Optimize your workflow with CompleteBuild by setting Lightroom to 90% and Photoshop to 10%.
Optimize your workflow with CompleteBuild by setting Lightroom to 90% and Photoshop to 10%.
The PC is intended solely for photo editing and storing images in LR/PS formats. Gaming is excluded. This project is a personal interest where I’m prepared to invest financially. My previous upgrade from 2018 (https://forums. has slowed me down, particularly with the latest AI features such as denoising in LR. I’m considering a new build and will only use my existing SSDs and one NVMe drive: - Crucial CT1000MX500SSD1 - Crucial CT500MX500SSD1 (Windows 11) - Crucial CT2000MX500SSD1 - Crucial CT4000P3PSSD8 (Gen3 NVMe) for LR - Crucial CT4000MX500SSD1 A NAS (an old Synology 211 and an external hard drive) is used for backups. I’m not aiming for the cheapest system, but for solid performance relative to cost. My priorities are: Reliability, Durability, Speed (for LR), and Minimal Noise. I found some information on Puget System suggesting Intel has a slight edge over AMD in this area and shared a preliminary list: https://de.pcpartpicker.com/list/xxMHHG My challenge is choosing components like the Z790 motherboard, where options are overwhelming. I prefer DDR5 support, the ability to add more NVMe storage, no overclocking, and long-term reliability (6-8 years). Even so, I enjoy experimenting. I’m far from being an expert. That said, I would really value practical advice instead of vague suggestions like “any Z790 works” or “someone with good coolers has a good setup.” Because right now I’m as confused as I am. If you need more details for better guidance, feel free to ask. Thanks in advance.
It seems everything looks okay. My main comment is that I only need to note that PS/LR is starting to rely more on the GPU for neural filters, so a 4070 Super or higher might be worth looking into if you plan to use them extensively.
I tried the Benchmark and my previous setup ran 6 minutes 20 seconds. The newer systems clock was closer to 20-30 seconds.
I’d appreciate some clarification on a few points.
For my setup of a content-PC (LR/PS) with all the limitations these Adobe programs impose: because one of the program’s requirements is where the software, scratch disk, and actual photos are stored, it makes sense to use three separate storage areas. This way, access to them won’t cause any delays (that’s my understanding, though it might be incorrect – please let me know if that’s accurate).
Source: https://www.beyondphototips.com/how-to-s...your-ssds/
In my opinion, there isn't a single optimal choice—it varies based on your workflow. In practice, I create a fresh file folder and an LR catalog for each new client session. This approach aids in maintaining organization so that when clients request copies years down the line, it's much easier to locate them. The catalog remains alongside the image files, which slightly reduces performance but is a worthwhile trade-off. It also allows me to transfer a session folder to a portable drive and keep it with me. A corrupted catalog can still cause significant issues.
I've compared running LR catalogs on HDDs versus SSDs, and the performance gap isn't substantial. Adobe also advises that the scratch disk shouldn't be shared with the boot or application drives for Photoshop.
My current professional environment uses an NVMe C: drive paired with the operating system and applications (PCIe 4), a NVMe D: drive with a scratch disk and preview caches (PCIe 3), plus multiple archive drives—E:, NAS, and portable storage all backed up in triplicate—for client session images and LR catalogs. The main performance limitation during editing comes from the neural network processing near the screen.
Regarding questions 2 and 3:
The prevailing view is that PCIe 5 on consumer PCs is still an evolving technology. It addresses issues like compromised GPU lanes, thermal management, and real-world gains remain limited at this stage. As noted in a PC Gamer article, achieving a full PCIe 5 lane fix requires significant CPU chipset adjustments. For consumer systems, this isn't feasible if you need all lanes.
PC World reports: "If you have an Alder Lake processor (Intel 12th Gen) and a PCIe 5.0 x4 NVMe M.2 slot, your graphics card slot will only run at half speed with a PCIe x8 connection." AMD AM5 and Intel 13th/14th Gen support PCIe 5 x16 for GPUs and one PCIe 5 x4 M.2 SSD. Using a PCIe 5 SSD as a boot drive is unlikely to be used for the scratch disk, cache, or catalog—just your operating system."
Thunderbolt, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, and USB4 are mainly relevant if you're aiming for speeds above 20Gbps (2.5GB/s), which is usually unnecessary for most still-image work, especially when editing with LR. In my experience, the biggest slowdown often comes from Adobe's own code rather than hardware limitations.
It's a fairly strong CPU overall. The 7950X is more than sufficient for photowork, though it may not be necessary for long-term use. It offers a good core count and high clock speeds. DDR5 RAM should perform with minimal latency, similar to CL30-32. No overclocking required; my existing 4800MHz Corsair RAM is adequate, and speeds above 6000 are barely noticeable. I recommend using just two RAM sticks instead of four.
I own an ASUS ProArt X670e which features two PCIe 5 NVMe slots and three USB-C ports (each at 40Gb/s) on the rear. It's a bit expensive, but it will remain functional for many years. The USB-C ports are ideal for connecting high-speed external NVMe drives. With an enclosure that includes a 40Gb/s controller, these can achieve read/write speeds up to 3000MB/s. Having three additional USB-C slots provides ample space for video, photo, and hub storage.
For storage, stick with PCIe 4 NVMe drives—Gen 5 is unnecessary as it offers no real benefit. The key for NVMe performance lies in random read/write speeds, which Gen 4 supports just like Gen 5. Consider a Samsung Pro 4TB SSD as a good example; they are fast and reliable. Avoid Crucial Gen 5 at all costs, as they often have unresolved issues despite firmware updates.
I typically use only one drive for the operating system, scratch disks, and cache—its speed is impressive and doesn’t require separate drives. For reliability, invest in a robust case with effective cooling, a quality CPU cooler, a solid power supply, and keep spare parts like motherboards on hand. Also, ensure you have a solid data backup plan.
Unfortunately, you’re dealing with the limitations of today’s Windows environment and overly complex software.
Because not everything was available, I had to adjust some items. I’m hoping it won’t be too bad. I just placed the following order: