Need some help buying a new Windows PC for Coin Photography
Broadstruck
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I'm at wits end playing around with the Mac I've been using since my Dell died and would like to buy a new desktop Window PC. The Mac is very slow for photo processing. I don't need a gaming computer just need something for photography, work, and surfing the web. I need help with what to buy based on system specs as I get flustered.
Will this below be sufficient?
Intel Pentium Silver J5005, Intel UHD Graphics 605, 1TB HDD, 8GB SDRAM
Thanks in advance! 
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I'd want a more powerful processor than that. Image acquisition, manipulation, and storage is rather computationally-intensive. I would also want an SSD in addition to a HDD that I'd use for booting and installing software so that your computer starts up and loads software quickly. Then you can use your HDD just for storing data.
Some critical questions to answer:
Do you want a desktop rather than a laptop? Do you already have a monitor you'll be using, and if so, what video interfaces (DVI, HDMI, DP) and display modes are supported? What is your budget?
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Desktop and stay under $1K.
I have a monitor, but wouldn't mind something larger.
You must have an old Mac.
https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/DG.E0HAA.021
https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/imac/21.5-inch-3.0ghz-1tb#
Gees, what kind of processing are you doing that is making your mac so slow? Any photo processing I do on mine is instantaneous.
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OK, if I go to the Dell site and pick something to configure, I'm looking at the Inspiron 3670 with a couple upgrades. Change the processor to the Intel i5-8400 for faster image processing. Upgrade the graphics to the GeForce GT 1030, which will give you the ability to drive a 4K monitor at 60 Hz when you upgrade your monitor to a 4K with full sRGB color gamut. This puts you at $590. I can't see where to configure an SSD, so what I would do is buy a 250 GB Samsung 970 EVO NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD ($80 elsewhere), which plugs into a PCIe slot and will let you boot, load software, and run very fast compared to the HDD. Use the HDD to store image data. You can (should) later add a backup system to backup your HDD.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I'd get another Mac. They're disgustingly secure compared to windows and the OS is much faster. They handle memory better. Most artists and musicians and photo people I know use Mac (the rest Linux). There is nothing secure or rewarding or fast when it comes to current windows OS. If you won't pop the case and modify it, the warranty will serve you well. If money isn't an issue then you really shouldn't be buying a windows OS / PC.
I used to not like laptops. Now I can never see myself going back to a desktop!
I have a 1 TB drive and I’m running into storage issues. If you perceive any issues there, I’d consider a 2 TB.
A separate external drive for image storage would speed up performance. This is true for regular hard drives and SSDs, with the later showing gradually reduced performance with each writing/recording operation.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Generation - Black
20KH002HUS
$1,805.30
on sale when i priced it a few days ago. i7 intel. 1T SSD.
also on sale if you want to save a few bucks. it is what i am typing on right now. intel i5. but 512 gig SSD.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon 6th Generation - Black
20KH002QUS
$1,252.30
You can easily hook a nice monitor up to it via hdmi if needed. but the screen is awesome on the laptop.
this is one of the nicest small laptops money can buy right now. it is a true pleasure to use.
You can expect to handle large image files and also combine/manipulate them. Therefore, the PC will handle a lot of raw image data but not necessarily graphic transforms as needed for games. One suggestion includes: the fastest CPU that is compatible with the image handling software you want to use; the widest and fastest system bus (and clock) available; at least 32 (64 would be better) gig of RAM plus a 4 terabyte raid drive (data storage) preferably solid-state. Go with minimal OS clutter and remove/disable all the "cute crap" that Microsoft sticks in to make stuff look pretty but really wastes processor cycles. (Example - open zooming a small window will consume about 30-times the number of processor cycles of a "snap" opening.)
To me, something that looks like the XP interface, but is 10x or more faster might be adequate - especially when used with a modern SLR with a high pixel count.
holy cow. i highly doubt he is manipulating images like graphic artists do in photoshop or engineers use autocad.
If he is taking pictures that are larger then 100 megs he must be using the hubble telescope to take a shot.
As for storage a 1T SSD is plenty. Images that you do not use often you just stick on a thunderbolt storage device which is very high speed and available in many diff sizes.
It helps to know your budget and if you want to finally make the switch to a quality laptop with a good screen, fast specs, and a keyboard that is a joy to type on. And that is known as a thinkpad. End of story.
Go with intel - i5 is fine for your application. At least 32gb ram - it’s pretty inexpensive anyways. You do want at least a SSD primary for boot and essential programs - 256gb should be fine. Plus probably 2tb storage HDD (SSD for storage is overkill - raid is overkill and overly complex). Don’t need a huge video card as you will never do 4K before the P.C. becomes redundant (4K monitors still run 500-600 alone for negligible advantages over a 1080p for what you’re doing) and you don’t need the cuda cores for basic photo manipulation unless you’re doing heavy video processing. This setup will easily run Photoshop CC or any other image program. I’d say most important is the processor, ram and SSD in that order although I couldn’t live without a boot SSD having had one.
Budget is in the OP's 2nd post.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
storage is not an issue if you put all the photo files on flash drives.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
fc - Yeah, I was not thinking budget....and $1,000 will not buy anything close to what I suggested. Maybe I was thinking more of my personal ideal, rather than the OP's real needs.
As to image size, the Canon 5DS and 5DS R - have an image sensor with 50.6 megapixels on a standard 35mm frame. Try combining just 2 of those in RAW format, and you will need a lot of horsepower.
Thank you. I missed it.
1000, sadly, will not buy much. You really need to stretch to 1200 to 1600.
naturally < 1000 will get the job done. But it will not be a very optimal experience. Just another sub par desktop machine with a crappy monitor if lucky. just go to Dell's website and pick the desktop section. Make SSD mandatory. And not that rip off combo HD+small SSD for windows OS to boot... and watch the price zoom right past 1000 if they even offer a true quality SSD.
Like many here who work in the IT industry or like computers as a hobby.. the only way to build a monster machine for cheap is to build it yourself and find parts on sale. Lots of catches, takes time, and knowledge. After doing this for 10-20 years it gets really old.
That is why many people like myself just migrate to a high quality laptop like Lenovo's thinkpads. The one I mentioned is top of the line ultra low weight, 14 inch screen, long lasting battery, and just all around a delight to use.
I dont want to mess around with all that crap anymore. And if the model of Thinkpad is not powerful enough for you... you just pick a diff model of Thinkpad. Of course it is larger but they are designed all the way up for each person's need. Then if you want a docking station and all that jazz... monitors... etc... it can do it just fine.
Wow thanks everyone!
I can stretch to $1600 if it's something that's going to work for me for years to come. So much of this stuff becomes obsolete before you even buy it.
Just keep in mind it sounds like anything you buy will be a big upgrade from what you are used to.
But the basics are an Intel i5 or i7 or i9. I am using an i5 designed for a laptop.
8 gigs of ram at least.
a real SSD. 512 to 1000 gigs
thunderbolt 3 (better then USB)
and if it comes with at least that you are in good shape for everything else around it.
just decide if you want a laptop or desktop. everything else can be upgraded by plugging in thunderbolt devices for storage and what not.
If that's the case, upgrade your monitor to a 27" 4K display with full SRGB color gamut. I have the Dell P2715Q at home, which B&H Photo sells new for $409. That brings you up to just south of $1100 with the configuration I mentioned above. I have a couple cheaper 28" Samsung 4K monitors at work and they're noticeably inferior. Dell's replacement for the P2715Q is the U2718Q, which they sell for $570.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Unfortunately the average lifespan of puters is a measly 6-7 yrs in my experience.
Here is another pertinent question no one has asked:
@Broadstruck - What are you currently using?
Model, year, CPU clock speed + bus speed + number of cores, ram, graphics, hard drive, etc.?
My mac is super fast and I process 144 MB photo files all day long.
My Mac is 6 years old. Upgraded a year ago to blazing speed and storage.
The problem with macs is that apple is not taking them seriously the last couple of years. You pay a big premium for so so specs last I checked.