Computer Help Needed.

[erincarter]

Need a new computer for work and hoping to get some help here as I don't know much about computers.

Computer is used for graphic design using programs such as Corel Draw and Photoshop in a small print shop. Needs to be a PC.

I’m wondering what kind of specs I should be looking for in a new computer for that type of work. How much memory should it have?

Any advice and/or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks

[dlambert]

Check out this similar thread. Are you planning to build it yourself or buy it put together already?

[Biomech]

Best you can afford really. Definately make sure you get a dedicated graphics card (ATI or Nvidia)

[Krusty79]

I would get a system with the fastest cpu you can afford, like an i5 or i7. You can always add another hard drive or more RAM later. Any i5 or i7 pc should have plenty of hard drive space and RAM anyway.

[dlambert]

Originally Posted by Krusty79

You can always add another hard drive or more RAM later.

If you buy a PC off the shelf, you probably won't know what kind of motherboard they've used, and thus, how much RAM it can support. Unless you buy a high-end i7-based system, you're probably going to have four RAM slots, and there's a decent chance that the system builder will fill all the slots, as it's usually cheaper to get 4 Gig of RAM out of 4 1-Gig sticks than it is to use two 2-Gig sticks, and so on, so when you decide later to upgrade, you're going to end up tossing the old RAM to install the new stuff (or trying to sell the old stuff for next to nothing).

As far as storage goes, I can't recommend highly enough the combination of an SSD boot drive + mirrored data drives. It helps safeguard your photos (still not a substitute for backups) and it's really fast -- faster in practice than moving up to a faster processor, IME. This combination, unfortunately, is next to impossible to find in an off-the shelf system unless you buy a glowing neon gaming PC that's shaped like a spaceship. Beats me why.

[erincarter]

planning to just buy one...not build. Actually my boss will be buying it not me (I do graphic design at a small print shop). The computer we have there is over 8 years old and has completely run out of memory.

[Jonbar18]

Originally Posted by erincarter

planning to just buy one...not build. Actually my boss will be buying it not me (I do graphic design at a small print shop). The computer we have there is over 8 years old and has completely run out of memory.

Since it's being paid for, go for a customized $8000 Chimera

But really, A large amount of RAM is not needed as its considerably cheap, but make sure it has a large upgrade capability if you need more. Good processor, an i5 should do, with at least 2.6 GHz, more if possible. Memory wise, most computers come with at least 320GB, which may or may not be enough. External HDD for backup.
Brands mean a lot too, stay away from Dell, they die quick. I like HP, reliable.

[Biomech]

My board will take 32gb ram win!

We've just bought a new laptop for the company. I have a Sony, the new one is a HP and my girlfriend has a Dell - her 3rd laptop in 2 years after 2 Acers all have broke and the mouse buttons on this Dell are pretty shoddy. I use a custom built desktop (which is awesome ). And I'm looking at a little shuttle style Dell to run as a business server (it's so small). Can't be assed building another one :P

[BigFuzzy]

Get a 64 bit system with lots of RAM (I have 12 now) and the fastest processor you can get. Graphics card not as important as processor and RAM (though of course the better the better! ). Also, make sure the motherboard can handle the data transfer rates of your SSD and RAM as there's no point having all that stuff if the motherboard is that which slows you down.

Also, I second the idea of SSD drive. I have one as my boot and one where I only have LR, PS and a couple other pieces of software that need to run fast. Trust me, once you see SSD in action you never will go back.

Then I have a couple of internal and external drives where things are stored. This way

[Krusty79]

Originally Posted by dlambert

If you buy a PC off the shelf, you probably won't know what kind of motherboard they've used, and thus, how much RAM it can support. Unless you buy a high-end i7-based system, you're probably going to have four RAM slots, and there's a decent chance that the system builder will fill all the slots, as it's usually cheaper to get 4 Gig of RAM out of 4 1-Gig sticks than it is to use two 2-Gig sticks, and so on, so when you decide later to upgrade, you're going to end up tossing the old RAM to install the new stuff (or trying to sell the old stuff for next to nothing).

As far as storage goes, I can't recommend highly enough the combination of an SSD boot drive + mirrored data drives. It helps safeguard your photos (still not a substitute for backups) and it's really fast -- faster in practice than moving up to a faster processor, IME. This combination, unfortunately, is next to impossible to find in an off-the shelf system unless you buy a glowing neon gaming PC that's shaped like a spaceship. Beats me why.

Good points. I would love to get a SSD drive to speed up my windows boot time. The OP should consider how she is going to back up her data as well.