Imac

[TMG1961]

For the last 2 years i have been using a 15 inch laptop to edit my photos. The last 10 months it had to handle uncompressed raw files from my Sony a7rii using Lightroom and Photoshop and the raw files are 85Mb in size. It handled them without much problems.

The laptop has a Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-7020U CPU @ 2.30GHz with 16GB DDR4 2400Mhz Ram and Intel® HD Graphics 620 and a 120GB ssd drive. The CPU is from Q2 2018, so 4 years old now.

With the above specs the laptop did run fine until recently. So i guess that every 17 inch laptop or desktop from 2021 or 2022 with somewhat decent specs would perform better.

 

[Andy Smith]

For the last 2 years i have been using a 15 inch laptop to edit my photos. The last 10 months it had to handle uncompressed raw files from my Sony a7rii using Lightroom and Photoshop and the raw files are 85Mb in size. It handled them without much problems.

The laptop has a Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-7020U CPU @ 2.30GHz with 16GB DDR4 2400Mhz Ram and Intel® HD Graphics 620 and a 120GB ssd drive. The CPU is from Q2 2018, so 4 years old now.

With the above specs the laptop did run fine until recently. So i guess that every 17 inch laptop or desktop from 2021 or 2022 with somewhat decent specs would perform better.

Computers tend to increase in efficiency and performance by about double, every 18 months to 2 years.. So yes TMG1961 you will notice a performance difference but it may not be huge depending on the machine you buy.
I still use my Imac from 2017 with 32GB RAM, and it works absolutely fine with photoshop, lightroom and the larger file sizes from my Canon R5, but I also have a 2019 16 inch Macbook pro with 32GB RAM which absolutely smashes the Imac on speed and performance.
I still think RAM is very important and 32GB should be your minimum target unless you go for the M1 Mac computers then 16GB may be ok.
Photoshop and Lightroom are becoming more and more RAM hungry due to the larger file sizes from new cameras.
Check out this video for a technical overview of what they use in terms of CPU, GPU and RAM which may help you narrow down your choice.

 

[Greg Shchepanek]

I have an iMac supplied by my employer and I find it beach balling when I open apps ... gives me time to refill my coffee

 

[TMG1961]

I have an iMac supplied by my employer and I find it beach balling when I open apps ... gives me time to refill my coffee

I have no idea what that expression means but guessing from the addition that you have time to get a refill i guess it is slooooooooooooooooow

 

[TMG1961]

Computers tend to increase in efficiency and performance by about double, every 18 months to 2 years.. So yes TMG1961 you will notice a performance difference but it may not be huge depending on the machine you buy.
I still use my Imac from 2017 with 32GB RAM, and it works absolutely fine with photoshop, lightroom and the larger file sizes from my Canon R5, but I also have a 2019 16 inch Macbook pro with 32GB RAM which absolutely smashes the Imac on speed and performance.
I still think RAM is very important and 32GB should be your minimum target unless you go for the M1 Mac computers then 16GB may be ok.
Photoshop and Lightroom are becoming more and more RAM hungry due to the larger file sizes from new cameras.
Check out this video for a technical overview of what they use in terms of CPU, GPU and RAM which may help you narrow down your choice.

I am considering this laptop along with the mac mini m1 16gb 256gb. The mac mini with all needed is €1400
Specs of laptop:

HP ENVY 17-cr0230nd Laptop​

Price € 1.299,00

• Windows 11 Home
• Intel® Core™ i7 1260P (12e generatie)
• 16 GB RAM
• 1 TB SSD
• 43.9 cm (17.3 "), FHD (1920 x 1080), 300 nits, 100% sRGB
• Intel® Iris® Xᵉ-videokaart

 

[Jack]

I am considering this laptop along with the mac mini m1 16gb 256gb. The mac mini with all needed is €1400
Specs of laptop:

HP ENVY 17-cr0230nd Laptop​

Price € 1.299,00

• Windows 11 Home
• Intel® Core™ i7 1260P (12e generatie)
• 16 GB RAM
• 1 TB SSD
• 43.9 cm (17.3 "), FHD (1920 x 1080), 300 nits, 100% sRGB
• Intel® Iris® Xᵉ-videokaart

That's similar to what I have.
But 8GB Ram, and Nvidia video card.

Make sure you have the warranty as well, and I would recommend to purchase directly from HP.

 

[TMG1961]

That's similar to what I have.
But 8GB Ram, and Nvidia video card.

Make sure you have the warranty as well, and I would recommend to purchase directly from HP.

If it is going to be the laptop then i have to buy from HP, have not found it in a shop or online in The Netherlands.

 

[Andy Smith]

I am considering this laptop along with the mac mini m1 16gb 256gb. The mac mini with all needed is €1400
Specs of laptop:

HP ENVY 17-cr0230nd Laptop​

Price € 1.299,00

• Windows 11 Home
• Intel® Core™ i7 1260P (12e generatie)
• 16 GB RAM
• 1 TB SSD
• 43.9 cm (17.3 "), FHD (1920 x 1080), 300 nits, 100% sRGB
• Intel® Iris® Xᵉ-videokaart

If you go for this laptop, I would seriously look at upgrading to 32GB RAM if I were you TMG1961, it's gonna cost an extra $140 or so, but it will be so much better for you on Photoshop & Lightroom which are both RAM hungry programs usually. And it will still be very capable in a few years time of keeping pace with new software developments.

 

[TMG1961]

If you go for this laptop, I would seriously look at upgrading to 32GB RAM if I were you TMG1961, it's gonna cost an extra $140 or so, but it will be so much better for you on Photoshop & Lightroom which are both RAM hungry programs usually. And it will still be very capable in a few years time of keeping pace with new software developments.

But would that not be the same for the mac mini and the Imac 24inch? You can't get those with 32GB RAM. And earlier Imacs and mac mini are still very expensive here, with 32GB RAM they are even more expensive refurbished then a new 16GB RAM M1 mac mini or imac

 

[Andy Smith]

But would that not be the same for the mac mini and the Imac 24inch? You can't get those with 32GB RAM. And earlier Imacs and mac mini are still very expensive here, with 32GB RAM they are even more expensive refurbished then a new 16GB RAM M1 mac mini or imac

The new M1 Mac has the RAM integrated into the chip itself, there is no memory card slots on the motherboard. This makes it more efficient on memory usage and optimization, so 16GB in an M1 Mac is more than adequate and probably comparable to 32GB on an Intel based system.