Best PC for running Lightroom / CS3 etc

[chris_tribble]

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I need to get a second my PC system to use in our small central London flat. My current machine is fine (dual Xeon with 2GB + 2 250 GB Hard disks + Matrox DVI video card + a 19" Lacie reference monitor), though it's a bit noisy and bulky. I'm looking at the Dell workstation series (T3400) teamed with an Apple Cinema 20"display (for cost reasons). This will have good video card + enough USB and firewire connectors + a couple of 350 GB drives, and cost around £1300 all together.

 

Interested to know if other members of the forum have experience of other systems which are competitive. I'm fairly price sensitive, don't do video or gaming, so am looking for a good photo editing platform that I can use when I'm in London and which will ensure good calibrated colour workflow, and which can be used to manage archived images on a stack of external firewire hard disks...

 

Thanks for any ideas...

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[chris_tribble]

A follow-up - anyone with experience of the Dell UltraSharp™ 2007WFP 20" monitor? I'm considering this as an alternative to the Apple Cinema... It would bring the cost down if I go with Dell, but obviously the screen is at the heart of what we're doing with image evaluation and editing so there's no point in compromising ...

[tom.leininger]

From what I understand, the Dell monitors are made by the same company that makes the Apple monitors. Everyone I know who has used a Dell monitor has not regretted it.

 

Tom

[Venkman]

Chris,

I checked my favourite german website for monitors and from there I know that there are different revisions of that monitor on the market.

 

The latest revision, A04, is said to use only IPS panels (there are some rumors, that on the UK and US market, different models showed up as well), which are better suited for photo work than the VA panels (although VA panels feature better contrast) that were used in former revisions.

 

The black values seems to vary a lot in these monitors and they are prone to color shifts from view angles other than the direct frontal view. It is a bit like lotto to buy a Dell - they can be quite good, but they can also suck royally.

 

As for "Dell monitors" are made by the same manufacturer as the "Apple monitors" - that's probably true at some days of the week.

They all switch panel suppliers on a very frequent basis, so the best thing you can do is check the web for a monitor review site that tests for color truthfulness & consistency and then see what is currently on the market and affordable.

 

Dirk

[chris_tribble]

Tom - thanks!

Dirk - thanks also - but could you maybe explain to a dummy the difference between IPS and VA panels? Is there a way I can check what the model I order has?

[Venkman]

Dirk - thanks also - but could you maybe explain to a dummy the difference between IPS and VA panels?

 

MVA/PVA panels seem a bit duller first, where the IPS panels can glare when turned on.

 

Due to the used method of switching the LC molecules, the IPS panels need stronger backlights, hence the higher power consumption and the lower contrast.

 

Maybe, if you have looked at IPS panels in the past, you noticed an effect called "glittering" - in bright areas of a picture it tends to look like sun reflections on snow. Can be irritating.

 

Both types are equally used in even high end monitors, but some people, including me, consider the IPS panels to be superior (don't tend to look dull - picture is more punchy).

 

Is there a way I can check what the model I order has?

I'm afraid you can only find out by calling. But then, after some thought, you might not even notice and will be happy with whatever panel is in there.

 

I am probably overzealous when it comes to monitors - just order it and if it sucks, give it back

[chris_tribble]

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Dirk - many thanks for this.

 

re the box that runs it all, I suppose it's more or less the case that any modern PC with more than 2GB RAM will do the job. After that it's a case of making sure you have enough external hard drives for archive. Then "you pays your many and you takes your choice" as they say!

[andybarton]

Make sure you can calibrate whatever monitor it is that you buy.

[chris_tribble]

Make sure you can calibrate whatever monitor it is that you buy.

 

Andy - this is one of my main concerns. With the Lacie it's a snip, but I can't afford to spend another £600 on a second monitor for base 2 . I use EyeOne Display calibrator which is great on my digitally driven monitor, but not so good with a cheapish Samsung SyncMaster 931cw that I'm currently having to use via the analogue output from my laptop. The EyeOne makes the screen a great deal better than out-of-the-box, but not good enough for image evaluation (the digitally driven screen on my little Toshiba laptop is better - and calibrates well with the EyeOne).

 

My assumption is that a calibrated digitally driven monitor from a good supplier (Apple / Dell) although not as good as a reference monitor like the Lacie or an Eizo, ought to be good enough for general purposes. Or maybe I'm being short-sighted ( ) and shouldn't try to cut corners on the most critical component in the work flow ... Decisions, decisions...