Ok... need a little computer advice

MommaTrish

MommaTrish

Well-known member
We're going to be buying a desktop, but it'll be a PC. MAC's are what I'm used to so I need some help. I tend to run PSE, Lightroom, and CS at the same time and don't want to get something that'll be freezing up on me all the time with those all open. Do y'all have any recommendations? I've looked into Dell and HP, and while I like the price of the Dell better I have to wonder if the HP costs more because it does better. Plus I have no idea what kind of video card I'll need to support all of those programs.
Help! Please!!!
 
it for sure has to be a pc? if you are used to mac.. pc lovers don't hate me for saying this.. but you might get REALLY frustrated. I started on a mac where i worked in a print shop and when i bought a computer for home to do digi scrapping on i was NEVER satisfied until I bought a mac for home..
 
Last edited:
I had a Notebook that cost more than anything we are looking at so far and managed to get 5 viruses on it. My hubby is kinda disillusioned by MACs now. I've been using my mom's PC since then so I'm used to that put its just so old, and seems to be terrified if I even have just CS and PSE open. THe main thing is my hubby doesn't want to spend the money for a MAC desktop if our sons will be using it too.
 
My Dell freaked out with just CS4 and Firefox open... if I opened Bridge it was EXTREMELY sloooooow. Is there a reason you're not going to get a Mac if you've already had Macs?
 
I'd go with a custom build. We built mine and it runs PSE, CS4, and oodles of other crap at once without being laggy. We went through cyberpowerpc.com for ours, have gotten 5 desktops through them so far and all have been great.
 
I've had a Dell & an HP. You're goign to get a ton of different responses as each situation is different etc... but I much prefer the Dell. My HP was horrible.. absolutely horrible. Just make sure you get enough specs to run your programs and you'll be fine.
 
KristinCB said:
it for sure has to be a pc? if you are used to mac.. pc lovers don't hate me for saying this.. but you might get REALLY frustrated. I started on a mac where i worked in a print shop and when i bought a computer for home to do digi scrapping on i was NEVER satisfied until I bought a mac for home..
Click to expand...

Totally agree with this. My DH has a desktop PC and it drives me crazy it to use it now that I'm so used to my Mac.

lauren grier said:
My HP was horrible.. absolutely horrible. Just make sure you get enough specs to run your programs and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

You can add me to the HP=horrible group. I'm a custom-build kind of girl but the lone pre-built computer I had was an HP and yeah, never ever again would I buy one of those. :thumbdown::thumbdown:
 
Honestly..I think the amount of RAM you have is more of a factor than what brand computer.

We bought a Dell Studio XPS back last fall with 8 gigs of RAM and a 500gb hard drive and it runs smooth as silk. I keep my PSPX2, lightroom, my browser and several folders open on it most of the day and it has never frozen on me once.
I'm not sure of the graphics card...DH did all that but he always says pick what you'll need and then always go one step above that. Not sure if that helps but that's his philosophy lol
 
I've had nothing but HP's and have had nothing but good experiences with them, LOL!

Get a lot of RAM, and get a really good graphics card and you'll be just fine with whatever you get. I bought an HP laptop about 2 years ago now, and I ended up getting one of their higher end gaming systems. Since the games need lots of RAM and great graphics cards to run well, it was a good fit.
 
I have had 2 HP's and all but the last month or two Ive loved them. The only issue I have had with my current HP is that it has had some errors with the fan not working. I think it is going out. Cost to replace it is only 19 dollars so not a huge thing. I think though that which computer you buy does not really matter so much as what is in the computer. I found one at B.J.'s for like 800 and it has 7 gigabytes of RAM and 1 terabyte harddrive and comes with a 23 inch monitor.
 
Well...you all know I am solidly in the Mac camp and would never go back to PC...that said, when I did have PCs, I had a Dell and 2 HPs. Both HPs were CRAPTASTIC....and that little Dell...well it is still chugging along today. My kids use it for web surfing.

Susan
 
we've had the opposite experience... our Dells were crap and we have a refurbished HP that we've had for 8 years and is still running awesome... we just need something bigger...

what we've heard about HPs is that the home versions aren't the best quality but that the business HPs are what to look for out one that we still have is a business HP which is probably why it's still running so great
 
Heather both of mine are home versions. The older one is still running and its now 9 years old. The one I am on now is just over 3 years old.
 
If I were you, I'd determine your max price and then find the place where you can get the best hardware for your budget. Lots of RAM and HD and you'll be fine.

I have a PIMPED OUT refurbished Dell notebook that I bought 18 months ago. Every single night I sit down to scrap and I run ACDSee, Lightroom, and Photoshop and it purrs like a kitten.

Until ACDSee crashes, but that's not the computer's fault :p
 
nikkiARNGwife said:
(...)
We bought a Dell Studio XPS back last fall with 8 gigs of RAM and a 500gb hard drive and it runs smooth as silk. I keep my PSPX2, lightroom, my browser and several folders open on it most of the day and it has never frozen on me once (...)
Click to expand...

Here's the same - except that I don't have that amount of RAM. Sometimes I run CS3 + PSP + Firefox full of add-ons + Lightroom same time
 
I have a custom built desktop and I run ACDSee, Photoshop CS4, Illustrator CS4, Tweetdeck and Firefox at the same time without the computer to crash. And that even with most parts being pretty old! I have a Gigabyte motherboard GA-8, 2 Leadtek 7950GT SLI graphic adaptor, 3GB RAM, Athlon64 4600+ processor, a couple hardrives and Windows XP SP3. All that in a Thermaltake Case which has 4 build in fans and a Thermaltake 800W power supply with extra fans. And let me tell you all parts are 4 years old! I run dual screens, Wacom tablet, printer and scanner with it also, so yeah, my PC has to cope with a lot and it does dang well! If I say so myself ;)
 
Well, I'm a Mac user, but my fiance's computer started out as a Dell before he began upgrading it, and he was pretty happy with it. He's had problems with it recently, but those are due to the parts he upgraded.
 
I have both a Mac and a PC, so I won't get into the Mac/PC debate---as I am shizophrenic!

I think it is more the specs than the brand. Get as much RAM as you can afford and check out the speed of your processor. Look for cache of 2MB and make sure that your graphics card is decent.

For processor comparisons and descriptions: http://kb.wisc.edu/showroom/page.php?id=4927

I am looking at this one for $699:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pa...ategoryId=pcmcat200200050003&id=1218150609828

or this one for $599
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pa...ategoryId=pcmcat200200050003&id=1218146395806
 
With PC's the brand isn't going to really matter much because each build that they have uses different parts from different manufacturers. That's why you will hear good and bad about Dells and HPs. I have had great luck with HP but your milage may vary. I.hate.gateway. (are they even in business?)

That said, make sure you get something that has a lot of room for expansion on the motherboard and within the case. You won't regret it later when programs advance and you need more memory or another slot for an internal hard drive. Also make sure that your graphics card has it's own on-board memory. This keeps it from taking it from your computer memory and often will prevent the white screens when you are using high graphics programs.

If you can build your own that is always the best route to go. You can research reviews on each and every part. You can buy the best and what suits your needs. I did that and my system is about 2.5 years old now and running strong with a couple upgrades!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top