Looking for advice for next PC purchase
I am moving to a new office and a new computer will be necessary. I would certainly appreciate any advice as to the specifications I should demand for a system that suits my needs. My knowledge concerning computer performance is 7 years old at best.
I work as a graphic designer and will need a system that can run Corel Draw, Illustrator, Photoshop, and AutoCAD (sometimes concurrently). I would also like to have two screens going at once. This would be a work-only system and will not be doing anything else.
What kind of processor and video card should I be looking at? Anything else I should consider?
Thank you in advance for any information or suggestions.
eppur_se_muova
(36,227 posts)Click on the "Card Database" tab to get info on any particular card. Actual models sold are in a table (with sortable columns) about halfway down.
For processors, you can always check Wikipedia ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core#Core_i7_4 The Haswell line is most developed, with up to 8 cores and 20 MB cache. Broadwell is newer, 14 nm technology, but only 2-4 cores so far. Don't know if your employer will spring for the eight-core models or not ...
csziggy
(34,119 posts)AMD Fx-8320 Eight-Core Processor 3.50 GHz with 32 GB RAM on an Asus ASUS M5A99X EVO motherboard. The graphics card I wanted would have cost more than all the other components for the computer so I went with an Asus NVidia GeForce GT 640 (2GB 128-Bit DDR3 on board) that can handle two monitors (two Asus 24" wide screens). With that much RAM I had to go to Windows Pro 64 bit but I stayed with Windows 7.
I started out with a 128 GB SS drive but ended up moving Windows to a 1 TB drive with a SSD cache - the 128 GB kept filling up even when I tried to force Windows to move crap to my data drive. I still have another of those 128 GB SSDs for my PhotoShop scratch disk.
I moved my 3 TB drive with all my data over from the old computer, then added a 4 TB drive for photos and raw scans. I also have a 4 TB backup drive. I still have an optical drive for backing up my scans to a non-volitale media and to share images with others when email can't handle the sizes. (I hate sending off thumb drives.)
With this setup I can scan from two scanners at once and batch process or edit pictures in PhotoShop at the same time. Usually I also have email and a browser window open and maybe a solitaire game.
Keep in mind this set up is now almost two years old but it is still rock solid. With my old system I kept running out of system memory; it's never been a problem with this one. Scanning is at least three times as fast as with the old system.
I bought all the parts from NewEggs.com and a local builder assembled it for me for a very low fee. Since I'd just had carpal tunnel surgery and my left thumb was in a brace I couldn't put it together myself so it was worth paying him to do it.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)I've used computers forever but I'm not good at 'building my own'. I want guarantees and support.
I got a computer for gaming last year from this company. The support before and after has been the very best I've ever had. They answer their phones/emails quickly. They'll help you build a graphic arts computer that will run as many monitors as you need. They have even helped me with parts and fixing my collection of almost antique PCs
Cyber Power Inc.
800-707-0393
tech support 888-900-5180
tech support626-869-0228
www.cyberpowerpc.com
edited to add a working link, don't let the flashie gaming computers scare you. They'll help you configure what you need and email you an exact invoice with prices clear. https://www.cyberpowerpc.com/
Egnever
(21,506 posts)Response to Throd (Original post)
Egnever This message was self-deleted by its author.