Advice please - image editing using Adobe Lightroom

[StevenB]

Hello All

I have very little idea in building a spec as will probably be made obvious by my choices.

My intended use is to edit RAW image files circa 100MB each and store them (at least temporarily), and general use. I will not be gaming at all!

I have chosen a slow drive as this will be for storing images and I intend to use the faster SSD for operating system, program files etc. Is this the correct way to go do you think?

Also, is the graphics card a little OTT for viewing static images?

Any advice will be gratefully received.

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Recoil Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD 144Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
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Intel® Core™ i7 Six Core Processor 8750H (2.2GHz, 4.1GHz Turbo)
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32GB Corsair 2666MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 16GB)
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NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 - 6.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1

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2TB SEAGATE 7mm SERIAL ATA III 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 128MB CACHE (5,400rpm)
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Price: £1,438.00 including VAT and Delivery

 

[ubuysa]

I'm not the expert here but I'd have thought that 32GB of RAM is unnecessary, unless you plan to edit lots if images simultaneously?

On the other hand, you really want your images on an SSD, they really will benefit from the faster load/save times. One of the fast NVMe SSDs will make a noticeable difference.

That HDD is slow, I'd suggest a 7200rpm drive instead, you will see a performance difference regardless of what you use it for.

For editing still images you don't need a dedicated graphics card at all, the on-chip GPU will be plenty good enough IMO.

 

[StevenB]

Hi Ubuysa

Thanks for the suggestions, however your responses have raised more questions.... sorry

I will stick with the 32GB for the time being as there are times when alterations can be made to a batch, so I will retain that ability with the "overkill".

I take your point about the HDD being slow, would you suggest something like a 2TB Blue for storage, but leave the 500GB SSD for OS programs etc?

Finally I don't quite understand the "on chip GPU being good enough". I have been back to the configurator and gone for a lesser graphics capability but this has thrown up a suggestion with a lesser 60hz screen. Would the 60Hz suffice for my use as I do not need the faster refresh rates that high end games would demand?

Regards

 

[ubuysa]

I just realised you're buying a laptop not a PC, so you have to have a dedicated GPU. Pick the cheapest possible if you're not gaming.

If you store your high-res images on a 5400rpm drive you will see a noticeable delay in loading (and saving) them. High res images really benefit from being on an SSD.

Perhaps a 1TB SSD for Windows, programs, AND your high-res images. Then a 500GB HDD (which can be 5400rpm, but 7200rpm would be better) for all other user data?

 

[StevenB]

All noted and will be incorporated.

One final question please. What size partition would you recommend for Windows 10 on the 1TB SSD?

Many thanks!

 

[ubuysa]

If all you really use is Adobe you can easily get away with 128GB for Windows and programs. Windows itself will typically take no more than about 30GB.

 

[StevenB]

Great stuff, thanks