Upgrade or Switch to Mac......

Wyvern971

Wyvern971

Suspended / Banned
Messages
371
Name
George
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm currently using my PC (spec below) for all my image work.

Dual Nocona 2.8Ghz Xeon
2Gb PC2700 ECC RAM
250Gb Samsung Spinpoint HDD
Windows XP x64
Adobe Photoshop 6.0
Canon DPP
Pixmantec Rawshooter Essentials 2006

I'm considering one of the following paths, but am undecided on which

1)
Upgrade PC with more RAM,
Buy Photoshop CS2 / Lightroom

2)
Leave PC as is,
Buy a Mac Pro
Buy Photoshop CS2 / Apature (or Lightroom)

3)
Don't spend anything and work with what I've got

Questions;
Is there a noticeable improvement moving to CS2 from V6?
Should I wait for CS3?
Is there a compelling reason to switch to a Mac?
(I know the Mac interface may be "nicer". Stability wise my x64 system hasn't crashed once since I installed it around 2 years ago, and is reasonably nippy. Security wise I am not concerned at all as I'm a fairly competent sysadmin.)
 
Looking at your specs you only need to upgrade your software. I'd go for a nice Vista install and CS2.
 
Are you having problems with that system? or is it just a case of "I gotta spend!"

I doubt you need more ram but you might see an imrovement with faster ram if your mobo will accept it, probably not a huge difference but....
 
Steep said:
Are you having problems with that system? or is it just a case of "I gotta spend!"

I doubt you need more ram but you might see an improvement with faster ram if your mobo will accept it, probably not a huge difference but....
Click to expand...

Nope, not got a gotta spend bug, but at some point during the next year I was thinking of using this PC for photo editing and getting a newer PC for gaming.

My sister is at uni for another year so I was thinking of getting her to buy it as she gets a discount on both the software and the Mac hardware.

Unfortunately my MoBo only supports up to PC2700 and requires ECC ram (server board) however it does have 6 slots and supports 12Gb (not that I can afford or need that much)
 
lol most people would love a PC with that spec. It's fine for ages yet. No need to upgrade any of it tbh.
 
Running:
Windows XP Pro (32Bit)
AMD 64 X2 4400+
2 Gig Ram
x1800XT 512mb
Audigy 2 ZS

Photoshop CS2
Lightroom 1.0
RAW Shooter Premium

I can't wait to get a Mac Pro!

I would hold off though if anyone is thinking of getting a mac as the new 8Core MacPro is coming soon I believe.
 
I would say you don't need to upgrade. But if you do try what you are looking at on both a PC and MAC. CS2 for Mac is rubbish but that should all be sorted with CS3. I've just switched to a Mac Pro from a PC and wouldn't go back but unless you really need a new computer I wouldn't recommend spending the money.
 
Why oh why is everyone going to Macs!!!! :( You are all mad!
 
Switch to a Mac :)
8cores 'should' be out in the next month or two, but i doubt they'll be under £2k!
 
Why upgrade?

That spec looks more than good enough for image editing unless you use it for a gaming machine as well in which case pile your extra dollar into a the bee's knee's graphics card. If not then use the money that's obviously burning a hole in your pocket to buy camera equipment. Maybe a nice new lens?
 
I have:

P4 1.8GHz socket 423 (Max 2.0GHz chip made and costs USD200 on Ebay).
756MB RDRAM

And I'm not even thinking of upgrading yet. :P
 
siejones said:
Why upgrade?

That spec looks more than good enough for image editing unless you use it for a gaming machine as well in which case pile your extra dollar into a the bee's knee's graphics card. If not then use the money that's obviously burning a hole in your pocket to buy camera equipment. Maybe a nice new lens?
Click to expand...

Tis indeed a gaming machine as well. Might just upgrade the graphics card.

I think I'll probably just keep it the way it is for now, question now is PS, do I wait for CS3 & do I bother with lightroom?

Lenses are waiting till August when I'm going to Japan.
 
Are lenses cheaper in Japan than the US?
 
Wyvern971 said:
question now is PS, do I wait for CS3 & do I bother with lightroom?
Click to expand...

Personally I would wait for CS3. Lightroom isn't a substitute for PS anyway, you'd still need PS if you had Lightroom
 
If you dont have problems with your current set up I wouldnt change, just upgrade the dits that need it.

I swapped to a quad Mac (not pro) and wouldnt go back to pc now.

Well unless you edit all day everyday I wouldnt even contemplate a 8core machine.

Also with a mac pro etc buy apple care for it as the repair costs on macs are a rip off.
 
kamion said:
Are lenses cheaper in Japan than the US?
Click to expand...

Dunno what lens prices in the US are like, but I'm going to Japan to see relatives anyway.

I usually check lens prices on here and then convert to £ on here
 
mho01 said:
Well unless you edit all day everyday I wouldnt even contemplate a 8core machine.
Click to expand...

True, but they're due out very soon, and the base Mac Pro will probably get an upgrade at the same time. However, waiting for the next computer release is usually a bit of a waste of time.

Personally i'd get a Macbook Pro :)
 
Matt. said:
Personally i'd get a Macbook Pro :)
Click to expand...

Well probably going to stick to the PC route for now, but I don't like the Macbook Pro (we have one at work) and it follows the mac notebook tradition of being rather heavy
 
your pc is fine. i think you have a bit of spendatureflu. something the marketing bug brought to england a few years back.

sit tight, save your pennies.

King.
 
Love the title of this thread...... does that mean if you switch to a Mac you're not going to make any improvements? :lol:
 
I switched to Mac and wouldnt go back to Windows, on the other hand I was going thru the "Gotta Spend It" phase. As others have said, if you do decide the Macpro is for you, wait for the 8core to be released, even if you decide you dont want to splash out £2k+ on the 8core machine it may drive the standard quad2.66 price down a little. Something to remember about the Macpro is that OSX likes ram and to get the best out of it and photo apps id recommend 4gb (4x1gb sticks for optimum performance). Also, again as everyone else has said dont buy CS2 for Mac, wait for CS3 which is due very soon.
 
chuckles said:
Love the title of this thread...... does that mean if you switch to a Mac you're not going to make any improvements? :lol:
Click to expand...

:razz: :lol:

Trust you to exploit this with a play on words...:D
 
Wyvern971 said:
Unfortunately my MoBo only supports up to PC2700 and requires ECC ram (server board) however it does have 6 slots and supports 12Gb (not that I can afford or need that much)
Click to expand...

I have 512Mb of ECC Ram here I bought by mistake..:cuckoo:

If you want another stick very cheap give me a shout, I will post it on to you..:thumbs:
 
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