How intensive is photo editing

[Ruptga]

A friend's mom has asked about a new computer that they'll use for everything, the most intensive thing being photo editing of 9-10MP pictures. Right now she's chugging along on an archaic piece of junk, and it's apparantly very slow, but it works. I don't know what software she uses though.

We're watching *****and will probably get something along the the lines of an X2 3600 with 1GB of memory, I know it would probably kill you to work on such a machine, but would this be ok for an amateur that's used to a PIII with 128MB on win2k?

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: ADDAvenger
A friend's mom has asked about a new computer that they'll use for everything, the most intensive thing being photo editing of 9-10MP pictures. Right now she's chugging along on an archaic piece of junk, and it's apparantly very slow, but it works. I don't know what software she uses though.

We're watching *****and will probably get something along the the lines of an X2 3600 with 1GB of memory, I know it would probably kill you to work on such a machine, but would this be ok for an amateur that's used to a PIII with 128MB on win2k?

Should be fine Why not go 2 gigs of ram (assuming it is still as dirt cheap as 70 dollars for two one gig sticks)

 

[Ruptga]

No idea why slickdeals was edited out...

Anyway, $70 is a good chunk of change when the whole machine plus monitor and printer costs $350 There was a deal for that yesterday, but it was already expired by the time we saw it that evening. But anyway, she said she was initially expecting to spend $600 or so, and I'll probably recommend she chip in for a bit more since it's those little things that make so much diffference after five years.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

For regular photo editing 1GB will be enough. I ran on 1GB for the longest time until I started working on huge panoramas that are like 50MP+ in size. But considering how cheap RAM is now, I'd just get an extra 1GB.

 

[virtuamike]

For 8 bit jpegs, 1GB should be ok. For 16 bit TIFFs, I'd want as much RAM as possible. My files get pretty big, but not everyone uses a 16 bit workflow.

 

[randomlinh]

well, if anything, X2/1GB is still a huge jump from what they have. whatever is saved can be put into photo equipment instead

 

[dug777]

Editing the RAWs from my D80 makes my 2.1Ghz AXp with 1.5GB of RAM cry great big salty tears

I highly doubt it's the RAM that's holding it back however, the cpu is just slower than a giant slow thing that's been modded to the max with extreme slow-kit