Help specking out a desktop PC

[marcmccalmont]

For the last 5 years I've been working on a iMac 27" running windows
I'd appreciate some help specking out a new windows desktop and 27" monitor
I'd like to limit the computer at $3k and the monitor at $1k
Who makes a good desktop that you can configure to your specs
I'm thinking i7, 32 gb ram, 3 tb hd, 256k SSD. Viewsonic 2772 4k monitor?
What vendors are you happy with?
Thanks in advance for your advice and recommendations
Marc

[armand]

Desktop or laptop?

A desktop with those specs can be had for much less than 3k.
For example a quick look on B&H shows this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1129726-REG/hp_z420_x_e5_3_0g_32gb_500ssd_3tb_blu_ray.html .
If you are willing to build your own you could do better, price or performance.

[BobShaw]

I'm wondering why you would cripple a 27" iMac by running windows on it.
It would probably run much faster with MacOS for free.

[marcmccalmont]

I'm wondering why you would cripple a 27" iMac by running windows on it.
It would probably run much faster with MacOS for free.

Simple, I like the hardware, have too much $$$ invested in windows software to pay conversion fees (if available) and I am comfortable with windows
Bootcamp seems to work well
Marc

[Erland]

Are a custom build something you would consider? If then, you could get a massive desktop for less than $2500. I often say that the highest i7 and plenty of ram is all you need, but my recent findings tells me a i5 with the correct gpu instead gives better performance in both PS and LR (if you run the latest versions). And all in all, perhaps spending 30-40% more money only gives you about 5-10% in performance increase.

[marcmccalmont]

Are a custom build something you would consider? If then, you could get a massive desktop for less than $2500. I often say that the highest i7 and plenty of ram is all you need, but my recent findings tells me a i5 with the correct gpu instead gives better performance in both PS and LR (if you run the latest versions). And all in all, perhaps spending 30-40% more money only gives you about 5-10% in performance increase.

Yes I would be happy with either a custom build or DYI from a reputable vendor
Marc

[Erland]

Then I would split the budget to more money for the screen, less for the computer than what you said earlier. Speed increase in PS and LR are today not made in such a big leaps as before, and a good monitor could easily be worth it the investment instead. Though in the QHD (the 2772 isn't 4K if I remember correctly) the Viewsonic is hard to beat at that pricepoint. Do you own a calibration puck like the i1 Display Pro or alike?

[marcmccalmont]

Then I would split the budget to more money for the screen, less for the computer than what you said earlier. Speed increase in PS and LR are today not made in such a big leaps as before, and a good monitor could easily be worth it the investment instead. Though in the QHD (the 2772 isn't 4K if I remember correctly) the Viewsonic is hard to beat at that pricepoint. Do you own a calibration puck like the i1 Display Pro or alike?

I've got 2 one purchased just for monitors then a few years later an i1 for paper and screen profiles....Marc

[Erland]

Thinking about it, have you considered the new 27" iMac? the i5 5K, 256 ssd with 32GB ram is around $3000? and the new panel is around DCI color space.

[Alan Goldhammer]

Yes I would be happy with either a custom build or DYI from a reputable vendor
Marc

I build my own PCs but I think that you will find Puget Systems a very good vendor:  https://www.pugetsystems.com/  They are quite particular about the components that they select and probably can work with you to get you exactly what you need. they know a fair amount about photography and have published quite a lot on their website about the importance of various parts.

Alan

[marcmccalmont]

Thinking about it, have you considered the new 27" iMac? the i5 5K, 256 ssd with 32GB ram is around $3000? and the new panel is around DCI color space.

Yes I have and that is still a consideration I'm hoping for a monitor only of this quality from apple
But another iMac 27 5k, external thunderbolt storage and bootcamp might be the answer?....Marc

[marcmccalmont]

I build my own PCs but I think that you will find Puget Systems a very good vendor:  https://www.pugetsystems.com/  They are quite particular about the components that they select and probably can work with you to get you exactly what you need. they know a fair amount about photography and have published quite a lot on their website about the importance of various parts.

Alan

I am in touch with them ...Thanks Marc

[marcmccalmont]

Looks like the Dell UP2715K would be a better choice?  $1700 at amazon ... Marc

[Chris Livsey]

I build my own PCs but I think that you will find Puget Systems a very good vendor:  https://www.pugetsystems.com/ 
Alan

I had visited this site before based on your recommendation and found it very interesting, thank you.
The reports and advice are specific to Adobe products, widely used of course, personally I am a Capture One user. Are you, or others, aware if the advice is transferrable,obviously it will be generally, but more specifically on GPU and Core use?
I would ask them direct but it seems disingenuous as being UK based I will not be purchasing from them.
The advice from similar UK vendors is slanted to video processing and not still, no doubt the size of the C1 Uk market is not sufficient to warrant specific testing.

[marcmccalmont]

I had visited this site before based on your recommendation and found it very interesting, thank you.
The reports and advice are specific to Adobe products, widely used of course, personally I am a Capture One user. Are you, or others, aware if the advice is transferrable,obviously it will be generally, but more specifically on GPU and Core use?
I would ask them direct but it seems disingenuous as being UK based I will not be purchasing from them.
The advice from similar UK vendors is slanted to video processing and not still, no doubt the size of the C1 Uk market is not sufficient to warrant specific testing.

They have been great in helping me spec out a PC
FYI this is what we came up with
Asus Maximus VIII GENE   
CPU   star Intel Core i7 6700K 4.0GHz Quad Core 8MB 95W   
Ram   star Crucial 32GB DDR4-2133 (4x8GB)   
Video Card   star Asus GeForce GTX 950 2GB STRIX DirectCU II OC   
Sound Card   star Onboard Sound   
Networking   spacer Intel WiFi/Bluetooth 7260 802.11a/b/g/n/ac PCI-E Adapter   
spacer
Storage
Hard Drive   spacer Plextor M6e 512GB M.2 x2 SSD w/ PCI-E x4 adapter
spacer
spacer    Comments: Primary drive.
   
star Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 2.5inch SSD
spacer
spacer    Comments: Secondary drive.
   
spacer Western Digital Red 4TB SATA 6Gb/s
spacer
spacer    Comments: Tertiary drive.
   
spacer Western Digital Red 4TB SATA 6Gb/s
spacer
spacer    Comments: Quaternary drive.
   
CD / DVD   star Asus 16x Blu-ray Burner SATA (black) Special Notes   
spacer
Case / Cooling
Case   star Fractal Design Define Mini Special Notes   
Power Supply   star Seasonic X-650 650W Power Supply   
CPU Cooling   star Gelid Tranquillo Rev3   
Additional Cooling   star Arctic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Compound Upgrade   
spacer
Software
OS   star Windows 10 Pro 64-bit   
spacer
Peripherals
Keyboard   star Logitech Cordless Desktop MK320   
spacer
Accessories
Warranty   star Warranty: Lifetime Labor and Tech Support, 1 Year Parts   
spacer

I will reward them with an order for their time and effort....Marc

PC $3500 us,  Monitor LG 31 MU97-b $1000 us
Note the system is based on a skylake processor and a motherboard with M.2  and USB 3.1C
the operating system SSD is using the M.2 PCI e x4 slot the second SSD is a sata for in use files the 2x4Tb drives are raid 1 storage
the motherboard will handle 16 gbyte x 4 ram.
Hope this helps....Marc
I'm sure C1 and DXO will operate fast on this machine

[DeanChriss]

FWIW, I've been using a system from Puget for over 5 years. They were very responsive, I had no issues with them, and the system is still working fast and flawlessly, even with 50MP RAW files.

[projector]

For the last 5 years I've been working on a iMac 27" running windows
I'd appreciate some help specking out a new windows desktop and 27" monitor
I'd like to limit the computer at $3k and the monitor at $1k
Who makes a good desktop that you can configure to your specs
I'm thinking i7, 32 gb ram, 3 tb hd, 256k SSD. Viewsonic 2772 4k monitor?
What vendors are you happy with?
Thanks in advance for your advice and recommendations
Marc

You want gaming pc? do yeah?  because i don't think you need 32 gbs of ram.