Component considerations for non-gaming system

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daddywalter

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I realize Tom's Hardware's primary focus is on gaming, and gaming is pretty much the definition of "high performance computing" these days; but I wonder if a build designed for gaming is necessarily the best choice for someone who appreciates high performance in SOHO and other non-gaming applications. Would a SOHO or workstation-class computer benefit from components that would not normally go into a high-end game machine? For example, is a graphics card designed for gaming always the best choice for video-editing or Photoshop? Perhaps Tom's Hardware could provide a tutorial explaining which component classes are better suited to non-gaming computer use. Or maybe the best computer for (example) a semi-pro photographer or accountant _is_ a gaming machine ... I don't know, but I'd like to.
 
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Spectre694
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Spectre694

Spectre694

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Nah gaming builds are rarely the best choice for other usages usually too much GPU budget compared to other components. It really depends on your desired use case as to what the "best" will be though.

Just a quick ex. 4K video editing will want gobs of RAM, a very beefy CPU, and fast disks but most doesn't need the best GPU.
An accountant won't even need a discrete GPU and only a little RAM and middling CPU.
 
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Corwin65

Corwin65

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We definitely do more than gaming here. I learn a lot by reading all the questions and answers.

To answer your question, the key is in describing your needs in your question. Sometimes a follow-up question to your question will clarify things and many of us can help guide you to the best options available to you.
 
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daddywalter

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What I envision is a good, general-purpose computer that does everything well (or "well enough"), but isn't especially optimized for gaming. I'm an Olde Pharte (67) and retiree with a lot of interests,; but gaming is a low priority compared with photography (and a growing interest in video), music editing, writing, financial management, learning to code and the usual e-mail and Web-surfing. Most computers will handle any of these things well enough, but I'm also a "performance" person. If computers were automobiles, I'd want a powerful pickup or SUV that can burn rubber at traffic lights or tow a goat trailer at highway speeds, rather than a car designed for winning at Le Mans. (Do I need all that power? Of course not -- but I enjoy having it available when I stomp hard on the accelerator pedal. And just for the record: I haven't smoked tires in decades; that was just a metaphor for the sort of power I like.)
 
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Spectre694

Spectre694

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Ahh I've gotcha now. Just a pretty decent general purpose that can also game. Ya that's no big deal you didn't have anything too special or demanding in that list so really it just depends on your budget as to what you'll get.
 
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daddywalter

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Exactly! What I have in mind is a computer that _could_ do gaming, but isn't especially optimized for it; it would be more a powerful general-purpose computer that can do almost everything (except gaming) well that a home or small-office user might throw at it.

That said, how important would typical premium-gaming parts be? For example, would an Intel Z-series motherboard offer advantages beyond overclocking that I might need or want? Does the number of CPU cores and threads count for more than sheer (overclocked) speed? Or storage: I'm thinking a fast SSD would be important for OS and applications, but a good conventional HDD would be entirely adequate for data storage. For photo and video editing, resolution would be important, but FPS probably not so much. This is the sort of information I'd like to find in a tutorial or how-to.
 
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