Posted by Andrea Hadley on August 24, 2009 at 3:39 PM
I'm getting ready to upgrade my laptop (I'm using my brother's cheap cruddy one). The one I have now couldn't handle or hold the trial version of CS4, and the computer we have at home in our office (not my laptop) has my CS4 at the moment, but my husband will be using it at work here soon and I'm going to need to buy another CS4 software (found a site with them really cheap). I got some refunds coming back from my college financial aid and so I'm looking around for a new better laptop. I can't help but wonder if Laptops for Gaming/Entertainment would be good or if laptops for Small/personal business would be; or at least that is how Best Buy categorizes them, and also what size of screen would be best? I figure 15" to 17" respectively would work well, my price range would probably fall between $400.00 and $750.00 (hoping end result will be closer to the $400) Thanks for any time and advice you can give.
Andrea - this is a partial response to your inquiry and, I won't claim authorship at all! This is from Tim Grey's daily "Digital Darkroom Question (DDQ)," that appeared in my mailbox today. The author is Tim Grey:
_____________________________
Today's Question:
I would like to purchase a laptop computer (Windows based) suitable for running Photoshop CS4 and would appreciate some advice regarding the following questions.
1. Do I need a model which incorporates a discrete graphics card, or would a unit employing an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator be adequate? In any event, I plan to get 4 GB of main memory and a 64 bit operating system.
2. What is the minimum processor I should get in order to run Photoshop without long delays? (I don't need to have a lot of other programs active at the same time.)
3. Should I stick with an Intel processor, or can I use an AMD processor and save some money?
Tim's Answer:
It seems buying a laptop for use with Photoshop presents a particular challenge, both because there are always compromises involved compared to working with a desktop computer, and because there seem to be no limit to the variables in terms of specific hardware components when it comes to a Windows-based laptop.
In terms of the graphics card (display adapter), it is best to have one that is separate rather than integrated as a chipset on the main motherboard in the computer. There are a number of potential advantages here. In most cases you will achieve greater display performance (not critical for most elements of Photoshop, but helpful for a variety of situations nevertheless). There is also a greater chance that the display adapter will support OpenGL if it is a standalone (rather than integrated) adapter. This can improve performance in a variety of areas in Photoshop, and also provides access to some nice interface improvements now available. Finally, if the laptop you purchase has a discrete display adapter, there's a greater chance that it will "behave" well when it comes to calibrating and profiling the laptop's display (though keep in mind there are still a variety of limitations here that make laptop displays less than ideal for color-critical work).
In terms of processor, I wouldn't worry too terribly much, because in most cases you're not going to find the processor is the major bottleneck for Photoshop. I'd be much more concerned about having more than adequate RAM (at least 2GB, ideally 4GB or more) than with processor performance. I would be sure to get a dual-core processor, and probably aim for a 2.66GHz Intel processor or around a 2.2GHz AMD processor (because of the unique architecture of each, you can't compare overall performance of Intel versus AMD processors based purely on the clock speed). Naturally, if money is no object you can get the fastest available multi-core processor.
When it comes to choosing between Intel and AMD processors, I also wouldn't worry too much about this decision specifically. Instead, focus on the overall specifications, components, features, performance, and other factors that are important to you. Read independent reviews that include performance benchmark scores whenever possible, and make a decision about which laptop (and which specifications) to buy based on which laptop has the best combination of what is important to you, without worrying about which brand of processor is inside. You'll generally find laptops with AMD processors are less expensive than similar laptops with Intel processors, so that is certainly one factor to consider. I would be perfectly comfortable buying a laptop with either an Intel or AMD processor, all other things being equal.
Posted by Paul DeCesare on August 25, 2009 at 12:05 PM
LOL! Tim beat me to it, I was just about to paste the same email...
Andrea, most dual core processors will be powerful enough, and you can find those even in the $399 laptops. But what you won't find in the cheapy laptops are the things that are important for running Photoshop:
- GOOD screen (I paid a lot more for my WUXGA+ 17" screen)
- Real video card, not just integrated graphics. This is very important for two reasons: 1, CS4 utilizes the graphics card now, and 2, you may want to get an external monitor down the road and you'll want decent video power to drive it.
- RAM! 1GB will not even come close. 2GB will barely work. You need 3GB if you get "regular" Vista (meaning 32-bit). If you get a laptop that has 64-bit Vista, that's even better, because 64-bit recognizes more that 3½GB of ram (32-bit is limited to that). Let's face it, Photoshop eats ram for breakfast, you can never have too much. My desk PC has 12GB for that reason (well, video also). IMPORTANT: If you feel adventurous, it may be better to buy a laptop with only 1GB or 2GB, then buy more ram afterwards from Newegg.com or Crucial.com, because it's VERY cheap right now. One of the ways computer companies make money on these low-priced units is by overcharging for ram, AND, they put lower speed ram in. Often I see 667mHz ram in a system that can handle 1067mHz.
- 7200rpm hard drive: this is pretty important, because most laptop drives are 5400rpm or even 4200rpm, and the hard drive is one of the slowest bottlenecks on any system. If you look at Dells' site, you'll see options for 7200rpm drives when choosing from a list of available drives. LOOK for that in the specs when shopping, no matter which company you go with. If it doesn't "brag" about the HD speed in the specs, you can guarantee it's not a 7200rpm drive. It does make a difference. Photoshop will still run on a slower hard drive, so if your budget is REAL tight, I guess this would be the feature to forego. You'll feel the slowness though.
I suggest you go onto sites like Dell's and others and "work up" a custom laptop, adding and subtracting features to get what you want. This will get you familiar with what goes into these things. For instance, don't pay more for a faster processor, spend the money on your graphics. Once you get a decent one custom "built", don't get discouraged when the price hits $1000 or more. Your NEXT step is to scour websites like TechBargains.com and find those wonderful promo codes to cut the price. I "built" a $1900 Dell Laptop with high-end everything, then for the next couple hours I dug on the net until I hit a 30% off coupon code... took over $600 off the price! It took a bit to find, but they're there. Once you spend a little time "building" your laptop on the manufacturer's sites, you'll be much more familiar with specs of a computer. Then you'll go back to Best Buy, see what they're offering for $399 in a laptop, and realize how low-end those things really are. If you spend a little more now, you'll be much happier in the long run. A man in his late 80s once said to me "Five bucks more, you eat like a king." Makes sense!
Posted by Paul DeCesare on August 25, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Oh, also, make sure you at least get Vista Home Premium, not Basic. AND, if the place you purchase from offers a free Windows 7 upgrade, GET IT. I'm on Windows 7 after two years of running Vista, and Wow-WEE is it stable! Microsoft got it right this time. You won't get Windows 7 now, it's available in October (I have it now through a developer subscription).
Posted by Andrea Hadley on August 25, 2009 at 5:49 PM
This is some really helpful advice ya'll, thanks so much!
Discussion
4 replies_____________________________
Today's Question:
I would like to purchase a laptop computer (Windows based) suitable for running Photoshop CS4 and would appreciate some advice regarding the following questions.
1. Do I need a model which incorporates a discrete graphics card, or would a unit employing an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator be adequate? In any event, I plan to get 4 GB of main memory and a 64 bit operating system.
2. What is the minimum processor I should get in order to run Photoshop without long delays? (I don't need to have a lot of other programs active at the same time.)
3. Should I stick with an Intel processor, or can I use an AMD processor and save some money?
Tim's Answer:
It seems buying a laptop for use with Photoshop presents a particular challenge, both because there are always compromises involved compared to working with a desktop computer, and because there seem to be no limit to the variables in terms of specific hardware components when it comes to a Windows-based laptop.
In terms of the graphics card (display adapter), it is best to have one that is separate rather than integrated as a chipset on the main motherboard in the computer. There are a number of potential advantages here. In most cases you will achieve greater display performance (not critical for most elements of Photoshop, but helpful for a variety of situations nevertheless). There is also a greater chance that the display adapter will support OpenGL if it is a standalone (rather than integrated) adapter. This can improve performance in a variety of areas in Photoshop, and also provides access to some nice interface improvements now available. Finally, if the laptop you purchase has a discrete display adapter, there's a greater chance that it will "behave" well when it comes to calibrating and profiling the laptop's display (though keep in mind there are still a variety of limitations here that make laptop displays less than ideal for color-critical work).
In terms of processor, I wouldn't worry too terribly much, because in most cases you're not going to find the processor is the major bottleneck for Photoshop. I'd be much more concerned about having more than adequate RAM (at least 2GB, ideally 4GB or more) than with processor performance. I would be sure to get a dual-core processor, and probably aim for a 2.66GHz Intel processor or around a 2.2GHz AMD processor (because of the unique architecture of each, you can't compare overall performance of Intel versus AMD processors based purely on the clock speed). Naturally, if money is no object you can get the fastest available multi-core processor.
When it comes to choosing between Intel and AMD processors, I also wouldn't worry too much about this decision specifically. Instead, focus on the overall specifications, components, features, performance, and other factors that are important to you. Read independent reviews that include performance benchmark scores whenever possible, and make a decision about which laptop (and which specifications) to buy based on which laptop has the best combination of what is important to you, without worrying about which brand of processor is inside. You'll generally find laptops with AMD processors are less expensive than similar laptops with Intel processors, so that is certainly one factor to consider. I would be perfectly comfortable buying a laptop with either an Intel or AMD processor, all other things being equal.
Andrea, most dual core processors will be powerful enough, and you can find those even in the $399 laptops. But what you won't find in the cheapy laptops are the things that are important for running Photoshop:
- GOOD screen (I paid a lot more for my WUXGA+ 17" screen)
- Real video card, not just integrated graphics. This is very important for two reasons: 1, CS4 utilizes the graphics card now, and 2, you may want to get an external monitor down the road and you'll want decent video power to drive it.
- RAM! 1GB will not even come close. 2GB will barely work. You need 3GB if you get "regular" Vista (meaning 32-bit). If you get a laptop that has 64-bit Vista, that's even better, because 64-bit recognizes more that 3½GB of ram (32-bit is limited to that). Let's face it, Photoshop eats ram for breakfast, you can never have too much. My desk PC has 12GB for that reason (well, video also). IMPORTANT: If you feel adventurous, it may be better to buy a laptop with only 1GB or 2GB, then buy more ram afterwards from Newegg.com or Crucial.com, because it's VERY cheap right now. One of the ways computer companies make money on these low-priced units is by overcharging for ram, AND, they put lower speed ram in. Often I see 667mHz ram in a system that can handle 1067mHz.
- 7200rpm hard drive: this is pretty important, because most laptop drives are 5400rpm or even 4200rpm, and the hard drive is one of the slowest bottlenecks on any system. If you look at Dells' site, you'll see options for 7200rpm drives when choosing from a list of available drives. LOOK for that in the specs when shopping, no matter which company you go with. If it doesn't "brag" about the HD speed in the specs, you can guarantee it's not a 7200rpm drive. It does make a difference. Photoshop will still run on a slower hard drive, so if your budget is REAL tight, I guess this would be the feature to forego. You'll feel the slowness though.
I suggest you go onto sites like Dell's and others and "work up" a custom laptop, adding and subtracting features to get what you want. This will get you familiar with what goes into these things. For instance, don't pay more for a faster processor, spend the money on your graphics. Once you get a decent one custom "built", don't get discouraged when the price hits $1000 or more. Your NEXT step is to scour websites like TechBargains.com and find those wonderful promo codes to cut the price. I "built" a $1900 Dell Laptop with high-end everything, then for the next couple hours I dug on the net until I hit a 30% off coupon code... took over $600 off the price! It took a bit to find, but they're there. Once you spend a little time "building" your laptop on the manufacturer's sites, you'll be much more familiar with specs of a computer. Then you'll go back to Best Buy, see what they're offering for $399 in a laptop, and realize how low-end those things really are. If you spend a little more now, you'll be much happier in the long run. A man in his late 80s once said to me "Five bucks more, you eat like a king." Makes sense!