How much to spend

[PTMD]

Hello All,

I spend only 4 to 7 hrs a week (maximum) doing photo editing, sometimes i don't do any. I use adode lightroom 4 and have not done any video editing, but would like to with Adobe Premiere Pro. With my current laptop, Lenovo T400, I find this current experience extremely slow and painful.

Knowing that this is only a hobby (not my professional career). How much would be appropriate to spend on a new PC (or laptop)? and where should i direct the most money too?

Thanx in advance for all the help

 

[Jacob McIntosh]

Look at the HP ENVY line. They are good, mid range gaming (or graphics) computers for under 600(the ones w/out i7 processors).

 

[butremor]

For new pc you can get medium editing machine just for 700$ and ~150 for monitor.

 

[ptdm]

Thank you Jacob for your response, i think i want to build (or at least have) a desktop now.

butremor - what would i spec out with a $700 budget? and monitor?

 

[butremor]

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xdhP
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xdhP/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xdhP/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($93.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($43.26 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: CoolMax 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $678.15
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-28 10:38 EDT-0400)

Smth like this. Plus enough left for Asus 23' monitor, i reckon.

 

[ptdm]

thank you,

i was reading that Intel and Nvidia are better for editing, is there any truth to that? Is there an intel Nvidia equivalent to what you suggested?

fyi, using Adobe software to do all the editing.

 

[butremor]

intel? maybe but that processor costs 200$ more than current.
Nvidia? Sure, they have CUDA cores which speeds up some actions in adobe.

So here goes
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xgag
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xgag/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1xgag/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($93.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card ($193.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Corsair 200R ATX Mid Tower Case ($44.99 @ Microcenter)
Power Supply: XFX 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($61.24 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $661.12
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-08-28 13:19 EDT-0400)

Videocard is actually not an equivalent, but still almost high end piece. So it's cheaper and i switched few components around for better overall perfomance