New quad core ok for 24 mp photo editing

[triweaver2]

Hi,
I am wondering if the new quad core mini will handle pictures from my Alpha Nex 7 which are 24 mega pixels. I would be using the software that comes with the camera or Gimp. The lack of the separate GPU worries me but then the one on the new iMac does not seem to be all that great (or that's what I read in those threads). What do you think?

 

[fa8362]

You won't have any trouble. Just make sure you add more RAM. 4 GB won't cut it. Don't buy the RAM from Apple.

 

[Poki]

Hi,
I am wondering if the new quad core mini will handle pictures from my Alpha Nex 7 which are 24 mega pixels. I would be using the software that comes with the camera or Gimp. The lack of the separate GPU worries me but then the one on the new iMac does not seem to be all that great (or that's what I read in those threads). What do you think?

It will be fine. I develop photos from both a Nikon D800 and a NEX-5 on my mid 2009 MBP, which doesn't make fun, but it works, so it'll be fine on just about any current Mac.

But do yourself something good and get Lightroom or Aperture. They are not that expensive and the results you get are just a day and night difference compared to Gimp or Sony's terrible image data converter ...

 

[triweaver2]

Thanks!

Thank you both. Yes, I would do the 8 GB ram and either the fusion drive or the LaCie external SSD. Thanks for the tip on the other editing software too. Now to figure out a good monitor. I currently have a 2008 iMac and no monitor. I suspect that new iMac is going to be very costly to repair.

 

[Mojo1]

Check out NEC displays. Best Bang For The Buck. B&H Photo often has discounts on NEC displays.

 

[triweaver2]

Thank you Mojo1. I will check them out.

 

[Mojo1]

Thank you Mojo1. I will check them out.

I suggest starting with the NEC website: http://www.necdisplay.com/category/desktop-monitors

I went with a CCFL backlit display after experiencing serious eyestrain using an 11" MacBook Air and mild eyestrain with a 13" MBP that I was able to mitigate. (I didn't buy the MBA because the problem was so bad...) I didn't have a problem with the LED backlit display used in my 2008 15" MBP. But a long Apple forum thread about this problem began shortly after the unibody MBPs were introduced in 2008. So I suspect that something was changed when Apple updated the MBP design.

Problems with LED backlighting seems to vary depending on the display manufacturer, so I decided to not take any chances and stick with CCFL.

The Apple forum thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1677617?start=0&tstart=0 There is a lot of online chatter about users reporting various health issues attributed to LED backlighting. I hadn't heard anything about it until my MBA experience and I began doing some research on the matter...

Good luck with your display quest. Let us know what you wind up buying...

 

[TrollToddington]

Well, if you ask if the processor in the new quad-mini will be powerful enough you should mind there aren't significantly faster processors in the present mac lineup. So, if I were in your shoes I wouldn't worry at all. I even think the new mini is powerful enough even for Nikon D800 36MP RAW files provided one increases the amount of RAM.

 

[Poki]

Well, if you ask if the processor in the new quad-mini will be powerful enough you should mind there aren't significantly faster processors in the present mac lineup. So, if I were in your shoes I wouldn't worry at all. I even think the new mini is powerful enough even for Nikon D800 36MP RAW files provided one increases the amount of RAM.

Sure, even the iMac CPUs aren't faster, so nothing to be afraid of.

 

[triweaver2]

Many thanks to all! Mojo I am power and heat conscious here so may end up with backlighting. I need something that does not weigh over 13 pounds and will want IPS. Spoiled big time. I keep waffling on the new 21.5 but keep coming back to the mini. Those Geekbench scores on the front page are impressive. Way outperforms my 2008 entry level iMac when it was new.

I'm waiting for the teardown on the new 21.5 to see how bad they are to get into as I suspect harder equates to higher repair bills. Since I will most likely have apple install the RAM the only issue is that I would like to have the option to have RAM added down the road. I do believe the mini can still be done by the owner which is a big plus.