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Silversurfer1221
Participating Frequently
October 11, 2017
Question

Photoshop Uses Wrong GPU on Dual Monitor/GPU Setup

  • October 11, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 4750 views

Hello all,

My current system has two Nvidia graphic cards, one running a separate monitor each. The first is a GeForce GTX 1070 running a large monitor where I do my 3D modeling. The second is a GeForce GTX 970, connected to a Cintiq, where I do my digital drawing and painting. When I look under Edit>Preferences>Performance, it shows that Photoshop is using the 1070 and not the 970. I've tried using the Nvidia Control Panel to "force" Photoshop to use the 970 GPU, but no matter what I do, Photoshop reports it is using the 1070.

Since the Cintiq is connected directly to the 970 and I am running Photoshop on the Cintiq, I'd like Photoshop to use the 970's GPU. But I can't seem to find a way to make this happen.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

D Fosse
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 11, 2017

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html

"Multiple graphics cards with conflicting drivers can cause problems with graphics processor accelerated features in Photoshop.

For best results, connect two (or more) monitors into one graphics card.

If you have to use more than one graphics card, make sure that they are the same make and model. Otherwise, crashes and other problems can occur in Photoshop."

Silversurfer1221
Participating Frequently
October 11, 2017

Thank you. However, this is not a solution. Both the 1070 and 970 use the exact same drivers. As a result, there is no driver conflict. My other software uses the correct GPUs based on which screen they are on.

Secondly, connecting two monitors into one graphics card defeats the purpose, right? With two graphics card, each powering a different screen, you get the full power of each GPU on each monitor for doing multiple tasks. For example, I do 3D modeling on monitor 1 (which is connected to my GTX 1070) and use Photoshop on monitor 2 (which uses the GTX 970). If Photoshop were recognizing the 970, then the full power of the 1070 could be dedicated to my modeling/rendering while I paint textures in Photoshop on the second monitor using the 970. Often I have both a modeling and paint program open so I can adjust textures for my 3D model in my paint program.

So, we are back to square one. Both cards use the same drivers. Only one driver is installed on my system. The Nvidia Control panel correctly shows that monitor 1 uses the GTX 1070 and that monitor 2 uses the GTX 970. So, why is Photoshop NOT using the 970? It should.

Any help getting this to work would be appreciated. Thank you.

D Fosse
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 11, 2017

I agree, there should be a more flexible solution to this. I suspect it's a limitation in Photoshop's basic architecture, and changing it requires a major re-write. But there it is.