Desk Top computer for Raw photo editing

[Sudhir Shivaram]

For wildlife RAW‑file editing (or any serious photo editing), your desktop computer really matters — because handling large RAW files, batch edits, and heavy post‑processing (in Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop or similar) needs good CPU power, RAM, storage and ideally a decent GPU.

What to Look for — Minimum / Recommended Specs for RAW & Wildlife Editing:

Based on recent recommendations for photo‑editing PCs:

• CPU (Processor): Intel i5 / i7 or AMD Ryzen 5 / 7 minimum. For heavier editing or batch processing, go for higher‑end: Intel i9 / Ryzen 9 or workstation‑class CPU.

• RAM: At least 16 GB — but ideally 32 GB or more, especially if working with high‑resolution RAW files or multiple layers in Photoshop.

• Storage: SSD (NVMe preferably) for OS + current editing files for speed. Good practice: SSD for working files + separate HDD/SSD for backups/storage.

• GPU (Graphics Card): While RAW photo‑editing is more CPU‑intensive, a dedicated GPU helps accelerate certain tasks (e.g. GPU‑accelerated filters, previews, exporting). A modern NVIDIA or AMD GPU with dedicated memory (4 GB+ VRAM) is ideal when using high‑res files or 4K displays.

• Monitor / Display (if relevant): A colour‑accurate display (preferably IPS or better, with good colour space coverage) — essential for proper RAW editing, colour correction and printing prep.

  Which one to go for – depends on your budget. Without knowing your budget, difficult to recommend.