Power for processing?

[wsbII]

Hello,
So I'm shopping for a new PC to use for general use, but also editing. I'm using photoshop CS4 and want to make sure what I buy will have enough power. I am looking at a laptop, but in comparing desktops to laptops there is quite a "power" difference. Can anyone tell me if a 2.2 dual core processor with 4 gigs of RAM will be enough to run photoshop efficiently? I know with a desktop I can get a dual core 2.9 processor with 6 gigs of RAM, but it is probably overkill. Just looking for some insight...
Thanks,
Bill

[acedrew]

My 1.5 year old Dual-Core 2.2Ghz with 4GB will do 16 Bit Panoramas over 120 Megapixels with little trouble, you should be fine with pretty much anything semi modern. I would recommend that you get a video card with discrete memory, (seperate from the main system RAM) and on Photoshops approved list.
The improved user experience with the openGL accelerated User interface in CS4.

Andrew Rodgers
Perfected Perspectives -- Photography by Andrew Rodgers | Andrew Rodgers (acedrew) on Twitter | Login | Facebook

[woods]

yep, 6 Go RAM is useless. Xp / Vista even don't handle that much memory properly. So "2.2 dual core processor with 4 gigs of RAM" is more than enough for you.

[teaking]

With something like photoshop to its more than likely coded to make use of dedicated graphics cards and the GPU as well so it wouldnt be too processor intensive so look for something which will run all todays programs about 3 Gigs ram upwards, dual core and a dedicated graphics card.

[PomND]

^ I agree. cs4 takes advantage of graphics cards memory as well as RAM and CPU so 4gb 2.2 dual core and a decent graphics card with 512mb of dedicated memory is plenty!

[acedrew]

The dedicated memory in the graphics card is more important than the GPU, photoshop is storing textures in the GPU RAM, and they take up space, 512MB is great but if you can get a Gig, do it. Also 6 gigs is easily addressable in XP/Vista/7 64 Bit, and CS4 runs great in a 64 bit environment. Times, they are a changing.

Andrew Rodgers
Perfected Perspectives -- Photography by Andrew Rodgers | http://twitter.com/acedrew | Login | Facebook

[TFord.LTTP]

Another thing to remember is not all dual core processers are the same. If it's an Intel and it's a Celeron or Pentium, or for AMD an Athlon x2, those are their bottom rung processors andnot worth the money if you can scrape into the higher class. Well if it's a Celeron stay away period. Pretty much all of the Core 2 and Phenom processors are going to be faster and more efficient, even if their clock speeds are lower, compared to the Pentiums and Athlons.

[wsbII]

Thank you everyone. Your insight was very helpful, now I just need to go and buy...