Computer dying - Might need to upgrade

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/10/2013 10:47:42 PM · #1

Hi.

I need some advise form the hardware gurus:

My 6 years old Lenovo SL400 is struggling with LR4 and PS5 + NIK filters and processing of RAW files from my 6D. Opening a filter takes several minutes, adjustments can be checked / seen after 1-2 minutes. Applying the filter takes other several minutes. To top it the Dell 24' screen I'm using is displaying some odd lines (this is a replacement of the first monitor that had the same issues). Need to add that the motherboard power jack and battery pack have some issues so I can not use the battery and the build in card reader is busted.

Questions:

1) Any way to improve the existing configuration. Add RAM? Change to SSD? (I will list the config at the end of the post). Note that C: is running low on memory
2) Build a desktop
3) Buy a desktop
4) Stick with laptops and try buy a decent one - (This option might generate a whole new thread on which laptop)

Money is an issue so the lowest the budget the better.

I have also read P-A-U-L's thread

Many Thanks

T

Windows Windows 7 Ultimate Edition (64-bit)
Memory (RAM) 4096 MB
CPU Info Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU P7370 @ 2.00GHz
CPU Speed 215.4 MHz
Display Adapters NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS | NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS | RDPDD Chained DD | RDP Encoder Mirror Driver | RDP Reflector Display Driver
Monitors 2x; Generic PnP Monitor | Dell U2412M(Analog) |
Screen Resolution 1280 X 800 - 32 bit
Network Adapters Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN | Realtek RTL8168C(P)/8111C(P) Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.20)
Ports COM Ports NOT Present. LPT Port NOT Present.
Mouse 5 Button Wheel Mouse Present
Hard Disks C: 97.7GB | D: 200.3GB | K: 930.9GB
Hard Disks - Free C: 13.5GB | D: 162.8GB | K: 144.4GB
USB Controllers 8 host controllers.
Firewire (1394) Not Detected
Manufacturer * LENOVO
Product Make * 2743AHB
Motherboard * LENOVO 2743AHB
SM BIOS 6AET58WW

Message edited by author 2013-10-10 22:49:42.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/10/2013 11:19:52 PM · #2

My Asus NX90jq is a hell of a machine, but I don't think they make it now. Incredible 18.4" screen for editing... Incredible sound, though that doesn't matter to me. Beautiful as all get-out. In general, I'm a fan of Asus products.

To answer your question more directly, a new purchase seems preferable to trying to rejuvenate the clunker, if only because screens have gotten a lot better in laptops. I'm a fan of using a fast laptop as a primary computer: you can always dock to a screen if you need a bigger display.

Message edited by author 2013-10-10 23:20:08.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/10/2013 11:56:53 PM · #3

Thanks Robt

A new purchase is high on the list. I also prefer laptops and the Lenovo has been really good. The only thing that makes me think of a desktop is the price. A more powerful desktop machine is a lot cheaper then a laptop.

Message edited by author 2013-10-11 00:09:46.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/11/2013 12:07:13 AM · #4

Yeah but I hate being restricted to one place...

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/11/2013 10:11:12 AM · #5

Without a doubt, you need to start from scratch. I was, until earlier this year, running a work laptop that had similar specs to yours, and it was a dog on Lr and Ps (in fact I think I just insulted the dog). I am now running a Dell Latitude E6530 laptop with a "hybrid" drive (combination of a small SSD with a rotating drive) and the thing runs Lr 4.X wonderfully. It is Intel i7 based (3720QM @ 2.6Gz), has a full HD screen (1920x1080), discrete graphics (nVidia NVS 5200M), 8GB of RAM (my only dig, I'd love 16), and compatibility with a reasonably-priced ($119) dock. It's a high-performance, well-built machine. The downside is the price, about $1600 at the time it was purchased.
A desktop may be cheaper, but not all that much, especially if you customize. I'm honestly not sure that I will build another desktop when I decommission my current one. I'm kind on the fence right now, we'll see in perhaps a year or two when I really start to think about it. I can definitely see the beauty of going with a laptop. Heck, I would never go back to having a desktop here at work, and arguably I do more intense computing here than at home.

Devinder

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/11/2013 10:20:21 AM · #6

i've used a couple Asus products and have been happy with them so far - price and quality wise.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/12/2013 07:25:28 PM · #7

Very tempted by T530

I'll try to get a quote for

3rd Generation IntelÂ® Coreâ�¢ i5-3360M
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
16GB DDR3
Intel 180GB SSD SATA3
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) (95% Gamut) (270 NITS)
6 cell (56.1 Wh)
NVIDIAÂ® NVS 5400M Graphics with Optimusâ�¢ Technology

Any opinions?

Thanks

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/12/2013 08:02:44 PM · #8

It looks good but you want a second, 1TB drive and personally I'd want the I7 chipset

Nuno

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/13/2013 05:03:01 AM · #9

I second Bear_Music regarding Asus..

I love the producst and their support is great.

I have an Asus K53S laptop with i7 2670QM and 8GB of Ram, and a 640 GB HD. It runs LR 4 perfectly and other editing tools. To be honest I only use it to do sproofs when I'm at venues. I then edit everything at my deskto.

My desktop is a personalized Asus workstation with i7 3370K processor, 16 gb of ram, 120 GB SSD for OS and programs (should have been 240) and a few 1.5 and 2 TB hard drives. and it is super fast.

For the same specs, laptop vs desktop, you always get a bit more juice out of the desktop, even if it is cheaper than the laptop.

If you don't want or can't afford both I would sugest that you take a look at the Asus ROG gamimg laptos, and they pack a lot of performance and a tough casing. There are top of the line laptops with acording prices, but you get up to 32GB of ram (most of them have 16 built in), two hard drive slots (two traidional or 1 traditional and one SSD). This will be my next laptop for shure.

10/18/2013 02:50:01 AM · #10

The Hong Kong version of Thinkpad Edge E531

IntelÂ® Coreâ�¢ i7-3632QM Processor (2.20 GHz, 6MB Cache, 1600MHz)
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080)
8G RAM X1
Intel HM77 - Intel HD 4000 Integrated Graphics (WWAN or mSATA capable)
1T5400HDD
DVDRW
nVidia GeForce NV14P-GV2 GT730 + 2Gb
Win 8
2 USB3.0
1USSB2.0 poweredCard reader etc

This at a price of (equivalent) USD1062 also can do installment...

Edit: None of the PC listed by you guys are available in Hong Kong.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Tibi

Message edited by author 2013-10-18 02:50:28.

10/18/2013 05:20:28 AM · #11

I am in touch with Lenovo and was informed about the following difference:

E531: 15.6" (396mm) FHD (1920x1080) color, anti-glare, LED backlight, 300 nits, 16:9 aspect ratio, 500:1 contrast ratio
T530: 15.6" (396mm) Full HD (1920x1080) color, anti-glare, LED backlight, 270 nits, 16:9 aspect ratio, 500:1 contrast ratio, 95% Gamut

How does this translate in real life

Thank you

Tibi

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/19/2013 04:05:51 AM · #12

Any opinions?

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

10/19/2013 04:08:17 AM · #13

I'd say the only way to tell if it matters is to look at both, side by side.

Mostly? I think those are all very minor differences, but I might well be very wrong.

10/19/2013 05:28:03 AM · #14

I think I will go for the E531... The difference in price is about USD600 that goes for the toughness and other military specs that sincerely I do not need ( but I would like them...)

Thanks Cory

10/24/2013 02:05:02 AM · #15

Unfortunately I have no budget at all.

Time to take break.

:(

11/16/2013 04:18:11 AM · #16

I pulled myself together and got myself a Asus N550JV with the following config:

- Intel Core i7-4700HQ Haswell 2.4GHz - 3.2Ghz (all cores driven) with Intel HD Graphics 4600;
- nVIDIA GeForce GT 750M 4GB DDR3
- RAM 1x 8GB 1600 MHz DDR3 Hynix
- HDD Hitachi 1T 5400rpm;
- Display 15.6 FHD IPS LED matte LG LP156WF4-SPB1;
- Audio based on Realtek - 4 speakers + external subwoofer;
- WLAN Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 150 Mbps;
- LAN RealTek RTL8168/8111 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet 1000 Mbps;
- Bluetooth 4.0;
- 3x USB 3.0;
- Headphones/Line out;
- HDMI;
- Card reader Realtek
- Full keyboard + white light;
- 4 cell battery.
- BlueRay RW

I also bought extra 8G so bumped it to the max of 16G.

I also got the Spyder 4Pro and calibrated the monitor. Talking about the monitor...

Its gorgeous but its gamut is 61% RGB 78 sRGB. Don't know exactly how bad is this. Maybe someone can explain...

Just wanted to share

Message edited by author 2013-11-16 04:21:47.