So how much computer power is "enough"

[Busted Knuckles]

Thanks for all the input

I built a PC system last summer. I checked out the power consumption at Raid's suggestion. It typically runs 75-125 watts and peaked at ~200 watts. The system takes 9 seconds to convert a RAW to a JPG in DPP. Lightroon is faster, dxo slower.

The system is similar to what you describe, athlon quad core, 8 gb ram, 2 x 1.5 Tb hard drives, bronze rated power supply, and an SSD. Spent ~$1,200 including a new monitor.

I just timed my laptop and got the same 9 second time line.... hmmm Tells you the advantage of having a custom designed chip - 9 seconds compared to .3 seconds within the Camera on my lowly T3i. At some point the camera has to read the sensor value and convert to JPG.

Interesting idea would be to get the chip from Canon and bake into a specialized board or something - might as well get the Digic 5+ hmmm... (have no idea if I am just hallucinating)