Photography cannot be done effectively without a PC for editing your shots. Even though there are smartphone apps that edit photos, however, nothing can replace editing your shots on a computer. You need a handy guide, which is where this guide comes in, to help you select the best hardware components. So what’s the Best PC Build for Photo Editing? We’ve got answers for you. Keep reading.
The components for each build have been vetted and cross-checked for compatibility issues. Better still, you can customize any of the builds using our AI PC Builder.
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What’s the Best PC Build for Photo Editing? Here are our recommendations
Intel Photo Editing PC Builds
Intel Budget Photo Editing PC Build
Choose this build if you want a budget Photo Editing PC based on the Intel platform. All parts are vetted for compatibility.
BUDGET: $600-800. Great for entry-level users or hobbyists working with JPEGs and light RAW editing.
- CPU: Intel Core i5 12400F
- Motherboard: MSI PRO B660M-A CEC WiFi DDR4 V2 Micro ATX (Renewed)
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB
- GPU: MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 (Renewed)
- Storage: Crucial P310 1TB NVMe M.2
- PSU: Thermaltake Smart 600W 80+ White Certified PSU
- Case: NZXT H5 Flow
- Display: ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD Professional Display
Capable of handling Lightroom and Photoshop for basic to moderate workflows with decent export times.
Intel Mid-Range Photo Editing PC Build
Choose this build if you want a mid-range Photo Editing PC based on the Intel platform. All parts are vetted for compatibility.
BUDGET: $1000 – 1300. Ideal for advanced amateurs and freelancers working with large RAW files and plugins.
- Display: ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD Professional Display
- CPU: Intel Core i7 13700K
- Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi
- CPU Cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 LX
- RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series
- GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
- Storage (OS/Apps): Samsung 980 NVMe 500GB
- Storage (User/Media Files): Silicon Power 4TB UD90 NVMe
- PSU: Corsair RM750X Fully Modular Cybenetics Gold Certified Low-Noise ATX PSU
- Case: Corsair 3500X ARGB Mid-Tower ATX PC Case
Excellent multitasking, fast previews, and snappy response even with multi-layered PSD files and color correction tools.
Intel High-End Photo Editing PC Build
Choose this build if you want a high-end Photo Editing PC based on the Intel platform. All parts are vetted for compatibility.
BUDGET: $2000 – 3000. For this budget range, errrh, money is not a problem. Designed for smooth multitasking, large canvas sizes, high-res prints, advanced plugins, and top performance in both Lightroom Classic and Photoshop.
- CPU: Intel Core i9 14900K
- CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 chromax Black
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming
- RAM: Kingston Fury Beast RGB 64GB DDR5
- GPU: ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super OC
- Storage (OS/Apps): Samsung 990 PRO SSD NVMe M.2 2TB
- Storage (Media/User Files): Seagate Barracuda 8TB
- PSU: MSI MAG A1000GL PCIE 5 Gaming PSU Full Modular 80+ Gold 1000W
- Case: LIAN LI O11 Dynamic EVO Gaming PC Case
- Display: Dell UltraSharp U2723QE 4K UHD Professional Display
This workstation-class build delivers top-tier responsiveness, accurate previews, and quick exports for large high-resolution edits, HDR workflows, and batch editing.
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AMD Photo Editing PC Builds
AMD Budget Photo Editing PC Build
Choose this build if you want a budget Photo Editing PC based on the AMD platform. All parts are vetted for compatibility.
BUDGET: $600-800. Ideal for beginner photographers, a students, or hobbyists.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Motherboard: ASUS Prime B450M-A II
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB
- GPU: MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 (Renewed)
- Storage: Crucial P310 1TB NVMe M.2
- PSU: Thermaltake Smart 600W 80+ White Certified PSU
- Case: NZXT H5 Flow
- Display: ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD Professional Display
This setup is cost-effective and handles Lightroom and Photoshop smoothly for small to medium projects.
AMD Mid-Range Photo Editing PC Build
Choose this build if you want a mid-range Photo Editing PC based on the AMD platform. All parts are vetted for compatibility.
BUDGET: $1000 – 1300. Ideal for enthusiasts or freelancers working with RAW files, high-res images, and advanced editing.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi
- Display: ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD Professional Display
- CPU Cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock Pro 3 LX
- RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series
- GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
- Storage: Samsung 980 NVMe 500GB
- Storage: Silicon Power 4TB UD90 NVMe
- PSU: Corsair RM750X Fully Modular Cybenetics Gold Certified Low-Noise ATX PSU
- Case: Corsair 3500X ARGB Mid-Tower ATX PC Case
Excellent for fast RAW file loading, batch exports, and layer-heavy Photoshop work with good GPU acceleration.
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AMD High-End Photo Editing PC Build
Choose this build if you want a high-end Photo Editing PC based on the AMD platform. All parts are vetted for compatibility.
BUDGET: $2000 – 3000. For this budget range, errrh, money is not a problem. Designed for smooth multitasking, large canvas sizes, high-res prints, advanced plugins, and top performance in both Lightroom Classic and Photoshop.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- Motherboard: ASRock AMD X870E Taichi Lite
- CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 chromax Black
- RAM: Kingston Fury Beast RGB 64GB DDR5
- GPU: ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super OC
- Storage: Samsung 990 PRO SSD NVMe M.2 2TB
- Storage: Seagate Barracuda 8TB
- PSU: MSI MAG A1000GL PCIE 5 Gaming PSU Full Modular 80+ Gold 1000W
- Case: LIAN LI O11 Dynamic EVO Gaming PC Case
- Display: Dell UltraSharp U2723QE 4K UHD Professional Display
Considerations for a Photo Editing PC build
Choosing components for your photography PC build boils down to a basic question, which is: What platform are you going to base your PC build, Intel or AMD? Well, in short, this question is like both sides of a coin. It just depends on where you want to pitch your tent. Intel has been a strong performer in the processor industry with a broad range of processors to choose from.
In terms of performance, Intel used to dominate the space, until when AMD released their Ryzen 2 and 3 line of processors. Presently, the AMD Zen 3 architecture featuring Ryzen 5000 CPUs offers even more performance, compared to Ryzen 3000 CPUs, for desktop builds.
Photoshop performs exceptionally well with a quad-core processor. Ideally, you should go for an Intel i5 or i7 quad-core processor. Our recommended processors for a photography/photo editing PC do not include a Pentium processor for performance reasons. This is the best time to build an AMD PC because of the value the Ryzen 2 and 3 processors offer. We have seen the Ryzen 7 processor beating the Intel Core i9 processor in gaming performance benchmarks tests.
However, when it comes to content creation workflows such as photo editing, both brands perform credibly well. Whichever camp you want to go with, here are some important considerations you must have in mind when choosing components.
Why build a PC for Photography instead of buying a pre-built one?
There are several advantages when it comes to building your own PC for photography and photo editing. It might sound over-hyped, but it’s actually more cost-effective building a PC from scratch than buying a pre-built PC. We’ve compiled a list of reasons why you should build your own PC, compared to buying one off the shelf.
Most important Components for Best Photo Editing PC Build
- PROCESSOR
You need a multi-core processor, preferably a quad-core processor, with high clock speeds. An i5 or i7 processor should do just fine. It doesn’t mean an i3 processor won’t do the job, but the system performance will drop noticeably. Adobe Photoshop performs best with a quad-core processor like an i5 or i7 with high clock speeds. - RAM
Photoshop or Lightroom requires lots of RAM. In fact, Photoshop can be configured to utilize up to 100% of installed RAM. Ideally, go for the most RAM your motherboard can accommodate. - MONITOR
You need a color-accurate monitor to display your photos exactly the way they should be displayed. Not all monitors perform great in this regard, which is why we recommend the 24-Inch Viewsonic Professional Monitor for serious professionals like you. It is a great monitor for accurate color reproduction and fidelity. Alternatively, you can check out other recommended monitors in our detailed review for the best 24-inch monitors. - GRAPHICS CARD
You may not need a dedicated graphics card, but it is recommended to install one. Adobe Photoshop requires specifically a CUDA-enabled graphics card for some of its features. Also, if you plan to game on your PC, then get one. See the tables below for recommendations.
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Paid Photo Editing Software
Here’s a rundown of the best paid and free Photo Editing Apps for your Photo Editing PC.
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe’s flagship image editing and manipulation app which is the industry standard is now even more affordable… Seriously, you can’t build the best PC for Photography without Photoshop.
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Adobe’s next best Photo Retouching and Editing App.
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe’s Photoshop Lightroom remains the gold standard in pro photo workflow software for serious photographers…
Corel PaintShop Pro
A worthy Adobe Photoshop alternative from Corel.
Luminar
Luminar is another Photoshop alternative, offering effective automatic photo enhancement, a modern interface, and some unique filters and adjustment tools.
Phase One Capture One Pro
Phase One Capture One offers pro and prosumer digital photographers excellent detail from raw camera files, as well as local adjustment, advanced color, and layer tools, but it still trails in photo-organizing features.
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Free Photo Editing Software
GIMP
The lowly GIMP continues to give Photoshop a run for its money, but its limitations still remain.
CANVA
A great alternative that has managed to gather a multitude of users. Canva’s strength lies in its ability to create templates that can be edited from anywhere. It offers a free and paid version
PAINT.NET
This nifty but powerful photo editor holds a lot of promise. It boasts some of the amazing features you’d find in high-end software, and most of all it’s free!
POLARR
Another great alternative with some decent features that is worth checking out…
PIXLR
This Autodesk app will surprise you with its useful photo editing features…
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Conclusion
I hope this article helped you to make the right choice for building the best computer for photographers. I want to hear from you. Leave your comments below in the comments section, and share your experiences on your build.
Meanwhile, you can see recommendations for the Ultimate Graphic Design PC Build or the best 4K Video Editing PC Build. We’ve also got an article on the best 3D Animation and Render PC Build featuring the AMD Threadripper. If you are into Music Production, our guide will help build and set up the best Music editing PC for all budgets. Cheers
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