Key Components in New Laptop

<p>Hi All,</p>

<p>Need to purchase a new laptop, a good chunk of which will be used for basic photo editing. Also want to get more into home video editing a bit. My wife and I are both decided on a 17" Windows based platform. I would consider myself a "latter stages newbie" as regards photography. I use "Photoshop Elements 13". I've looked at a number of products and am trying to determine the priority of the various components below. Again, I'm currently "entry level" as regards digital photography, but want to get a system I can grow with and that will "future proofed" as much as is possible these. What I'm asking help with is kind of "How critical are these different areas?" type question. Obviously, the higher you go on components, the greater the cost. I obviously don't need a top of the line professional photographer system, but I don't want a "this will get you by" setup either.</p>

<p><strong>Hard Drive System</strong><br />5400 RPM 1TB HDD<br />7200 RPM 1TB HDD <br />7200 RPM 1TB HDD and a 128GB SSD<br /><br /><strong>Graphics</strong><br />NVIDIA GeForce 940M - 2GB<br />NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M - 2GB<br />NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M - 3GB<br /><br /><strong>RAM Memory</strong><br />8MB DDR3L<br />16MB DDR4<br>

All have the Intel 6th Generation Core i7 processor<br />All are 1920 x 1080 resolution<br />All have backlit keyboard<br>

<br>

Thank you!</p>

<p>If you are just considering post image processing and not a lot of video editing or gaming etc. then you don't need a top of the range specification.<br>

The lower (cheapest) hard drive and graphics are just fine, although having a SSD hard drive can be great for start up speed as well as some program needs.<br>

You can't go wrong having plenty of RAM, so I would recommend 16Mb for handling large image files with a number of layers and to help with video editing.</p>

 

<p>Chris:<br>

My first question for you would be ... do you really need to edit on a laptop? You might need a laptop for work but - generally speaking - it might be better if you could do your photo and video editing at home. Why? Because you can get a lot more for your money by purchasing a desktop computer. This is especially important because you mention a need that your new machine be "future proofed." There is no such thing, of course. But another reason a desktop might suit you better is that they are more easily upgraded and/or expanded. Additionally, desktops typically come with more available USB ports and other connection options than do laptops. There are more desktop benefits but I'll stop there. If you're committed to a laptop, it sounds like you are inclined to go with middle-of-the-road components. I don't see anything wrong with that ... it's a strategy that I often use. It will get you a great machine without forcing you to break your bank. Some things to think about though would include storage. Cloud storage has reduced the importance of giant internal hard drives so you might save some cash by opting for something smaller than 1 TB. But that will depend upon your individual needs. Certainly you'll want to consider some type of backup storage that is separate from your computer. Finally, I think it's important to get as much RAM as you can afford because "workspace" is important when it comes to digital editing. Hope this helps. Good luck!</p>

<p><strong><br /></strong>I am not fan of 17" laptops, due higher weight than smaller ones<br>

<strong>Hard Drive System</strong><br />5400 RPM 1TB HDD - Lowest heat buildup, slowest performance<br />7200 RPM 1TB HDD - A bit faster performance than 5400 RPM drive, more heat buildup and noice<br />7200 RPM 1TB HDD and a 128GB SSD - Quicker startups<br /><br /><strong>Graphics </strong><br />NVIDIA GeForce 940M - 2GB <br />NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M - 2GB<br />NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M - 3GB<br>

Any of these should be fine with Photoshop Elements 13<br>

<br /><strong>RAM Memory</strong><br />8MB DDR3L - most likely sufficient amount memory, slower than DDR4<br />16MB DDR4 - generous amount of fast memory, recommend this option<br /> All have the Intel 6th Generation Core i7 processor - actually two core versions of i7 are more appealing in laptops due to lower power comsumption<br />All are 1920 x 1080 resolution - nice resolution, if IPS option is available, it is worth considering<br />All have backlit keyboard - never had any such keyboard, might be nice at dark</p>

<p>I agree that it's much better to do photo editing on a desktop.</p>

<p>If you must do it on a laptop, do get one with an IPS screen. I like an SSD drive on a laptop, no hard drive vulnerable to damage as the laptop gets bumped. Today's hard drives are fairly sturdy, but SSDs are inherently more robust. Get one with 256 GB. As long as the laptop has USB3, external drives will be quick enough.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I agree that it's much better to do photo editing on a desktop.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>+1. A desktop with comparable specs to your notebook will be cheaper, and for the same money as your notebook, you can get a much more powerful desktop.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Get SSD with 256 GB</p>

</blockquote>

<p>+1 again, 128GB is fairly small. An additional 1TB drive in the notebook is nice - but not essential. If possible, I would get a notebook with two SSD drives - a 128 or 256 GB for system and programs and a 256 or 512GB one for those files you are working on (you may have to install that second one yourself). Under no circumstances would I get a 5400rpm HD as my main drive.<br>

<br /> 8GB memory is the minimum, 16GB is definitely better. All three graphics option you mention will be fine for photo editing. If you intend to do a lot of video, go for the higher end one.<br>

<br /> Computer and "future proof" - if any are, then they are desktops that at least can be upgraded; notebooks generally can't.</p>

<p>While I have a nicely configured workstation for photo editing, I travel frequently and used my notebook for editing almost half the time last year. Here's what I shopped for a photo editing notebook in order of priority:</p>

<p>Screen resolution and color fidelity - especially when viewed from changing angles. This is the one factor that will drive your selection of a particular brand or model line, and since your notebook will be a primary editing station, check out screens in a store. Also consider an external display(s) ... I have seen some very nice displays paired with tablets.<br>

Core I7 CPU,<br>

Maximum memory available (8G or more),<br>

SSD drive (256K or more),<br>

Minimum of 2 USB 3.0 ports.</p>

<p>Since I wanted an Ultrabook for portability and battery life, large capacity storage of photos is on external media with USB3 interfaces. I have an external SSD as a working drive plus rotating (less expensive) media for backup.</p>

<p>The system works well for me on the road and performance is decent compared to my workstation. What I gain with the workstation is dual monitors and fast RAID disk I/O.</p>

<p>Have fun shopping.</p>

<p>Hi everyone. Thank you for the great feedback.</p>

<p>The main reason for laptop vs desktop is a practical one. My wife and I will be sharing the laptop as our main home PC and the 17” screen and portability aspect works better for her than a desktop, so that’s what we’ll go with. I’d be okay with a 15” (or smaller) for surfing and then connecting to a larger external monitor when editing, but that isn’t good for her needs and that’s a major component for me in all this.</p>

<p>As noted, I’m kind of a “newbie” in photography, and that’s why I truly appreciate the “what’s essential and what isn’t” information you can provide. As an example, I realize having at least a shared SSD drive for the OS and other programs is an advantage; but if a standalone 1TB HDD at 7200 RPM will more than take care of what I want to do, then I am absolutely fine with that; same with the graphics. I don’t want to splurge in one area where it really wouldn’t benefit me and discount another aspect where “more” would actually be better.</p>

<p>My budget limit is $1300.00. I’ve always had good luck, reliability and satisfaction at Best Buy, so I will probably purchase there. To be honest, their financing and price matching helps out too. Below are three laptops I’ve seen which I’ve been considering:</p>

<p><strong>HP Envy m7-n109dx</strong> (<a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-envy-17-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver/4632100.p?id=1219780991289&skuId=4632100">http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-envy-17-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-silver/4632100.p?id=1219780991289&skuId=4632100</a></p>

<p><strong>Asus ROG G751JTWH71WX</strong> (<a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-17-3-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-black/4714300.p?id=1219807029424&skuId=4714300">http://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-17-3-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-black/4714300.p?id=1219807029424&skuId=4714300</a>)</p>

<p><strong>MSI GE72 APACHE PRO-029</strong> (<a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/msi-ge72-apache-pro-029-17-3-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-128gb-solid-state-drive-aluminum-black/4556210.p?id=1219766808108&skuId=4556210">http://www.bestbuy.com/site/msi-ge72-apache-pro-029-17-3-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-128gb-solid-state-drive-aluminum-black/4556210.p?id=1219766808108&skuId=4556210</a>)</p>

<p>They all look very nice to me, especially considering that we’re coming from several years old HP and Gateway laptops. I know the Asus has an IPS panel, while the other two do not.</p>

<p>Thank you again!</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I know the Asus has an IPS panel, while the other two do not.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>According to the info on the Best Buy website, the HP does too - you may want to verify that. Drawback is the slow hard drive.<br>

newegg sells the Asus currently for $120 less: <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232863&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=Asus_-_ROG_17.3%22-_-34-232-863-_-Product">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232863&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=Asus_-_ROG_17.3%22-_-34-232-863-_-Product</a> You are aware that it has an older generation i7 processor? One with the latest generation i7 would be this one: <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-17-3-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-128gb-solid-state-drive-metallic/4637103.p?id=1219785908443&skuId=4637103">http://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-17-3-laptop-intel-core-i7-16gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-128gb-solid-state-drive-metallic/4637103.p?id=1219785908443&skuId=4637103</a> which according to newegg has an IPS display as well: <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232867&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=Asus_-_ROG_17.3%22-_-34-232-867-_-Product">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232867&ignorebbr=1&cm_re=Asus_-_ROG_17.3%22-_-34-232-867-_-Product</a>. Again, you need to verify the IPS panel designation independently - best directly from the manufacturer.</p>

If you are primarily editing photos you may not see a huge benefit from an i7 versus a less expensive i5 processor so that

is an area you could shave some money off your budget. Some of that may depend on the file sizes you work with too. Buy all the RAM you can afford and install, and definitely get an ssd for the OS, possibly a second for a lightroom catalog if you go that route eventually. The i7 probably starts to give more benefit when doing video though. Also, you might think about using a second, higher quality monitor rather than the laptop monitor if you have the space for it. Also don't worry about future proofing your computer, you simply can't

really do that effectively.

Dieter: I had seen that other Asus unit as well; no SSD drive, but yes, better processor. However, I believe it is currently

out of stock and unavailable. I've also seen that elsewhere about the HP Envy having an IPS panel, but I believe it was shown

to be incorrect.

 

Christopher: Definitely no less than 16GB on the RAM; agreed. Also agree on the SSD for at least the OS; anything to speed up

boot/access time is welcome. I AM hoping to heavily into editng to take full advantage of the i7 processor.

 

BTW, I do have an AOC I2269VW 21.5" IPS monitor which I have hooked up to my old laptop. Obviously, I can hook up whichever

laptop I end up getting to that for high end editing. I had totally vapor-locked that it was an IPS panel. It's a very nice

monitor and will fit well with a better source unit than my old HP.

 

Thank you both!

<blockquote>

<p>I had seen that other Asus unit as well; no SSD drive, but yes, better processor.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I'm confused - the one you linked doesn't have an SSD, the one with the newer processors I lined to does have one. If it is out of stock, then wait a bit - it won't take long. Or buy elsewhere.</p>

Yes, you're correct on the Asus; sorry about the confusion.

<p>Keep in mind that even though a monitor uses an IPS panel that by itself isn't going to mean its a good screen for photo editing, i think you have to look at other factors like color gamut and other attributes that other's can attest to. Sure an IPS panel is going to be better than its non-IPS kindred but that is only part of the equation. For instance, I have an AOC 27" monitor, it is ok for general work, surfing the web, gaming etc. but it when calibrated, its gamut barely covers sRGB which is far from 'good' for a photo editing monitor. Yours will probably get you by for the moment but the more technical you get with editing I suspect that monitor will become a limitation pretty quickly.</p>

<p>Hi Christopher - Understood. It will serve for the time being, but I will most probably upgrade at some point in the not too distant future. Thank you!</p>

<p>If you could find a Core i5 processor ending in HQ I suspect that would get you most of the performance for a little cheaper. Accordingly most manufacturers won't supply that option so I'd ignore it unless you bump into it.</p>

<p>What you probably want is to ensure that your processor model number ends in that HQ instead of a U. A Core i7 U is a dual core hyperthreaded chip that would be a cheap Core i3 on a desktop. Anything ending in HQ is an actual quad core chip and potentially twice as powerful.</p>

<p>Memory and hard disk are usually two of the easiest things to upgrade on a larger laptop. And manufacturers like to charge several times the market cost for upgrades to them. As a result you might want to mostly ignore the RAM amount given and just plan on buying an upgrade with help after market. About the only complication on storage is that the combination of a decent size SSD for the system and software and a big Hard Disk to store photos is really really nice. If you don't get a system with both installed there's no particular guarantee that the system will have 2 slots should you upgrade at a later date. There are a couple strategies for this, both involving SSDs in the same 2.5" SATA shape as a laptop hard disk:</p>

<p>Just get a single big SSD, they're pretty cheap these days. There's a LOT of variation between models but anything is better than a hard disk. Maybe supplement with a big external Hard Disk or NAS when at home/job.</p>

<p>Get a converter that lets you sacrifice your optical drive for an extra hard disk bay. Put the SSD in one slot and the hard disk in the other.</p>

<p>A screen at greater than 1080p is really probably not all that useful. Sure you're close to the screen, but everything is so tiny you end up putting Windows in high-resolution display "zoom" mode just to make things legible, even on 1080p. That's not an issue here, but should it come up.</p>

<p>Cetain brands are better than others at giving you card-format SSD slots even when you don't buy the SSD from them. I know from my current system MSI does it. The slots are called mSATA (older) or M.2 (newer). and if the computer has them you can get an SSD that fits, copy the system to the SSD, and wipe the old drive to use as storage.</p>

<p>Don't get a really big graphics card, they use proportionally more power. Something better than just Intel Graphics is probably better though.</p>

<p>Thank you Steven. That is great insight and information.</p>

<p>I'm kind of down to two models:<br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/GL752VW-DH74-17-Inch-Discrete-GeForce-Metallic/dp/B015ZG9964/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1461079337&sr=8-4&keywords=Asus+-+ROG+17.3%22">Asus ROG</a><br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/MSI-GE72-Apache-Pro-029-i7-6700HQ/dp/B0150PK892/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461079177&sr=8-1&keywords=GE72+APACHE+PRO-029">MSI Apache Pro</a></p>

<p>Will try to make a decision in the next couple of days</p>