Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > best graphics card for photoshop editing?

best graphics card for photoshop editing?

Forum Graphic & Displays : Graphics Cards - best graphics card for photoshop editing?

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
jbren3160   05-03-2008 at 06:54:39 PM

I am looking to upgrade my graphics card for phootshop editing.
I currently have an ATI HD 2600XT. Is there a better card for photo editing?
Price is not an issue.

Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
runswindows95   05-03-2008 at 06:59:46 PM
- 0 +

Photoshop is CPU heavy, not GPU heavy. There is really no need to upgrade your GPU just for photo editing.

Reply to runswindows95
jitpublisher   05-03-2008 at 07:06:33 PM
- 0 +

^what he said, Photoshop benefits from memory, multiple CPU's or cores, and a fast hard drive. Doesn't take much of a GPU at all, as it's not a 3D application.

Reply to jitpublisher
jbren3160   05-03-2008 at 07:34:00 PM
- 0 +

So, more RAM memory is best?

Reply to jbren3160
frozenlead   05-03-2008 at 08:07:05 PM
- 0 +

Yessir. more memory and more cpu power will make your day.

Reply to frozenlead
Shadow703793   05-03-2008 at 08:10:26 PM
- 0 +

I agree with runswindows95 Photoshop is more CPU and RAM bound than GPU bound. Get at least 2GB+ RAM and a Q6600 (even better when OCed) or better (ie Q9300)

------------------------------ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3815217176_0a5be7955d_o.gif
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/3818083596_1a772f7162_o.gif
 Reply to Shadow703793
nukemaster   05-03-2008 at 10:28:42 PM
- 0 +

Geforce 4 MX just flies with photoshop :)

------------------------------ http://i33.tinypic.com/sw3a5y.png
http://tinyurl.com/26uxxb - C2/i7 Temp? http://tinyurl.com/cj3pw - VGA power?
http://tinyurl.com/5v55wk - C2 Mem performance? http://tinyurl.com/6pmbke - SLI/Xfire?
http://tinyurl.com/yfmxdc9 - Part Guide?
 Reply to nukemaster
lameness   05-03-2008 at 10:37:36 PM
- 0 +

I thought that edited large images in photoshop benefitted from having a lot of video memory???? I had heard that 512mb on your card can free up more system ram, but maybe im wrong.

Reply to lameness
nukemaster   05-03-2008 at 10:52:17 PM
- 0 +

Good question, I know adobe reader can use the video card for basic 2d acceleration. But even older cards can do that.

I honestly have used PS (CS mind you) on a computer with a 64 meg video card(geforce4 go 440) and did not notice any difference over my 8800gtx in that app. Now a cpu + memory upgrade yields noticeable performance increase on most actions. Some filters are still single threaded(or they are in older versions) so they will not get as much of a boost.

------------------------------ http://i33.tinypic.com/sw3a5y.png
http://tinyurl.com/26uxxb - C2/i7 Temp? http://tinyurl.com/cj3pw - VGA power?
http://tinyurl.com/5v55wk - C2 Mem performance? http://tinyurl.com/6pmbke - SLI/Xfire?
http://tinyurl.com/yfmxdc9 - Part Guide?
 Reply to nukemaster
cisco   05-04-2008 at 05:55:32 AM
- 0 +

I use Photoshop a lot and if you want to improve performance get more ram and a faster processor. Like a q6600,q6700, e8400, or 9450. Minimum 2gigs, I would get 4gigs since its pretty cheap right now. Even with 32bit 4gigs will help. I would think the 2600XT should be sufficient.

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts [...] 219%2C1314


Message edited by cisco on 05-04-2008 at 05:58:05 AM
Reply to cisco
kange   05-08-2009 at 09:00:59 PM
- 0 +

CS3, (or earlier) + 32bit xp/vista can't utilize mor than app. 3Gb of RAM. Multiple cores is supposed to be supported in CS3.

But if you switch to 64bit vista (not XP x64) you can use over 3/4Gb of ram with CS4, and it will run faster.

The release of CS4 is the only reason for me to switch to Vista.


Message edited by kange on 05-08-2009 at 09:02:24 PM
Reply to kange
kange   05-08-2009 at 09:05:56 PM
- 0 +

Oh, snap.
As CS4 has some 3d editing features, it will use your graphicscard. So I guess the propper conf. for a CS4 system would be a fast (multicore) processor, lots of ram, a good GFXcard and Vista 64bit. :S

Reply to kange
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Graphic & Displays > Graphics Cards > best graphics card for photoshop editing?
Go to:

There are 1253 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.583 seconds
Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
  • 01:00 bew1075k won the Uniformed badge
  • 01:00 Parasitic won the Uniformed badge
  • 01:00 X3no won the Uniformed badge
  • 01:00 Siq won the Uniformed badge
  • 01:00 wayspooled won the Uniformed badge
  • 01:00 chris62 won the Freshman badge
  • 01:00 Tattysnuc won the Freshman badge
  • 01:00 gamerk316 won the Freshman badge
  • 05:23 jsc won the Overclocking badge
  • 01:00 rolli59 won the Spy badge