Build for photo editing
Editing photos in Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, from a hobby to big wedding-sized batches.
Budget
Goal: Smooth editing
$1,074
- Edits and exports about 0.90× as fast as a typical entry gaming PC (Ryzen 5 7600 + RTX 5060)
- 32 GB of memory: enough for most large catalogues and layered files
- Built-in graphics: AI denoise will be slow
- Processor
- 6C/12T
- Graphics
- Built-in
- Memory
- 32 GB DDR5
- Storage
- 1 TB
- Peak power
- ~140 W
- ProcessorRyzen 5 7600$274 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- MotherboardASRock A620M-HDV/M.2+$119 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- MemoryKingston Fury Beast 32GB (2×16) DDR5-6000$374 at Mwave (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageCrucial P3 Plus 1TB$104 at Scorptec (opens store in a new tab)
- Power supplyMSI MAG A650BN$79 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- CaseJonsbo D31 Mesh$124 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
- CPU coolerIncluded with the Ryzen 5 7600
Mid-range
Best valueGoal: Fast exports and AI tools
$1,772
- Edits and exports about 1.2× as fast as a typical entry gaming PC (Ryzen 5 7600 + RTX 5060)
- 32 GB of memory: enough for most large catalogues and layered files
- Graphics card speeds up AI masking and denoise
- Processor
- 14C/20T
- Graphics
- 12 GB card
- Memory
- 32 GB DDR5
- Storage
- 2 TB
- Peak power
- ~423 W
- ProcessorCore i5-14600K$354 at PC Case Gear (opens store in a new tab)
- MotherboardMSI PRO B760M-A WiFi$219 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
- MemoryKingston Fury Beast 32GB (2×16) DDR5-6000$374 at Mwave (opens store in a new tab)
- Graphics cardIntel Arc B580 12GB Limited Edition$394 at Umart (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageKingston NV3 2TB$184 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- CPU coolerDeepCool AK400$44 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- Power supplyMSI MAG A650BN$79 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- CaseJonsbo D31 Mesh$124 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
High-end
Goal: Big batches without waiting
$2,696
- Edits and exports about 1.5× as fast as a typical entry gaming PC (Ryzen 5 7600 + RTX 5060)
- 64 GB of memory: plenty for large catalogues and layered files
- Graphics card speeds up AI masking and denoise
- Processor
- 20C/28T
- Graphics
- 16 GB card
- Memory
- 64 GB DDR5
- Storage
- 6 TB (2 drives)
- Peak power
- ~473 W
- ProcessorCore i7-14700K$564 at PC Case Gear (opens store in a new tab)
- MotherboardMSI PRO B760M-A WiFi$219 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
- MemoryCorsair Vengeance 64GB (2×32) DDR5-6000$689 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- Graphics cardSapphire Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB Pulse$534 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageKingston NV3 2TB$184 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- StorageSeagate Barracuda 4TB$134 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
- CPU coolerThermalright Frozen Notte 280$124 at Mwave (opens store in a new tab)
- Power supplyCorsair RM750e (2023)$124 at Amazon AU (opens store in a new tab)
- CaseJonsbo D31 Mesh$124 at Centre Com (opens store in a new tab)
What matters
- A processor that’s quick at single tasks: most of Lightroom’s day-to-day work uses a few cores.
- 32 GB of memory; 64 GB for big Photoshop files.
- A modest graphics card speeds up AI denoise and masking.
What to skip
- A big gaming graphics card: photo editing barely uses one beyond the AI tools.
Good to know
- A colour-accurate monitor matters more than any part inside the PC for photo work.
BUDGET_FINDERPro
The best build for your budget
For Lightroom and Photoshop: set exactly what you want to spend and we find the complete, compatible build that suits it best at that price.
Sign in and upgrade to use the budget finderEach build is the cheapest complete, compatible PC from current parts that meets its goal, priced at the best Australian store prices as of 12/11/2026. Speed comparisons are Rigsmith estimates, not benchmarks. Open a build in the builder to swap parts or buy second-hand.