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What Should A Graphic Designer Consider When Buying A Laptop?
The requirements for a graphic design system vary according to the kind of work and the location. Understanding your hardware options may help you get the equipment you need at the best price available. Through Blue Sky Graphics’ online graphic design school, you can learn how to become a graphic designer!
The optimal computer configuration for graphic designers is decided by the kind of design work that will be performed, as well as other considerations such as cost, portability, and file compatibility. The first step is to determine the kind of job you will be doing, the budget you have available, how portable you must be, and the type of file output you need.
Mac vs. PC
One of the options you will have to choose is the platform for your computer. Previously, graphic designers were limited to Apple computers, with some programmes available only via iOS software. This has mostly altered in recent years, with the majority of popular software being available on a variety of platforms.
Apple’s higher-end devices are, for the most part, pre-configured to be great for graphic design. They are, however, not always upgradeable, and when they are, just the memory and storage drive may be changed.
While it may take more work up front to configure a PC for graphic design, the components may generally be selected to ensure that you get exactly what you want. PC components may be replaced when newer and better components become available. It is much less costly to replace a few components each year than to replace the whole system every few years. Learn about PCs and Macs.
The true issue is one of file compatibility. If your consumers prefer a certain format, it is usually better to follow suit. Although the majority of finished products may be shared without difficulty, if files must be exchanged, beginning with a common system will be easier.
A workstation for a graphic designer equipped with a computer.
Which is better, a desktop computer or a laptop computer?
The next decision is whether you want a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a combination of the two. Mobility is often at the cost of screen size and component interchangeability in laptops. While desktop computers are often faster and more powerful, they are unquestionably not portable. Having both provides the best of both worlds, but takes extra work to ensure that data are stored on the appropriate computer and that software is compatible with both devices. Additionally, two computers may be out of your pricing range.
Data storage drive
The storage device may be a traditional hard disc drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD) (SSD). Multiple drive types may be combined in a single system. Learn more about the differences between hard disc drives and solid state drives. SSDs open files more quickly, which may matter if you often access large files.
Consider buying an additional external hard drive if you are considering purchasing a laptop. You may save completed projects on an external disc to free up space on your laptop’s hard drive for current work.
For your working disc, you will need at least a 512 GB SSD or a 750 GB HDD. This is the very minimum; if you work with a lot of large files, you will want to invest in larger drives. Consider the drive’s speed as well when buying a hard disc. The speed is specified in RPMs (revolutions per minute) and specifies how fast the drive spins in order to find the desired file. It is better if you are quicker. You must have a minimum of a 7200 RPM drive.
RAID
Consider a RAID setup (redundant array of separate drives) if you plan to do a lot of video work on a desktop computer. This is a group of drives that have been configured to operate as a single drive. It may come in handy when dealing with very large files.
A laptop equipped with an external hard drive, graphics processing unit, and video memory.
A GPU (graphics processing unit) may be integrated into or bought separately from the CPU. Except for the most elementary graphic design jobs, a dedicated GPU is suggested. Learn more about the differences between dedicated and integrated graphics cards.
If the GPU you have selected provides the option of a desktop or a workstation unit, go for the workstation unit; it is more robust.
A dedicated graphics card will have memory, which is often referred to as video RAM (video random access memory). Any kind of memory acts as a temporary storage location for the files that are now open. In general, greater VRAM is better; a minimum of 1 GB is required for demanding activities.
Processor
The processor, which is often referred to as the CPU, is in charge of all other computer components (central processing unit). The number of cores and the processing speed are two critical criteria for visual design. In general, you will want a quad-core CPU running at a minimum of 1 gigahertz (GHz).
Memory
Memory is often referred to as RAM (random access memory), in contrast to VRAM, which is used only by the graphics card. RAM is used by the CPU to store information about the files you are now viewing. This allows you to navigate between files and programmes. RAM must be a minimum of 16 GB. Additional RAM is required if you want to use Adobe® Photoshop®. This article contains recommended RAM configurations.
If you find that new programmes need more RAM than the computer you originally purchased, the majority of PCs can be upgraded to add or replace memory.
Peripherals
Finally, examine the peripherals that you connect to the computer. Any computer you contemplate purchasing should support both wired and wireless connectivity. The flexibility to connect your equipment in a variety of ways improves its versatility. This is especially critical when visiting customers and are unsure of what will be available. For home use, you may find it easier to get displays for your laptop, whereas a desktop computer will need monitors. Purchase a minimum of a 20-inch monitor with the highest possible pixel density and quality for external displays. Take care to ensure that the colours are accurate. On VA (vertical alignment) or IPS (in-plane switching) screens, colour accuracy is improved.
