If you’re a professional photographer or serious hobbyist, you’ll be spending a lot of your time editing on a computer aside from taking snaps with your camera. Many photographers choose to use laptops for editing their digital photography. But if you don’t always have to be on the go, you’ll have a much more pleasant editing experience with a desktop computer. This article will help you find the best desktop computer for photo editing.
Editing photos in Photoshop and Lightroom demands a lot of disk space and processing power — aside from a large monitor where you won’t need to struggle when editing small, intricate details. This is where desktop computers come in, as they are generally built to provide more multitasking power without any visible lag time.
But don’t just choose any desktop computer. There are certain desktop computer features and specifications for editing photos that ensure a faster and more efficient workflow, including a large high-resolution screen, fast processor (CPU), mid-range or higher graphics card (GPU), at least 8GB of memory (RAM), and at least 1TB worth of storage space.
To help narrow down your search, here’s our list to help you find the best desktop computer for photo editing on the market.
Features to look for in a computer for photo editing
In order to get the most performance out of your computer, specifically for photo editing, you’ll want to consider the following specifications:
High-resolution screen
Photo editing heavily relies on our ability to perceive the intricate details of an image. In doing so, a monitor or display with high resolution and excellent color and contrast is paramount. Full HD 1920 x 1080 is considered the minimum for editing photos these days, with 4K and above being even better. Another key spec to look for in a monitor is whether it uses in-plane switching (IPS) to reproduce images, which creates deep and rich colors that are great for photo work.
Fast processor (CPU)
Popular photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom makes liberal use of the computer’s processor. The best computer for photo editing should have, at minimum, a 2GHz processor and at least four cores. Cores help distribute complex tasks for smoother operation. At the moment, having more than eight cores for Adobe’s software results in only a minimal increase in performance.
GPU
While having a good GPU is helpful, it isn’t the most important feature of the best computer for photo editing. Adobe recommends having at least 1.5GB of GPU memory on tap, with 4GB being even better. Realistically, the CPU is more important than the GPU in this case. However, some machines do make use of native GPU acceleration.
RAM
The amount of memory you need depends on the size and quantity of photos you’re editing. At least 8GB gets your foot in the door of good Photoshop performance, though going for 16GB or more will ensure you have plenty of power on deck.
Storage
Photos can take up a ton of space. Multiply them by the hundreds or thousands, and you’ll see your hard drive space being eaten up quickly. It’s recommended to have at least 1TB available so you won’t see yourself running out of storage right away.
What is the Best Desktop Computer for Photo Editing?
Before you buy a desktop, it’s crucial that you understand its features and specs. From there, you can start determining whether or not it can meet your photo editing needs — and your budget. This list will help you find the best desktop computer for photo editing.
Best Desktop Computer Towers for Photo Editing
Apple Mac Studio Desktop Computer, M1 Max
The latest Mac Studio is the supercharged version of the Mac Mini. It’s more than capable of being a photo-editing powerhouse with the M1 Max chip. Over the standard M1, the M1 Max boasts up to 2.5x faster CPU and 3.4x faster GPU. Take advantage of a total of 12 different ports for connecting cameras, SD cards, and hi-res displays, and the Mac Studio is the ideal centerpiece for any photographer. It’s also one of the best computers for photo editing overall — especially at this price and configuration.
Key Specifications:
- Apple M1 Max Chip
- 10-Core CPU
- 24-Core GPU
- 32GB RAM / 512GB SSD
- Supports up to four Pro Display XDRs (6K resolution)
MSI Creator P50
The MSI Creator P50 is a stylish photo studio nucleus. In addition to photo editing, graphic design, video editing, and routine computing, its list of components make it a great machine for gaming and entertainment as well. The P50 is optimized for multitasking to run Photoshop in tandem with other creative software across multiple monitors. It utilizes the latest 12th Gen Intel processing, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD for any and all creative purposes. MSI hit a home run with one of the best desktops for photo editing that’s a PC.
Key Specifications:
- Intel Core i7-12700F
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU
- 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD
- 1x HDMI & 3x DisplayPort
- 4x USB-A & 1x USB-C
HP ENVY TE01-1487c Desktop Computer
The HP ENVY is one of the best desktops for photo editing on a budget. Making use of 10th Gen Intel processing and integrated graphics helps keep the cost low without sacrificing its ability as a photo-editing computer. The “minitower” form factor doesn’t take up too much desk space either, so you have more room for peripherals, displays, and other accessories. Internally, the computer offers two M.2 and two PCIe expansion slots to upgrade its hardware if needed.
Key Specifications:
- Intel Core i7-10700 (2.9GHz base frequency)
- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630
- 32GB RAM
- 512GB SSD & 1TB HDD
- 1x USB-C, 4x USB-A, HDMI
CyberPowerPC Gamer Master
CyberPowerPC optimized the Gamer Master for productivity and play. The ultra-fast Ryzen 7 CPU, built for multitasking and gaming, drives the machine. It also takes advantage of an AMD RX 6600 GPU with 8GB of video memory — ideal for GPU-accelerated photo editing during the day, and high-performance AAA gaming at night. The Gamer Master is an incredibly well rounded computer capable of running the latest photo software alongside any other resource-heavy tasks.
Key Specifications:
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700G (3.8GHz)
- AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT GPU (8GB video memory)
- 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD & 2TB HDD
- HDMI / DisplayPort
- 6x USB 3.1 & 2x USB 2.0
Best All-in-One Desktop Computers for Photo Editing
Apple iMac 27″ with Retina 5K Display, Mid 2020
Photographers looking to keep their setup simple should look into an all-in-one desktop computer like the Apple iMac. This mid-2020 model features a stunning 27” 5K retina display — perfect for honing in on the intricacies of editing a photo. It’s equipped with an Intel i7 CPU, Radeon Pro graphics, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. Overall, it may be the single best computer for photo editing. It would be difficult to pair any tower with an equally luxurious display at this price.
Key Specifications:
- 8-Core Intel i7 CPU (3.8GHz)
- AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT (8GB of video memory)
- 8GB RAM / 512GB SSD
- 27” 5K Retina Display
- 5120 x 2880 Resolution (1,000,000,000 colors)
Apple iMac 24″ with Retina 4.5K Display, Mid 2021
The completely redesigned iMac built around the M1 chip oozes power from a highly compact all-in-one housing. Its 24” 4.5K display offers a wide P3 color gamut and over a billion colors with 500 nits of brightness. The display goes one step further, utilizing True Tone technology to automatically adjust the screen’s temperature to suit your ambient lighting environment. This results in a more natural viewing experience, where photos translate better to print and other displays.
Key Specifications (of the base model):
- Apple M1 Chip
- 8-Core CPU / 8-Core GPU
- 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD
- 24” 4.5K IPS display
- 4480 x 2520 resolution
MSI Modern AM271P 11M-426US 27″ FHD
PC users will love the MSI Modern all-in-one desktop computer. The comfortable 27” IPS display provides full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, and anti-flicker and blue light minimization is easy on the eyes during long editing sessions. 11th Gen Intel processing and 16GB RAM make running Adobe applications a breeze. Finally, one of the computer’s most unique features is the ability to run it as a second monitor without firing up the whole system.
Key Specifications:
- Intel Core i7-1165G7
- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
- 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD
- 27” FHD ISP display; can run separately as a secondary monitor
- 1920 x 1080 resolution
Frequently Asked Questions
Much of it comes down to personal preference. Laptops can combine all of the specs we’d look for in the best computer for photo editing, though they tend to be more expensive than desktops. If you work on the go, or at least desire that flexibility, then a laptop is the better choice. If you have a fixed photo editing space, then a desktop tends to offer more performance at lower prices.
Again, much of this choice boils down to preference. Most professional photographers and editors choose Mac over PC, because it’s known as a rock-solid, stable platform. If you’re an experienced Windows user, it’s perfectly fine to stick with what you know. With either platform you can achieve similar hardware performance, though it’s the operating systems themselves that set them apart.
