Do I need to have a video card to use Photoshop?

luciamesa12  wrote Hello, I have this question and i'm sorry if is a stupid question but I don't undestand much of technology and I am sorry for my bad English. I've my computer , my CPU doesn't have a video card and I really want to use photoshop to edit pictures (not a complicated editing) and maybe making gifs, so do I need to have a video card to use photohop? Or there are some version of Photoshop that doesn't need to have a video card ? Or maybe photoshop portable?

Some Photoshop features will only work if Photoshop is able to use your GPU, and that's the same whether your GPU is onboard graphics built into the motherboard, or a discrete graphics card.  The acid test is whether you are able to tick

Use Graphics Processor in Preferences > Performance.

The GPU FAQ will tell you which Photoshop features might not work if that option is grayed out, and you are not able to tick it.

Photoshop graphics processor (GPU) card FAQ

If the option 'is' grayed out, you might be able to rectify that by updating your video card driver, and doing so from the card maker's website.  With onboard graphics, this will often be Intel HD#### or I am guessing an AMD equivalent.

But here's the thing, if you are able to tick that box you are good to go, and it apparently makes little difference how powerful and expensive your video card/GPU is, so long as it meets minimum spec.  The RTX2070 in my screen shot above, cost me well over NZ$1000, but I saw no improvement in Photoshop performance over the GTX970 I'd replaced.

One thing I will say though, is computer manufacturers tend to produce 'balanced' systems, so if your GPU is marginal with Photoshop, then there is a good chance the rest of the system will also be marginal, and your Photoshop experience might not be wonderful.

Let me put it like this: all current computers have a video card. That’s where yo attach your screen. Or if your computer is a laptop, the screen comes attached to the computer.

And don’t be sorry for not being tech-savy or having basic questions. Ask them and they will be answered.

If your computer is recent, it's not a problem. Photoshop works with computers that have a discrete video card or integrated graphics (no separate video card). I am using the current version of Photoshop on a laptop with integrated graphics. Both are supported for graphics accelerated features, but it can be faster on a computer with a discrete video card..

If by "Photoshop portable" you mean the various Photoshop apps for iOS and Android mobile OSs, for those systems the graphics hardware is not a specific system requirement because it's basically integrated graphics all the time, though it can be a very high-performing form of integrated graphics on some devices such as the iPad Pro. But those Photoshop apps cannot do as much as Photoshop for Mac or Windows.

Hi Lucia,

You can download a free trial for seven days to see if it works on your computer. Be sure to cancel so your credit card is not charged.

Free Photoshop | Download Adobe Photoshop full version

There is also a free 7-day trial for Photoshop Elements (scroll to near the bottom). Since your editing is not complicated, this may work for you if your system supports it. Be sure not to confuse it with Premiere Elements.

Easy Photo Editing Software | Adobe Photoshop Elements 2019

~ Jane

Hi

See this for the minimum hardware specs for Photoshop.

Photoshop system requirements

Dave

I would have thought that if your computer display is working, then you have some sort of graphics card.

Most cpu chipsets have "onboard graphics" built into the motherboard. Check the model of your laptop or desktop and let us know what you have as far as CPU/Graphics.

And by the way, "portable photoshop" is pirateware. Avoid it and any version of Photoshop not directly from Adobe.