new computer specs

[DanK]

The new laptop I've just configured isn't really adequate; it can't handle the complex Adobe functions in a reasonable time. So, I am looking at replacing the desktop that was recalled. I'm considering the following specs and would appreciate any feedback about their adequacy.

thanks

CPU: Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 235 (24 MB cache, 14 cores, 14 threads, 2.9 GHz to 5.0 GHz, 65W)

GPU: NVIDIA® RTX™ A400, 4 GB GDDR6, 4 mDP to DP adapters

RAM: 16GB: 1 x 16 GB, DDR5, 5600 MT/s, ECC

Internal storage (I plan to keep my photos on an external SSD): 512 GB, M.2 2230, TLC PCIe Gen4, SSD

[Manfred M]

Dan - I would bump the RAM to 32GB (although with what is happening with RAM prices these days, I understand going with a lower amount). My old machine was 32GB and was swapping out regularly.

Everyone I have spoken to suggests that AMD processors are better value (cost and performance) that Intel right now, so a current model Ryzen 7 might be worth looking at. I went with a Ryzen 9 9950X (it was on sale and it was less expensive than the CPU I was looking at).

From a M.2 system drive, the computer I just replaced had 1TB and I did not use it for any file storage (other than email) and I almost ran out of space, so my new build uses 2TB M.2 system drive and I use a second M/2 for swap memory to speed up edits as well as a working drive. I have a number of Adobe Creative Cloud apps, MS Office and a few other specialty apps and I am up to 761GB in use.

[DanK]

Manfred,

Thanks. After I posted, I looked at Lenovo's site, and one of the machines that they have on special offer has much better specs: 32 GB RAM, an NVIDIA RTX™ A1000 8GB GDDR6, and a 1 TB SSD. My old machine had 1 TB, and I didn't come close to filling it, so I think that's OK for me. None of the ones I have looked at offer the AMD as an alternative.

The killer was Adobe's AI-based denoise. I don't use denoising often, but I certainly want access to it, and with my laptop, I had to wait minutes for something that should have taken seconds. I tried Lightroom's new subject selection, which allows you to select things like "mountains", and I could have brewed a cup of coffee while waiting.

Dan

[Geoff F]

What has happened to ACR Denoise? While my computer is a lower spec I was getting Denoise to process average images in about 5 minutes (just about acceptable) but now it takes over 20 minutes to do the same job.

[Manfred M]

My guess is that they have tweaked the algorithm and that has really slowed it down.

I have a very fast current generation (Ryzen 9 9950x CPU) and lots of fast RAM (128 GB) and a very noisy 16MB raw file takes about a minute to be processed with ACR denoise. The right side is after denoise and the left is the original image.

[DanK]

I just timed a few functions on my Dell laptop, which has an Intel Core Ultra165U, 2.1 GHz, 12 cores, 14 logical processors, and 16 GB RAM. It has only Intel integrated graphics, which is its weak link. I used OM-1 files, which are small, 20.2 megapixels. Denoise took about 2 1/2 minutes. I don't know whether the amount of noise matters, but it was a very clean image. Identifying landscape features for masking took about a minute. There are many other features that are AI-based and slow. It's tolerable, but interruptions that long are a nuisance and, I find, somewhat disruptive.

[DanK]

I just ordered the Lenovo I mentioned. It is actually a mini, which is a format I hadn't considered: it's about 7 by 7.2 inches (17.8 x 18.2 cm). It was nearly 40% off and gets very good reviews. I bought the version with 32 GB RAM, an 8 GB Nividia GPU, and a 1 TB SSD. The price before tax was just under US $1300, and I didn't find anything roughly comparable for anywhere near that price. Should have it by Wednesday, but given how long it takes to set up and configure a new computer, I doubt I will have any photo editing experience with it for a few weeks.

I've never had a Lenovo desktop, but I have had several Lenovo laptops, and they have been very good, so here's hoping.