Help deciding on Photoshop machine

[Dave]

I have a bug to upgrade my current machine and I'm at a loss as to how
to approach it. There are just so many options and I haven't been
paying attention to the new technology as much as I should 'cause up
untill now, I've been happy with my computer.

My current machine is built around an Asus P4C800-E board with a P4
2.6 processor. It has a gig of RAM and it's great for ALMOST
everything I do. The thing is I just got a good DSLR camera and I've
been doing a lot of work with large digital image files in Photoshop
CS2 and it's made me wonder if maybe I'd benefit from a new board and
processor. I'd be willing to go with either Intel or AMD, but I've
always been very happy with Asus boards. If I can improve my image
processing speed by twice or so for $500 or so I'd make the move. I'd
be very grateful for any guidance you folks can offer.

Thanks.

Dave

 

[Bob Willard]

I have a bug to upgrade my current machine and I'm at a loss as to how
to approach it. There are just so many options and I haven't been
paying attention to the new technology as much as I should 'cause up
untill now, I've been happy with my computer.

My current machine is built around an Asus P4C800-E board with a P4
2.6 processor. It has a gig of RAM and it's great for ALMOST
everything I do. The thing is I just got a good DSLR camera and I've
been doing a lot of work with large digital image files in Photoshop
CS2 and it's made me wonder if maybe I'd benefit from a new board and
processor. I'd be willing to go with either Intel or AMD, but I've
always been very happy with Asus boards. If I can improve my image
processing speed by twice or so for $500 or so I'd make the move. I'd
be very grateful for any guidance you folks can offer.

Thanks.

Dave

That MB will support faster CPUs; certainly 3.2, maybe faster.

Photoshop likes lots of RAM. 2GB might be better than 1GB. Also, if
you aren't using dual-channel mode for your RAM, that makes a big
difference in RAM thruput. And, obviously, fast RAM is better than
slow stuff.

I got a noticeable gain in photoshop startup times when I added a
2nd HD and spread the files (the OS, the pagefile, photoshop's .exe,
photoshop's scratch, the .jpg folder) around. If your HDs are PATA,
they should be on separate IDE cables for maximum results. To go
further, you might play with RAID0, or even multiple RAID0 sets.

I don't think my suggestions will double your photoshop thruput
for <$500. And, I rather doubt that you can double your photoshop
thruput for <$500 by buying a new MB/CPU/RAM. After all, what you
already have is not exactly dark ages.

One final thought: since photoshop takes a long time to start up,
minimize startups by just closing the data files instead of closing
the app. {I don't bother with most apps, but photoshop startup
is baaaad.}

 

[milleron]

I have a bug to upgrade my current machine and I'm at a loss as to how
to approach it. There are just so many options and I haven't been
paying attention to the new technology as much as I should 'cause up
untill now, I've been happy with my computer.

My current machine is built around an Asus P4C800-E board with a P4
2.6 processor. It has a gig of RAM and it's great for ALMOST
everything I do. The thing is I just got a good DSLR camera and I've
been doing a lot of work with large digital image files in Photoshop
CS2 and it's made me wonder if maybe I'd benefit from a new board and
processor. I'd be willing to go with either Intel or AMD, but I've
always been very happy with Asus boards. If I can improve my image
processing speed by twice or so for $500 or so I'd make the move. I'd
be very grateful for any guidance you folks can offer.

Thanks.

Dave

I'd think that any upgrade to enhance Photoshop should include a
dual-core CPU. Photoshop hasn't yet been recoded specifically for
dual-core computers, but some reviews have found enhanced performance
with Athlon 64X2s, and if your next Photoshop upgrade isn't optimized
for dual-core CPUs, I'll be surprised. At that point, if you've spent
money on an upgrade that did not include an X2 (or some overpriced
Intel "equivalent"), you might be sorry.

In the meantime, the upgrade to two GB of RAM, as already suggested,
should be money well spent, regardless of which CPU you might elect
now or later.

Ron

 

[Barry Watzman]

I would not do a major upgrade; I don't think it will do all that much
compared to what it will cost.

What you might consider is a faster CPU (at least 3 GHz with HT). Also,
you didn't say what type of memory you have, but you certainly could go
to dual-channel memory if you don't have it, 4200 if you only have 3200
[I'm not sold on the idea that more than a gig would do much for
performance].

I would not, however, buy a new motherboard at this time, given what you
have (which, even if it's not the very latest, is still pretty good).