Question Building a photo editing machine

[ShaunLiddy]

I currently have a Dell XPS 8910 that has been extremely slow for me.

It has 256GB DDR4 3200 (4x64 modules)
1GB M.2 SSD
2GB SSD

The nVidia GPU that was in it died so I bought a Radeon 6700xt 12GB GDDR6 to replace it, but ran in to problems.


Being it has been slow for me, I am figuring on building something fresh but would like to carry over the items above if at all possible.

I think I mostly need the following:
- ATX case
- ATX MB (that can support 4x64GB DD4 3200
- Processors
- 850w Power Supply (maybe overkill)


As far as editing, I am doing a lot more landscapes and night photography. I often stack and stitch a bunch of pics to make panoramics or low noise night shots. Could be 250 x 32MB images in a single file. This is where things bog down with otherwise simple edits.


I'm having a hard time finding a MB that will support 256GB DDR4, or at least in a 4x64 configuration.


What options are out there?


Thanks in advance.

Shaun

 

[ShaunLiddy]

I'd like to add, with my XPS 8910 I would often times see the processor running at 100% as well as the memory buffer using all 256MB while processing these types of images.

The stacking and stitching could often take 15-20 min to render.

With any minor adjustment, there could be a 1-3min delay with a simple process such as moving a slider in lightroom.

 

[geofelt]

What is the processor in your XP8910?

Do you have a budget for your upgrade?

There should be no problem reusing your 4 stick 256gb ddr4 ram kit.

 

[ShaunLiddy]

Ok, now I feel dumb. The modules in my machine are 32GB DDR4 3200.

That should make things easier

 

[ShaunLiddy]

What is the processor in your XP8910?

Do you have a budget for your upgrade?

There should be no problem reusing your 4 stick 256gb ddr4 ram kit.

It's a 6th Gen Skylake 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7-6700 processor

 

[geofelt]

If you want more than the 128gb that you now have, you will need to replace the ram.
There are plenty of options for up to 256 gb. Past that, you are looking at server motherboards.

Current gen is now 14.
Your i7-6700 was a top processor in it's prime.
It has 8 processing threads and a passmark rating of 8092. That is when all processing threads are fully loaded.
The single thread rating is 2297.
A good upgrade might be a $250 I5-13500 with 20 threads and a rating of 32474 and single thread of 3957.
It comes with a decent laminar flow stock cooler.
Most any B760 motherboard with DDR4 support will do.
As an example MSI MAG B760 tomahawk ddr4.

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813144583

I might add that i3/i5/i7/i9 no longer mean what they used to.
Namely designating the number of cores and hyperthreading.
Now it is a relative ranking of capability.

 

[ShaunLiddy]

Please excuse my ignorance, I am trying to figure more things out, and I am sure not helping matters by not giving all the info I can.

I just looked up the memory modules I have and compatibility is with the following processors

Intel 300 Series,Intel 400 Series,Intel 500 Series,Intel 600 Series,Intel X299,AMD TRX40

Perhaps I go AMD simply due to the GPU also being AMD? Not sure that will matter.

Also looked up the GPU and it is a dual slot PCIE 4.0


Now my confusion, are the TRX4 / DDR4 mother boards I am seeing supporting the TRX40 Corsair is mentioning. IE, is TRX40 and TRX4 one in the same? Ryzen Gen 3?