description scares me
One day, if I have a desktop like yours now, people around would wonder the same thing, :( . I am worried, I can not answer straight :(

[Rick]

Having run Photoshop on the CD,C2D and Now the C2Q

I can tell you the Quad is well worth the few extra dollars

In Fact the New Intel chips (45) are due out in a few weeks
So the older (65's) will drop in price.

Depending on your operating system ( 32 or 64 bit) should be the indetermination factor of how much memory to install
with XP or Vista 32 bit. 3 gig the max you need to install
Above that is a waste of time and money. Because the O/S can't see and use it correctly or completely

If you go with the 64bit version of the O/S then it's the hardware M/B and chipset that determine where your max memory is.
But 4 gig works nicely with photo shop.


System architecture: Intel CPU Family:6, Model:15, Stepping:7 with MMX, SSE Integer, SSE FP
Built-in memory: 2048 MB
Free memory: 2048 MB
Memory available to Photoshop: 1730 MB
Memory used by Photoshop: 100 %


Above is on a quad system (C2Q) with 4 gig of memory installed
running a cad program, web browser and Photoshop at this very moment
Note the memory available and usable