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Going digital (300D) requires a good computer; what minimum equipment?
- Thread starter DOUGLAS2
- Start date
gpichler
Forum Enthusiast
David Waelder
Well-known member
I'm using a P4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM and disk (plenty)
My VGA card is a RADEON 8500LE 128Mb
Most important, a good monitor! (Mine is Sony SDM-X72 TFT)
It works just fine but I wish RAW files transfer from the CF card was faster...
Regards,
David.
there was a SIG here.
It is gone now
My VGA card is a RADEON 8500LE 128Mb
Most important, a good monitor! (Mine is Sony SDM-X72 TFT)
It works just fine but I wish RAW files transfer from the CF card was faster...
Regards,
David.
--
there was a SIG here.
It is gone now
BSell
Senior Member
I agree that the monitor plays an important role. If it won't display the true nature of your shot, your life adjusting photos will be very hard.
Minimum requirements would be a seperate video card with plenty of onboard memory and a good video processor. Nothing extravagant as you are only processing 2D images. The on-the-motherboard video circuits aren't what you need for photo work.
Plenty of speedy RAM and a good processor should do the trick. Don't forget the storage (hard drive).
I would suggest you look for something in the middle to upper 3/4 of any big computer manufacturer's line with the above minimums. There isn't much gained by the hobbist going top of the line other than a thinner wallet! If you were a dedicated professional, then the extra speed would be money in the bank from the time saved.
As David stated, a fast CF reader is a time saver in itself. I have a FireWire CF reader on order. I have heard they are faster than the current crop of USB 2.0 compliant readers.
Brian
Minimum requirements would be a seperate video card with plenty of onboard memory and a good video processor. Nothing extravagant as you are only processing 2D images. The on-the-motherboard video circuits aren't what you need for photo work.
Plenty of speedy RAM and a good processor should do the trick. Don't forget the storage (hard drive).
I would suggest you look for something in the middle to upper 3/4 of any big computer manufacturer's line with the above minimums. There isn't much gained by the hobbist going top of the line other than a thinner wallet! If you were a dedicated professional, then the extra speed would be money in the bank from the time saved.
As David stated, a fast CF reader is a time saver in itself. I have a FireWire CF reader on order. I have heard they are faster than the current crop of USB 2.0 compliant readers.
Brian
My VGA card is a RADEON 8500LE 128Mb
Most important, a good monitor! (Mine is Sony SDM-X72 TFT)
It works just fine but I wish RAW files transfer from the CF card
was faster...
Regards,
David.
--
there was a SIG here.
It is gone now
ira_e
Well-known member
I bought a USB 2.0 reader (Addonics Digidrive) for about $25 and it runs almost as fast as a hard drive. Excellent. Indispenable.
Shoot First Edit Later
--My VGA card is a RADEON 8500LE 128Mb
Most important, a good monitor! (Mine is Sony SDM-X72 TFT)
It works just fine but I wish RAW files transfer from the CF card
was faster...
Regards,
David.
--
there was a SIG here.
It is gone now
Shoot First Edit Later
My recommendation:
1gb+ RAM
100gb+ HD space
19" monitor
P4 processor
USB2 card reader
My current setup:
1gb ram
90gb HD
17" monitor
AMD 1.2ghz T-bird (noisy fan)
USB1 card reader : (
I think the most important item for me to buy now would be a new WD 7200rpm 8mb cache 120gb HD, seeing that on average pictures are 3mb size, I'm quickly running out of HD space... arGghhhhhh!!
Nikon CP 4500, Canon EOS 300D
1gb+ RAM
100gb+ HD space
19" monitor
P4 processor
USB2 card reader
My current setup:
1gb ram
90gb HD
17" monitor
AMD 1.2ghz T-bird (noisy fan)
USB1 card reader :
I think the most important item for me to buy now would be a new WD 7200rpm 8mb cache 120gb HD, seeing that on average pictures are 3mb size, I'm quickly running out of HD space... arGghhhhhh!!
--
Nikon CP 4500, Canon EOS 300D
Mike Christie
Well-known member
I agree... what I would add is that if you're doing lots of Photoshop then the more RAM the better. My current machine has 512MB but my next machine (early next year when I've paid for the 300D and new lenses!) will have 2GB.
Mike.
Mike.
Daniel B81999
Well-known member
How about DVD RW? It's the way of the future.
Forget CDRW, think DVD + - RW. They can do cd's as well
N
Negative287
Guest
P4 or Athlon XP 2 Gig or above CPU
A nice ASUS, ABIT or TYAN mainboard
512 Megs of DDR 333 or above will do the trick
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 with Audigy drive (might as well have good sound and fire wire)
A decent Radeon or Geforce FX based graphics card with a minimum of 64 Megs of video ram.
60 Gig Internal Hard drive
200 Gig External Firewire hard drive
DVD+ -RW
Firewire Card Reader
19" Monitor (doesn't have to be top quality because calibration is more important then name brand but if you have the money get the Samsung 19" ARGB monitor).
'The only real currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with each other when we're being uncool.' -- Cameron Crowe
A nice ASUS, ABIT or TYAN mainboard
512 Megs of DDR 333 or above will do the trick
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 with Audigy drive (might as well have good sound and fire wire)
A decent Radeon or Geforce FX based graphics card with a minimum of 64 Megs of video ram.
60 Gig Internal Hard drive
200 Gig External Firewire hard drive
DVD+ -RW
Firewire Card Reader
19" Monitor (doesn't have to be top quality because calibration is more important then name brand but if you have the money get the Samsung 19" ARGB monitor).
--
'The only real currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with each other when we're being uncool.' -- Cameron Crowe
N
Negative287
Guest
I forgot the most important thing,
A good Power Supply (I recommed PC Power and Cooling 475 Watt).
'The only real currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with each other when we're being uncool.' -- Cameron Crowe
A good Power Supply (I recommed PC Power and Cooling 475 Watt).
--
'The only real currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with each other when we're being uncool.' -- Cameron Crowe
Dr. Don Sandell
Senior Member
Here are a few suggestions for a decent less expensive box:
Athlon or Pentium 4 @ 2.5 Gigahertz or better
120 gig Western Digital hard drive (special edition with 8 meg cache)
1 gig of DDR ram (Elements sometimes locks up with 512)
decent video card with at least 128 megs of DDR ram (256 even better)
19" (at least) monitor of a GOOD quality (don't scrimp here)
Motherboard....make sure it supports USB 2.0 or firewire or both
USB 2.0 or firewire card reader
and whatever other goodies you throw in.
Best and fastest system (and biggest bucks)
Athlon 64 or even faster Athlon 64 FX51 processor
If you go with this system you better have deep pockets.
For me........I learned a long time ago to never build (or buy) a nosebleed system.....way to much bucks for bragging rights that only last a month or two.
I'm personally upgrading to a Athlon XP 2500+ (Barton core) $90
another stick of 512 meg (total 1 gig) pc 3200 DDR ram $100
mobo to support the Barton $90
Currently running an Athlon 1800+ with 512 megs of ram. My upgrade will be less than $300. Yours will depend on what your currently running.
Athlon or Pentium 4 @ 2.5 Gigahertz or better
120 gig Western Digital hard drive (special edition with 8 meg cache)
1 gig of DDR ram (Elements sometimes locks up with 512)
decent video card with at least 128 megs of DDR ram (256 even better)
19" (at least) monitor of a GOOD quality (don't scrimp here)
Motherboard....make sure it supports USB 2.0 or firewire or both
USB 2.0 or firewire card reader
and whatever other goodies you throw in.
Best and fastest system (and biggest bucks)
Athlon 64 or even faster Athlon 64 FX51 processor
If you go with this system you better have deep pockets.
For me........I learned a long time ago to never build (or buy) a nosebleed system.....way to much bucks for bragging rights that only last a month or two.
I'm personally upgrading to a Athlon XP 2500+ (Barton core) $90
another stick of 512 meg (total 1 gig) pc 3200 DDR ram $100
mobo to support the Barton $90
Currently running an Athlon 1800+ with 512 megs of ram. My upgrade will be less than $300. Yours will depend on what your currently running.
Dr. Don Sandell
Senior Member
Oops..........forgot this..........CD burner MANDATORY. DVD burner much better but pricier.
eddie anton
Forum Enthusiast
I have both a Dell P4 240GHZ 512 Ram with a Samsung 19” 191T Flat Panel Monitor
and a iMac 1 GHZ 768 Ram 80 Gig Hard drive. Both were about the same price.
Speed, no comparison, The Dell P4 is much faster. To get more speed from a Mac I could have bought a G4 or G5 but that’s $3,000 without speakers and Monitor., and I could have bought Dell P4 300 GHZ for only $2,000.
I do all my Processing on my Dell P4 because it is faster in ALL my software applications. My iMac is to sloooooooow
life is to short.
Have fun
Eddie
and a iMac 1 GHZ 768 Ram 80 Gig Hard drive. Both were about the same price.
Speed, no comparison, The Dell P4 is much faster. To get more speed from a Mac I could have bought a G4 or G5 but that’s $3,000 without speakers and Monitor., and I could have bought Dell P4 300 GHZ for only $2,000.
I do all my Processing on my Dell P4 because it is faster in ALL my software applications. My iMac is to sloooooooow
life is to short.
Have fun
Eddie
I just finished building an AMD 3200 64bit system on an Asus mb with 3gigs of ddr ramh, 2 120gig 15k rpm hd's, and a 256mb ATI video card. USB 2 isnt that great as tests show it's not much faster than 1 but I have it anyway. The system is much faster than my P4 3.2gig which I gave to my son. My largest 10D Raw files move very fast but I’m sure it will be stressed when I get my 1Ds hehe.
Ryoohki
Leading Member
I'am gonna change mine next year, right now i have a Celeron 600mhz with 256meg ram, Takes 45-60sec per picture to process RAW photos.
Plan to buy :
P4 - 2.4ghz FSB 800mhz
Asus P4P800DX
Kingston PC3200(400mhz) 512meg
WesternDigital Raptor SATA 120gig
Black Floppy
Antec Server SX1040-II Black Casing
ATI 9600PRO
Creative Labs Audigy II OEM
Dlink 10/100
LG 48/24/48 + DVD Black
I'll change everything expect the monitor and Kb/Mouse, right now it's 1350$CAD for the whole. Since i plan to put the same amount of money next year, the stuff while change for sure (CPU and RAM)
Ryoohki's Pbase (Canon EOS Digital Rebel - Sept 20)
http://www.pbase.com/ryoohki/ (Pbase Supporter)
Plan to buy :
P4 - 2.4ghz FSB 800mhz
Asus P4P800DX
Kingston PC3200(400mhz) 512meg
WesternDigital Raptor SATA 120gig
Black Floppy
Antec Server SX1040-II Black Casing
ATI 9600PRO
Creative Labs Audigy II OEM
Dlink 10/100
LG 48/24/48 + DVD Black
I'll change everything expect the monitor and Kb/Mouse, right now it's 1350$CAD for the whole. Since i plan to put the same amount of money next year, the stuff while change for sure (CPU and RAM)
--
Ryoohki's Pbase (Canon EOS Digital Rebel - Sept 20)
http://www.pbase.com/ryoohki/ (Pbase Supporter)
Honestly, now days you would have a hard time buying a computer not powerful enough. My daughters computer that cost 600$ is way more than enough for this application.
I would say however that two parts of the system are critical:
1) The monitor (not included in the 600$ above)
2) The video card
Many cheap computers come with abysmal video cards often on board. You want to replace it with something decent. It won't cost much to do it (and I wouldn't until you see if you are happy with what came with the computer).
As for the monitor, I much prefer traditional monitors over LCDs for this application. I would suggest a 19" or larger.
--
For a small gallery of 300d pictures, see:
http://ratphoto.home.comcast.net/
They were taken with the EF-S 18-55 kit lens as well as a 70-200 F4L.
Wild-Mike
Veteran Member
--
http://tkis.com/wild-mike/
It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer -- Albert Einstein
DigRblMark
Forum Enthusiast
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