PS 2021 can't use NVIDIA driver on MacBook Pro 2013 (Catalina)?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
September 8, 2021
5 replies
1357 views

Anyone had this issue (probably a few years ago now)?

You go to Preferences > Performance > Graphics Processor Settings in Photoshop 2021 and the option to use the graphics driver is greyed out, along with filters like Oil Paint, etc, because Apple dropped support for NVIDIA drivers.

Having just updated my 2013 MBP to Catalina and my Photoshop to 2021 I'm disappointed to find Photoshop, and other processes, hampered by this.

Is there a fix?

BTW: CUDA drivers do not work for this issue, despite what some Apple Support staff tell you.

macOS

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Correct answer Kevin Stohlmeyer

To be clear, your current 2013 MBP graphics card does not meet the current minimum system requirements for Photoshop GPU.

Specifically, your Nvidia card clocks in at 648 ops/sec, has only 75 MB of VRAM and does not support Metal.

https://www.videocardbenchmark.net/directCompute.html

The minimums are 2000 ops/sec, 2GB of VRAM and Metal support:

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

You have two options:

Uninstall Photoshop and install an earlier version and do not upgrade OR

purchase a newer Mac with current minimum specs.

runninghead_designAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks Kevin et al.
Yes, it does seem that installing CUDA, as instrcted by the first Apple support employee I contacted via Support chat, was wrong.

There is no point trying to install a new graphics driver on a Catalina 2013 MBP.

I have had to manually delete CUDA and it's a relief to know that the graphics driver is integral to the OS as I could easily have caused a greater problem if it were otherwise.

Clearly 2013 MBPs will soon hit total obsolescence so I'd better get saving for the replacement MBP, A modern (£2k!) equivalent machine 😅

D Fosse

Community Expert

All of the above is correct, but on Mac, the GPU has to be supported by that particular version of MacOS. The driver is an integral part of the OS. You can't just download a driver from the GPU manufacturer.

And from ca Mojave, Nvidia GPUs are not supported at all. Even if the card meets the system requirements.