Brian

If you are just using Elements...then get whatever. LOL!! ANY of your configurations are more than fine. Between the 13900K vs the 13900F... The "K" is a bit faster in many areas, though it's not Earth-Shattering at this point. The "K" has a integrated video GPU that is good for when you want to use a computer as a NAS for a Plex Media Server to Transcode Video to devices, and has a bit more "Umph" overall. The "F" version consumes less power, and doesn't have a built-in GPU, and also goes up to 192GB of RAM instead of 128GB. The 13900K has been replaced by the 14900K. That's why the "F" is similar in speed results, the "K" version has been out for a few years. New Tech vs Old Tech. (Yes, 2 years is considered "Old.") In reality, at this point there is no "Need" for a "Ti" version of anything. Photoshop 2024 will work fine with a 4070, with or without a "Ti." The Ti Versions of the cards come out later. But again, since you are using Elements...anything you buy is fine. The laptop is fine. The XPS is fine, and personally...I'd skip the Alienware, but that's just me. It's also fine. Cases do not matter much if you don't plan on dorking around with your computer, adding water cooling, fancy LED setups, etc. Some users really trick out their computers; they are much like the Hot Rods with the Fireballs on the Doors that were built in the 1950's & 1960's. How much money do you want to spend? It's a huge Rabbit Hole. Here are some Measurebator...I mean Benchmarks between the two CPUs.

Oh, you are in the same boat as me. Time to start saving for a new computer to purchase within the next 12-18 months.

Short answer: No. Long Answer, I have a 2017 iMac with more RAM and a better GPU running PS 23 (and Big Sur) and I’m noticing lag in PS. DO NOT UPGRADE TO PS 24. Photoshop 22 should work fine and 23 to a certain degree…but it will make you think about buying a new computer. PS 24, you will be in here begging for help on how to un-do a OS and PS upgrade. (Hint: you will need to Nuke your HD and start completely over, so save yourself the stress.)

If you are going to go with a i9, I’d personally go the Full Monty and get an Intel Core i9-13900K. I’d also take a look at the Dell XPS Line as well. RAM 32 is fine, 64GB is better. HD Space, you can never have “enough,” but the one thing you do not do is buy a system that only has a 500GB HD (or smaller) for the main HD. You want at least 1TB for the Main HD. So a one HD or dual HD config…doesn’t matter, just make sure you at least get a 1TB main HD. So a 2TB is a no brained for a main HD. But in reality, the thing I would upgrade in a computer today is the Video Card. I’d configure the absolute best video card that a Manufacturer offers for a computer. Adobe is using the Video GPUs for not only a performance gain, but for various modules and features to actually work. So if you are in the market, get the beefiest Video Card you can afford. To answer your question, Alienware lost its magic when Dell bought them. It’s a fancy looking case and name recognition that people are drawn to. Take a look at what you are getting, sometimes you can get a better Dell Workstation/ Business Computer with less Bloatware installed and better components.

Hmm...I've got nothing. I would try and change the "On power Adapter" to High Power and see if that helps. You might have to contact Adobe on this one. The issue is, it's a new version of Photoshop on brand new hardware. This bug has happened before and it's always been fixed. As for a time-frame for this to happen, I have no idea.

You have to learn to poke around. This is how I figure out stuff. Click the "Automatic" on the "On Battery." What are your choices? What about "On Power Adapter?" Or you can't and need to click on the "Options..." Button. Post some screen shots, you are going to by my Guinea Pig, since I don't have $4600+ laying around for a new M3 Mac Laptop.

64GB is FINE. Even heading into 2024. It's really the choice of video card that makes the most difference with Today's Modern Photoshop. The only time I could think of needing more than 64GB, is if you plan on doing HUGE Panoramas, taken with a high MP Camera. Like combining 40+ Photos that are 100mb each at full resolution. Then more RAM and a fast video card is ideal. But for the average Photo Editor? 64GB is the Sweet Spot. 16GB is absolute bare-minimum, 32GB is what you want and 64GB is the "Sweet Spot," meaning it allows your computer to not hit the PS Scratch Disk as much, which results in better performance. I tend to do large Panoramas with my D850, with uncompressed full resolution files. I think my next computer may have 96GB of RAM, just to have a little more "breathing room." Even then, 64GB would be plenty for the other 99% stuff that I do.

Hmm...I'm wondering if your fancy new Mac Laptop has two video cards. One is meant for Performance, and the one you want Photoshop / Bridge to use, the other is a wimpy card that conserves battery life and is meant for "General Computing." Head to your Preferences (Gear Icon on the Taskbar.) Look for "Battery," then open it. MAKE SURE AUTOMATIC GRAPHICS SWITCHING IS UN-CHECKED!!!! Then close out the Battery Preferences box and Reboot.

Planned obsolescence, silly end-user! I'm going to agree with you, it's either probably the Chipset they are using, or a BIOS limitation that is done on-purpose. They want you in the market sooner, rather than later. They want you replacing your laptop every 12-18 months. They could easily add access panels and give people options for upgrades, but today's laptops are taking a cue from Apple and are basically sealed units. I'm surprised that there are actual slots, as the RAM could have just been soldered to the Motherboard.

Unfortunately, you upgraded on a Intel Mac and this is a one-way proposition. Ventura, and the current macOS, Sonoma, is really meant for the newer M1, M2, and now the M3 Line of Macs. At this point, there are no "take-back-sies," meaning...you are Nuking your Main HD and reinstalling everything from scratch in order to downgrade. Apple stopped signing off on downgrading for your OS YEARS AGO! This is a major undertaking, and something that I'm not going to risk have you doing with me over a forum. When I've done this, it takes >>> ME <<< about a day to accomplish, then another 2-3 days of fiddling to get things working again. What I would do is, GO BACK TO PHOTOSHOP 2023 AND STAY THERE!!! Seriously, you have a Mac from 2017 that is due for replacement within the next 12-18 months. It's 6 years old! Yes, I have that same Mac and I refuse to upgrade to PS 2024. Photoshop 2024 really requires a new / modern computer, and even then Photoshop / Bridge don't have issues. I don't care what Adobe says and claims...this current version of Photoshop is killing computers that are a few years old. Especially ones that are "Under-powered." You can no longer blindly upgrade Photoshop or any other of Adobe's Software. I know the FOMO is strong, but in reality...you aren't missing much. Except for the AI stuff. Photoshop is still Photoshop. In fact, PS hasn't changed THAT much since CS6, well at least in terms of core features/modules. To put things bluntly, START SAVING! Budget around $4600 for a new Mac. No, Apple refuses to release a 27" M3 Mac. So if you are waiting for one to be released, you are probably going to wait forever.

This is a common glitch that happens with new computers. People have had this same issue before. There are three choices: Un-install Bridge, reboot and use the Adobe Mothership App to download the latest and greatest version of Adobe Bridge. Often this takes care of things. Deal with it until Adobe releases an update, or Apple releases a update for the macOS. If these two choices aren't ideal for you, contact Adobe Support. They should be able to remote in and tweak things.

I'd purchase the Lenovo. It mentions a IPS screen. Believe me, manufactures WILL point that out 99% of the time, since it's a "upgrade" over a TN Panel. If it's not mentioned, I'm going to assume it has a TN Display Panel and not a IPS Screen, which is what you WANT for Photo Editing.

Buy it! Enjoy your purchase.

Now the next step is... Open the Adobe CC Mothership App and TURN OFF AUTO-UPDATING!!! Stay where you are Photoshop Version-wise. I PROMISE!! PINKY SWEAR PROMISE!!! It is much better for you to actually learn how to properly edit in Photoshop, then to have FOMO on not having the latest AI Tool. Seriously. Photoshop at its core has not changed THAT MUCH since CS6. It's all the fancy tools and bloatware that Adobe adds in order to keep people hooked on a subscription model. While that is great, a end-user needs to keep on top of replacing their computers every 36 months or so to keep Photoshop happy. Moreso if they don't get the more beefy hardware at purchase in which case that number drops to 24 months for every new computer. That gets expensive.

I have a Lenovo for work, and it's held up for YEARS of me carrying it around daily. HP Laptops were good 20 years ago. Now, they just suck. Their Trackpads are TERRIBLE and HP uses Eco-Friendly Solder, meaning no lead. That's great for the environment, but crappy for things like the power connector leads that attach to the motherboard. I've had nothing but problem-after-problem with HP Laptops with my customers. They last about 18-24 months under heavy use. If the cheap plastic case parts hold up that long. Personally, you want either a Lenovo or a Asus Republic of Gamers. One with a IPS Screen is mandatory for photo editing. Good Luck on your hunt. I'm thinking your budget will need to increase slightly. $999 in today's world for anything good is tough to come by.

Seems to check all the boxes. That said, HP laptops just do not last. I would not spend a penny more than the $999 price-tag. I’d expect you be back in the Market in about 24-36 months. But the specs are good.

Well, you can re-install Windows without having to Nuke everything. But it's not fool-proof. Glad you got things working... NOW BACKUP YOUR DATA 'YA WALLY!!! Seriously. Take the time to backup things now, even if it takes a week or so. A data crash / reloading everything should be a time suck and a PITA to do, but not be catastrophic!! Understand? Take this near-death experience of your data and get things backed up.

See next to Graphics? You have TWO Video Cards in your MacBook Pro. One is for long battery life, the other is when you want to do important stuff, like edit photos. You want Photoshop to be using the Radeon Pro 555x 4GB Graphics Card.

YES! - TURN. THAT. OFF. If you turn that feature on, it tells your Mac Laptop to automatically switch to the low-end & under-powered graphics card to save power. Basically, when you unplug it or the battery gets really low, it will switch. Then Photoshop gets cranky because it wants to use the more Robust Graphics Card (Some Laptops have TWO GPUs!) because...duh! It's faster and better. Things like Liquify and Adobe Camera Raw primarily use the Graphics Processor to work, NOT the CPU. So if Photoshop disables the Low-End Graphics Card, you will get error messages and things won't work right. Remember "Today's Modern Photoshop" requires FOUR THINGS: Fast CPU (Intel i7 137000K or better) Enough RAM (I recommend 32GB or more) 1 TB HD A Beefy & Fast Video GPU with at least 8GB of dedicated Video RAM. (More is always better.) The days of "I just upgraded to 32GB so it should be fast enough..." are OVER. Or the "I got lots of Gigabytes on my HD, so I should be fine." That thinking was so last-century. Photoshop is getting more-and-more bloated, especially with all of this AI Crap they are adding.

Sony XQD/CFExpress Type B Memory Card Reader I have the XQD Only Version of that Reader and it's served me well for the past 5 years. The SD Card Reader, any will do; the ones that come with Macs are the best that 6 cents can buy. So while you can use a SD Reader in a Mac, virtually ANY external Card Reader will be better. You mean the Article with a title of, "What Card Reader do you Recommend?" Now keep in mind, the What-to-Buy Articles ALWAYS are out of date. Things I recommend may nor may not be available, so you might have to search a little. That said, this Card Reader is still available. Honestly? My D850 takes both a SD and a XQD / CFExpress Type B. I have never used the SD Card, maybe like once. I'm always using XQD Cards just because they are WAY faster and are built like tanks.

I know this might be a cop-out...but have you tried doing a search on YouTube? I'm sure someone has a Tips & Tricks Video out there.

I'm a Nikon OEM snob. Until you have shot with Pro-Grade Nikon f/2.8 Zoom Lenses, you have no idea what you are missing. Sure, some Measurebator will come in with all sorts of charts and graphs and blah-blah-blah. I'm sticking with Nikon Glass. It used to be that Tamron Lenses would add a bit more red to photos and Sigma tended to add a bit more yellow. Not sure if that still applies. Nikon Glass has always been neutral, especially with the top-end lenses. When you pixel-peep...I mean really pixel-peep, you do see a difference with OEM Lenses for the most part. Now if all you are doing is posting to a IG account or for people to swoon over things in a Facebook Group, get whatever your heart desires. If you are asking me, I'd save up and get the OEM lenses.

24MP is FINE. Trust me. I have a D850, and have to deal with it's stupid 45.7 MP sensor. That damn camera costed me so much money. Why? 100MB Raw Files. Sure, I could turn on compression, but I don't like doing that. That camera required me to buy two new and expensive lenses, a whole new computer and 12TB Storage AND had to upgrade the RAM to 64GB to handle those 100MB Raw files. What's my point? To support a 45.7MP Camera (or larger,) you need an entire ecosystem to support it. In reality? All one "NEEDS" is about 12MP. That's it. 12MP will get you any print size that you desire. The rest is just Marketing, and FOMO...which drives Camera sales. People are so worried about not having the latest camera body, but I will tell you that it's the LENSES one needs to be more concerned with. That said, it's soon to be 2024...24MP and greater is our reality. Your question, yep...as per your requirements, it's Mirrorless that you should be after. It's actually a good thing that you switched over, because in addition to a Mirrorless Body, it is in your best interest to get a Mirrorless Lens to go with it. Don't fall for the, "But they have an FTZ Adapter..." thinking. Mirrorless Bodies, want Mirrorless Lenses. Period. The Zf looks interesting. It's cute, and they remind me of the old SLRs from the 1980's. It's also 45.7MP, so be prepared for that ecosystem. I was seriously looking at getting one, but have other stuff to buy first. The Z8 also is a very capable camera. I've also seen great things out of a Z6ii. Honestly? I'd skip the Z7ii at this point. It's kinda like your D750, it's in the same class. From my POV, it's either the z6ii or Z8. Now you will need to decide which lens to go with it. For the lightest weight and walking around, a good 50mm f/1.8 Lens will do most shots. 35mm is good for Street Photography, and Dog Shows? I'd have a 70-200 f/4 to save on weight, since most 70-200 f/2.8 lenses are about 3lbs all-by-themselves before you add the weight of the body. Portraits...85mm or even the new Mirrorless Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Lens. Or you could get a Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S Lens and start there. Figure out what's your typical focal length for a particular subject then decide if you want a prime or not. Primes will always be lighter than zooms, but it does force you to think more and be creative as you need to "Zoom with your Feet." What I would do now, is find a local camera store that has ANY Mirrorless Body on Display and hold one. Fiddle with it, go into the menus and give it a test drive. Don't rely just on what you see on YouTube or Blog Posts. Mirrorless takes getting used to, as you are looking at a little TV Screen in the Viewfinder. IF YOU PAN A LOT, or Photograph like a Sniper during Dog Shows, there is a bit of delay when moving the camera quickly in the viewfinder since the camera has to redraw the image on the viewfinder each time you move. That's why the focusing system is way more robust and has more Focus Points for you (or the camera) to utilize. It's meant for you to not have to move as much. But I've shot with a SLR since 1986 and that delay is just weird for me. It's gonna be an adjustment. But walking around with 50lbs of gear when I go on trips is becoming a bit of a hassle, plus I'm a huge target for thieves. I want to get down to one small camera body and either a 24-70 f/2.8 or 24-120 f/4. If you do end up going with a 45.7MP sensor, you are going to need a new computer sooner rather than later. In fact, I'd buy the computer before buying a new camera. Unless you only want to edit 1 or 2 photos at a time.

@Damien Symonds - Any ideas? I don't own one, so I won't be of much help.

Short Answer: “Meh.” I will give my full thoughts later tonight.