Getting a desktop, looking for input.

PJTierney

Looking into getting a desktop at the moment, mainly for image and video work (Photoshop, AfterEffects etc.) + basic stuff like documents and web browsing (I have the Xbox for gaming). Here's a bunch of specs I'm aiming for:

• Windows 7
• 4GB RAM (could settle for 3, but 4 is definitely preferred)
• 64-bit Processor (need this to run most of Adobe's CS5 package)

Don't want to spend anything over €800/850 if I can avoid it.

Went into PC World yesterday and spotted the following:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-touchsmar...144126-pdt.html

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/packard-bell...660998-pdt.html

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavilion-...318514-pdt.html

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavilion-...318515-pdt.html
(Includes printer)

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/acer-aspire-...&xtor=AL-11
(Couldn't find exact model on website, this is closest. Store model had Intel Dual Core 5300 processor)

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-g5135uk-06318565-pdt.html

Prices (converted to Euro) include €50 for Norton security, which I'll decline for a discount (I'd rather use Avast).

Argos also had the following that I was interested in:

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNum...%7C14419111.htm

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5083723.htm

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5083974.htm

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5083981.htm

I've had good experience with HP computers for the past 4 years (in college + my laptop's a HP G60) and am leaning towards the Touchsmart 300 (top pic), though I've read some off-putting things about it in reviews (the top seam tends to split, and the comp struggles with Photoshop).


Any help/advice appreciated

stuff.hunter

well, can't point you exactly which of these is the best for you (too lazy to check all specs )...but have a little advice
for photo and video editing most important things are
1. memory, more=better (min 4gb for win7, for video and photo 6gb...at least)
2. cpu faster=better (more than 2 cores, eg. i7)
3. biiig hdd
4. graphics (video) card with hardware video decoding/processing support (eg, Ati )

djrlittleton

if you adverse to the idea of building it could geta much better for the pc, if you decide to go that route jump overto the buildng and upgradng forum just state your budget and what you intend to use the desktop for,

the best reasons are to build your own better bang for buck and you will be able to custimoise it your needs

PJTierney

Same suggestion came up on another forum, but I'm not tech savvy enough to have the confidence to build. From the looks of things the Acer from Argos seems the most promising though, as it's a Quad Core with 4GB ram:

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5083730/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7COffice,+PCs+and+phones%7C14418968/c_2/2%7Ccat_14418968%7CComputers+and+monitors%7C14419111.htm

Just need to verify that it's a 64 bit system

ED E

Video is basically the most intensive thing an average user will do.

I'd look for:
i5 or PhenonX4 if stuck for cash. --> EDIT: Scratch the Phenon, Adobe and AMD dont get along. That means the one you linked is best avoided too.
6GB DDR3
Mid range GPU unless you'er using CUDA(somebody else can advise there)
Two large-ish HDDs rather than one really big one(Read one write another is fastest when the CPU isnt choking you down)
RAID is good too


RE: i7, is the threading supported by CS5? If no then there's no real point in one.

PJTierney

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

Video is basically the most intensive thing an average user will do.

I'd look for:
i5 or PhenonX4 if stuck for cash. --> EDIT: Scratch the Phenon, Adobe and AMD dont get along. That means the one you linked is best avoided too.
6GB DDR3
Mid range GPU unless you'er using CUDA(somebody else can advise there)
Two large-ish HDDs rather than one really big one(Read one write another is fastest when the CPU isnt choking you down)
RAID is good too


RE: i7, is the threading supported by CS5? If no then there's no real point in one.

Thanks for the input, I'll look into the AMD/Adobe issue.