[Leica] Computers, again....

[bmwred735i at gmail.com (Frank Filippone)]

This is a pretty nerdy read.? If you do not like nerdy stuff, please 
delete this email.? But if you are looking for a new computer, please 
try to get through it.....it will help you get a machine that will do 
what you want!

The last installment talked about my start to find a new Windows 
computer.? This installment talks about what I found and why I selected 
each option.....IOW, what I think is important in selection of a new 
computer to use primarily Lightroom.? YMMV.

I ended up with a Dell XPS 8960 computer with a Intel i7 version 14700 
cpu, Windows 11 Home, 1tb ssd hdd and 16gb ram.? Price was $899 ( now 
$749!) as a floor model at Best Buy.? Note that you can still buy a new 
version for $1299.

I have since upgraded:? ram from 16GB to 64GB, Windows 11 Pro, added a 
4TB and a18TB HDD, and plan on increasing the C drive to 2TB.

I had the HDDs, found a sale on the Windows upgrade ($30), the 64GB Ram 
upgrade cost me $100, and the larger C drive is installed in my present 
computer so cost of zero.

Final net price minus taxes (9.75%) was about $1000.? That was the most 
I wanted to spend.? Because I had some of the components and bought a 
floor model,. I saved about $1400 over an entirely new machine setup as 
I wanted.

Since I only upgrade every few years ( 6 this last time) this system had 
to last me....so the components were selected as having the same specs 
as the most current models/features.


First choice was the actual box.? I knew I wanted to put in a pair of 
HDD.? So I opted for a mini tower.? It has plenty of space inside.? 
Cooler fans have plenty of room to keep the temperature down.

Next the O/S... Windows 11 Pro has a better and more robust security, 
but more importantly has the ability to use this computer remotely....? 
A personal goal of mine....

Processor:? Intel rolls out new versions of the i7 at the rate of about 
2 per year.? This computer and its immediate successor and predecessor 
have 7 different i7 versions....Which to choose?? ?I looked at the specs 
and selected the i7 version 14700 because it had the most cores (20), 
which makes it go faster, and because the newest version is another 
500-700 hundred bucks more comparing new prices.? It is basically a 2 
year old version of the most recent processor with all its bells and 
whistles.

Graphics processor:? Nvidia RTX3050 add in card. Why?? Because it is 
cheap, and especially has 8GB of video ram. Lightroom will only operate 
the GPU functions fully if you have 4GB of ram.? 8GB is faster and a 
standard.? The size of the RAM is what drives this selection.? The speed 
and sophistication of the GPU itself, is not a overwhelming need to 
speed LR up.? I do not game.? So gaming speed was not taken into 
consideration. Note that this is a pretty weak gaming GPU.? If you are a 
gamer, get a higher end GPU.

RAM: Simple, fill it up.? There are 2 sockets of a maximum of 32GB DDR5 
ram each.? ( anyone need 2 strips of 8GB each DDR 5 ram?? they were 
removed and are now sitting in a drawer.? Nominal cost.)

There is WIFI capability up to WIFI6E.? I am going to test it first, but 
intend on using it as wired 1GB Ethernet.

How well does it work?? I imported and made 1:1 previews in a time frame 
that was about 10-15 times faster than my older system.

It is like night and day...... !

Well worth the upgrade.

-- 
Frank Filippone
BMWRed735i at gmail.com