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Question

New computer, same slow performance

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
February 25, 2020
4 replies
670 views

So I often have to work with large (2G) layered high-res files. For 7 years, my MacbookPro with 2.3 GHz Inbtel Core i7, 16G RAM, and Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB graphics card has done a decent job of it. The last year or so though it started to bog down. I figured it was reaching the end of its life, so I bought an iMac with 3.6 GHz 8-core Intel Core i9, 32G RAM, and Raedon Pro 580X 8GB graphics processor. Given that in all respects this machine is at least twice as powerful as my old laptop, I expected noticeably better performance. This is not the case. It's maybe 5% faster. Barely can feel the difference. Is this anything anyone has experience with, or knowledge of how to fix?

When I was setting up my new computer, I just installed from a Time Machine backup. Should I do a clean reinstall of Photoshop? If this makes a difference, I definitly will. Also, are the any special setting I should be looking at other than the standard stuff?

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PECourtejoie

Community Expert

Hello, which version do you have? Did you install Ps2019 to compare?

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morganm46339060Author

Known Participant

I'm using the previous version of 2020 right now (not the most up to date), but have also tried 2019 and it makes no difference.

M

morganm46339060Author

Known Participant

I know that the issue is Photoshop because Affinity Photo manages the exact same process on the exact same file with complete smoothness. I've talked to three people from Apple and they all agree that the problem isn't my computer. I've seen some threads saying that Photoshop doesn't know how to use the multi-core processors in the new Macs. How is it that the top design program can't talk to the top design computer? Has anyone else experienced this or have any solutions? I've heard that Photoshop CC 17 works faster, but Adobe won't provide any access to anything earlier than 2019. Seems a little fascist...?

D Fosse

Community Expert

Where exactly do you see poor performance?

Generally, slowness usually indicates a problem with the video driver. In MacOS that's a problem because you can't update it separately - it's integrated into the OS.

Other prime suspects are third party plugins, extensions, font managers etc. Take a closer look at anything the two machines have in common.

M

morganm46339060Author

Known Participant

I'm noticing it when the screen needs to redraw itself like when I'm manually dragging a layer around or adjusting the Blend Mode. I don't have a lot of third party stuff running other than Suitcase Fusion font manager. No active extensions in Photoshop at all.

As for the machines, they have the exact same setup. I used the Time Machine Migration when setting up the iMac to clone the laptop files onto it

Thanks!

D Fosse

Community Expert

Suitcase Fusion is a known problem. I don't use it myself, but it's been mentioned here quite often.

lambiloon

Community Expert

Hi yes new install of all things give you better speed as long as files are large and photoshop itself is now bigger so you have to manage all things like no other application in use when you are working on big files on Photoshop....Regards

Ali Sajjad / Graphic Design Trainer / Freelancer / Adobe Certified Professional

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morganm46339060Author

Known Participant

Yes, fresh installs are something I have to do at some point for sure, but I still expected to see some improvement just based on the new machine being so much more powerful. I don't tend to have a lot of Apps running when I work Photoshop, Illustrator, a browser, and Suitcase Fusion font management. When I've looked at the Activity Monitor, it's Photoshop that is pulling over 100% of the resources in these moments, and there is no interference from other programs happening.

M

morganm46339060Author

Known Participant

I called Apple help and they agree that the setup I have now should be powerful enough to do the things I want it to. I'm taking the whole thing into an Apple Store tomorrow so that I can replicate the issue in front of someone and get some advice. The guy on the phone had no real words of wisdom for me.

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