Brian

The RTX 4090 is a bit overkill for Photoshop, and Photoshop really won't take advantage of it. (You only have a 5-ish% performance boost with a 4090 vs a 4070, so if you are just running PS, it's not worth the extra money.) Either a NVIDIA 4070 or 4080 is fine. So a better comparison would be the model below what you linked to: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1745683-REG/lenovo_82wq002rus_16_legion_pro_7.html Which is the Lenovo for $2749. Now for the real answer to your question: EITHER. Personally, I have had excellent luck with Lenovo Laptops, but the larger screen and more video memory with the Asus ROG is also a plus. The Asus also has a 2.5Gb Ethernet as well. So going by specs only, the Asus edges out the Lenovo by a small margin. That said, both are excellent. Final Verdict from the Judge: Asus ROG - 51% Lenovo - 49% ...but really, you can't go wrong with either.

Ugh. That's terrible. While the default is for us to recommend Dells, as they tend to be easy to obtain and calibrate, I can confirm the quality isn't as it once was. That said, practically everything across the board isn't as it once was...it's all JUNK, "Made in China." Any of those is fine. I would, however, use a DisplayPort connection if you have that option. DisplayPort seems to work better with 4K Displays. (Though a HDMI connection will do it, I just find Display Port does it better to my eyes. YMMV.) I also like the fact that the Dell has WAY more reviews than the Asus ones. So I'm still leaning towards the Dell.

The basic rule-of-thumb, is you store the current job(s) that you are editing on the main HD, deliver the images to the client, then move those files (.psd files and all) to the external / secondary HD for long term archiving. 1TB is "fine" for operational every-day use as long as you do not treat it like a "Dumping Ground." That's where you run into problems; when you go clickclickclick-ok-ok-click-click-click, or "copy everything to the C Drive" without thinking once about storage. If you use the main HD for Programs and your current editing projects, 1TB is fine. Because in reality, you are only using a 100GB or so between PS Swap Files, Programs, Images and the like. You should have 500GB-600GB free at nearly all times to play with. Now, if you had say, a 250GB HD, with only 80GB to play with, that's a different story. One more thing, like I mentioned above, you can add a 2nd internal SSD HD, either a 2TB or 4TB, and I can help you install it. Believe it or not, it's not THAT hard to do. Hardest part is getting the case open and the Drive mounted, then about 5 minutes fiddling in Windows to get it partitioned and formatted.

Remember, you could always add a 2nd HD, like this 2TB Samsung SSD. All you'd need is a SATA Data Cable, and that's a few bucks. This way you'd have a C Drive and a D Drive.

It is...from a certain point of view... This whole 1024 / 1000 thing has been going on since forever. At least as far back as I can remember, and I started fiddling around computers way back in 1981. When HDs became really popular, larger AND more affordable in the 1990's, back when we had 425MB HDs, people asked the same question then. So here we are 30-some years later and we still have this 1024 / 1000 thing. Think of it like the Metric System vs. Imperial. Miles vs. Kilometers, etc.

YUP!! Microsoft says 1024 is 1MB, 1GB, 1TB of something. So 1024K is 1MB, 1024MB is 1GB, 1024GB is 1TB, etc. etc. The Hard Drive Manufacturers say that "1000" is 1TB (or whatever) is 1MB, GB or TB, so there is this discrepancy. Plus, when you partition and format the drive, you lose a little of that "1000" and are left with 929GB. On a 2TB Drive, your number is closer to 1.8TB to work with, conversationally speaking. A 4TB drive, you are left with about 3.6TB after formatting. BUT!! That is before you install Windows, Drivers and the other Bloatware and Programs that Dell adds. So in the end, you are left with 848GB before you add Photoshop and such. Now you know why I jump up and down about getting at least a 1TB HD!! Imagine if you got a computer that only had a 256GB HD! You'd have even less space available for Photoshop and the Scratch Disk, never-mind your images.

Also, turn off auto-brightness, etc. Your screen WILL BE BLUER / run on the cool side because you are not calibrated. Mac Screens are on the cool side by default. You need to purchase a Calibration Device, I recommend this one, and get a set of Test Prints to compare your screen to. You just don't calibrate and call it good, it doesn't work that way. We need to not only check colors, but also the brightness of the prints against your screen as Mac Screens tend to be really bright. I only recommend using 2-3 ticks from the Left for Brightness when it comes to Macs. If you are somewhere in the middle, your screen is too bright and your prints will come out dark.

OFF!!

I do not like nor recommend HP Laptops. Junk! Junk! Junk!

That'll work!

The "Studio Drivers" are really meant for the NVIDIA RTX 3000 Series, (i.e. NVIDIA RTX 3070,) and not the "4000 Series." Here is a snapshot of what cards are supported by the Studio Driver: Notice how the 4000 series is absent? Don't worry about it. For Photoshop work, there isn't THAT much difference between a 4070 & 4070 Ti, that's for a Gaming system and for people who need the extra 3 fps while playing a First Person Shooter. As for that Dell, don't worry about a 750 Watt Power Supply, it's fine. In addition, this is a Dell System, so they have things already mapped out. The reason that I recommend a 850 Watt Power Supply, is for the folks that have a Generic System which can have all sorts of Motherboards and different configurations. 850 Watts is overkill for a Dell System, who already has the power requirements already figured out. Remember, Ask Damien is a World-Wide International Group, and sometimes I have to "paint with a broad-brush." Now here is the thing you are most wondering about... BUY IT! Enjoy your purchase! Edit: You could save yourself the $150 and just go with the NVIDIA 4070, or just buy the Ti version now and be done with it. Liquid Cooling is also an upgrade, but if this is just a computer for Photoshop, where you really aren't pushing it, standard Air Cooling is fine. That said, if you live in a Dusty Environment, you may want to consider Liquid Cooling. At this price-point, if it were me...just spend the extra $200 and be done with it. You want this computer to last for at least 7 years or so. Anything you cheap out on now, you will just be upgrading at some point in the future, and who knows what cost it will be?

Yep, that laptop is a good one. In fact, it's been the one I've been recommending lately. Make sure you purchase it while it is on sale and before it's sold out. Enjoy!

Here's another idea: LOTEYIKE Monitor Riser Desktop Stand, Flat Screen TV Monitor Stand Riser, Sturdy Metal Laptop Computer Monitor Stand Shelf for Printer, iMac, 3 Height Adjustable PC Stand with Mesh Platform Now, that stand you could have 4 Hard Drives, two on the top and two on the bottom. You might need to find one that suits your color/ascetic, but you get the idea.

That’s a good question. I realize space is an issue, but heat dissipation and more importantly, vibration from two 7200 RPM drives stacked, with aluminum cases, I wouldn’t recommend it. You could use something like a Rubbermaid wire thing meant for Dishes to stack one on top of the other. That might be better.

It's fine. Some Power Supplies are "better," meaning "well regarded." I personally like EVGA Power Supplies. Such as this one, but take a look at that price-tag...that's a little less than A$500. I just installed one of these more affordable EVGA Power Supplies in a friend's computer, and if I were building my computer, this one would be the one I'd purchase: EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G5, 80 Plus Gold 850W See if they have that Power Supply in stock (have the Oz equivalent) and could add it to your build. The difference between the two? Higher Grade Components internally. If you were doing all sorts of crazy things, Overclocking, Liquid Cooling, running a High End Video Card that is also performing at the Maximum...then you want a really beefy power supply. For the average person editing photos, such as yourself, you don't need a A$500 Power Supply.

That Calibrator is a bit "Long in the Tooth" going into 2024. I'd seriously budget for one, regardless of new display.

That's a decent config. Though I really like this one: https://www.eaglegaming.com.au/products/eagle-platinum-ultimate-gaming-platform I LOVE Lian-Li Cases. Also that Power supply is a better one as well.

I'd budget for a new Calibrator as well. Try your existing one and see how it goes, but be prepared to replace it if needed.

No Touchscreens!! They are a Bitch to Calibrate. I like the first one. ($1734)

Seems to check all of the boxes. Now the real question is, how easy will it be to get calibrated? What Calibrator do you have? If it's more than a few years old, you might have to budget for one of those too. Thoughts @Damien Symonds?

Between the two, the Asus ROG is the better option for use with Photoshop. Going forward, it is imperative that you have a high-end video card, such as a NVIDIA 3070 or 3080 and above! In fact, the choice of Video Card is more important than CPU at this point. I know, I know...it's hard to get away from they last 30-40 years of thinking of "I'll get this one because it has a better CPU and more RAM..." Today's Modern Photoshop is relying more and more on the VIDEO CARD, not only for a performance boost, but for some Modules like ACR and Liquify to physically work. It's only going to get worse as time goes on. Now...8GB. Is that the RAM? Because if it is, that is in no-way-shape-or-form enough for Photoshop. 16GB isn't even "enough." You want at least 32GB RAM headed into 2024 and preferably 64GB. Also, since we are talking about laptops, you want to make sure you are buying one that has a IPS-Based Display Panel. Most gaming laptops have the typical TN Display...which aren't meant for Photo Editing. IPS Screens provide a better viewing angle, and consistent colors, contrast, sharpness, etc. from corner-to corner. So if the laptop doesn't mention anything about it being IPS, SKIP IT! That said, finding a IPS screen in a Laptop, that will run Photoshop well, is difficult to find. Not impossible, you just really need to pay attention to ALL of the Specs. Edit: Never mind. I see the 32GB in the Asus Model. It's still the better choice, only thing we need to check is that IPS Display Panel.

I found this one: ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type B & UHS-II SDXC Dual-Slot USB 3.2 Gen 2 Card Reader. Hopefully you will see this before tonight. It's on a Cyber Monday Sale. Yes. You need a USB-A to USB-C Cable for your computer. Such as this one: Monoprice AtlasFlex USB 2.0 Type-C to Type-A Kevlar-Reinforced Nylon-Braid Cable (1.5', Black). I'd use one of the Thunderbolt USB-C Style Ports to use the Reader on your laptop. (Use the USB-C Cable that comes with the Reader.) Both links are to B&H, so it's easy to add both to the cart.

And before I go further down this Rabbit Hole, can you snap a few photos of your Cards that you use with your SmartPhone and post them here? I want to see physically what you have. The reason is, people will think they have one version of something, but it's something else. Like interchange CFExpress and CF (Compact Flash.) Not trying to insult your intelligence, I'm trying to save us both Time.

If you purchased this Sandisk Reader, that's Compact Flash, NOT A CF EXPRESS slot. CF Express Type B cards look like XQD Cards, in which case you would need a reader specifically to read those type of Cards. Specifically, the Sony MRW-G1 CFexpress Type B / XQD Reader. Inside that Sony Reader Box there are two cables, a USB-C to USB-C, and a USB-A to USB-C. That's the cable you need. You should be able to use the USB-C to USB-A for both readers and your Desktop Computer. For your MacBook, I'd try using the Thunderbolt Ports and see if it shows up. Do you have your MacBook setup correctly? Does the SD Cards show up on the Mac Desktop?

I just was notified by the Adobe Mothership... HEY!! YOU HAVE AN UPDATE!!! Yep, I know. See how Auto-Updates are disabled? At this stage, many of our users get excited and have huge FOMO present in their minds. Then they blindly click "Update." Only to create frantic posts in a few hours because Photoshop isn't acting right on their 5+ year old computer. PS 2023 really started making older computers cranky, PS 2024 and beyond make people buy new computers. So if you don't have money set aside, your wallet will be bitching at you. Like I said, unless you are hell-bent on the AI stuff that Adobe is pushing out, you really don't "Need" Photoshop 2024.