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P: Allow CPUs without AVX2 to install Adobe Products

Participant ,
Dec 12, 2024 Dec 12, 2024

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Adobe continues its practice of colluding with other corporations (AMD, Intel, Microsoft) by leaving out perfectly competent computers with AVX (up to 2013), capable of running professional programs much more demanding than LR and PS, in order to force subscribers to buy new computers with AVX2. 

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correct answers 1 Pinned Reply

Adobe Employee , Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

For the benefit of readers of this thread, Lightroom Classic requirements can be found at https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/system-requirements.html 

Excerpt:

AVX Intel or AMD CPUs having AVX2 support




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LEGEND ,
Dec 12, 2024 Dec 12, 2024

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"Hanlon’s Razor states: never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by neglect, ignorance or incompetence."

 

In LR 14.0, people with older CPUs were having problems importing from folders containing videos. Some evidence pointed at the component "dynamiclinkmediaserver.exe", which LR and other Adobe apps use for displaying video. According to posts in that thread, this newer version required AVX2 instructions. So it appears that rather than reverting that component back to not requiring AVX2 instructions, the LR team changed the system requirements for LR Classic.

 

I believe that a different team in Adobe maintains "dynamiclinkmediaserver.exe". It appears that the LR team was unaware that the new version of that component included in LR 14 required AVX2 instructions.

 

It most likely would be technically straightforward for "dynamiclinkmediaserver.exe" to continue to work on AVX CPUs while taking advantage of AVX2 if present.   Based on my decades of managing software teams, I know how hard it can be in larger companies to coordinate such issues across organizational boundaries and get informed decisions that best meet the overall needs of the company. So perhaps the LR team took the expedient route and jettisoned support for older CPUs rather than trying to win the organizational battle.

 

(I'm not justifying any of this, just trying to provide more context.)

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Community Expert ,
Dec 13, 2024 Dec 13, 2024

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You are having the same discussion here as in the Photoshop forum. Current software requires current technologies and therefore correspondingly current and powerful hardware.

Even if you don't want to admit it.

 

My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 24H2 -- LR-Classic 14 - Photoshop 26 - Nik Collection 7 - PureRAW 4 - Topaz PhotoAI 3

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LEGEND ,
Dec 13, 2024 Dec 13, 2024

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@DexterGordon: "it's a very far-fetched explanation"

 

You've apparently never managed product teams in a large corporation and have a naive understanding of the inherent issues.

 

The LR team clearly wasn't aware of the "dynamiclinkmediaserver.exe" restriction at the time they released LR 14, which has left many customers confused and frustrated (see here and here).  (Only a true conspiracist would think the LR team deliberately released LR 14 with those bugs and consciously didn't alert its customers.)

 

Why didn't the video team notify the LR team prior to the LR 14 release? Maybe the restriction is a typo, and the video team didn't become aware of it until after the October release. Maybe the restriction is intentional -- that you can apparently remove the restriction by editing a file isn't dispositive, since there may well be resulting bugs that you're unaware of.  Maybe the video team did alert other Adobe product teams but in a poorly written email the LR product manager missed. Maybe the video team had incorporated a new version of a third-party library and only became aware of that library's restriction after the October releases. Maybe the library was incorporated by a lower-level engineer who didn't understand the implications of dropping AVX support, and those implications only became clear after customer complaints started coming in. Maybe the video team's QA doesn't include 11-year-old CPUs. Maybe the LR product manager complained up the management chain, perhaps with data showing they'd lose x% of annual revenue by dropping support for 11-year-old CPUs, and maybe the video manager pushed back, observing that if they backed out the intentional change, they wouldn't be able to meet their own team's goals of improving performance without spending y man-months of higher-quality engineering effort, deferring the other important goals. And maybe the upper-level manager decided in favor of the video team.

 

I have no inside information, and this is all speculation, but educated speculation that anyone who has worked in a large company is all too familiar with.  These sorts of issues aren't uncommon. Business-school academics and gurus have for decades studied the management problems of large companies and written dozens of books about it.

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Community Beginner ,
Dec 16, 2024 Dec 16, 2024

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This discussion also applies to the new version of Photoshop 26.1

 

It seems Adobe have issued these updates and I am unable to take advantage of due to the computer I had them installed on being an older machine (but is perfectly adequate for everything else I want to use it for) and I have no intention of spending hundreds of pounds needlesly to upgrade it.

 

So, Adobe, can you tell me exactly why I should need to continue spending my subscription fee on 2 peices of software that will no longer be supported or updated? 

 

I'd really like someone from Adobe to tell me what my options are? Do I cancel my monthly subscription that I have been paying loyally for so many years?

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Participant ,
Dec 16, 2024 Dec 16, 2024

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Well with this avx2 issue. I am dead in the water in upgrading beyond 14.0 nor can I update Bridge or Photoshop. Without spending 1500.00 on a new pc

 

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Mentor ,
Dec 16, 2024 Dec 16, 2024

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quote

Do I cancel my monthly subscription that I have been paying loyally for so many years?

Doing so would cause your Adobe software to cease to operate fully. In my case, I would certainly keep paying because having the software work is important to me. 

 

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.

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New Here ,
Dec 18, 2024 Dec 18, 2024

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Dear Adobe Support Team,

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the recent updates to Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, which have introduced a strict requirement for AVX2 CPU support. This change has rendered my computer, which previously ran these applications flawlessly, incompatible. I am seeking clarification on the necessity of this decision and potential alternatives for users with older but highly capable hardware.

My system includes a 24-core CPU, 128GB of RAM, and dual AMD graphics cards with 6GB VRAM each, which far exceeds the performance demands of most professional software. Despite this, the AVX2 requirement has effectively locked me out of updates and functionality, leaving me no choice but to consider costly hardware upgrades or alternative software solutions.

I understand the need to leverage advancements like AVX2 for performance improvements, particularly in video processing or other demanding tasks. However, I question the exclusion of older CPUs when the applications could feasibly run without AVX2, as has been evidenced by user modifications and prior versions. This feels less like a technical necessity and more like a commercial decision, which is both frustrating and disheartening for loyal subscribers like myself.

As a long-term customer, I believe Adobe has a responsibility to balance innovation with inclusivity. Many users, myself included, rely on Adobe’s software as an integral part of our workflows and have invested significant resources in subscriptions and complementary hardware. Abrupt changes that leave older systems unsupported not only disrupt these workflows but also erode customer trust.

I would like to propose the following considerations:

  1. Introduce a Legacy Mode: Allow the software to operate without AVX2 for compatible tasks, even if performance is limited in certain areas.
  2. Enhanced Communication: Provide clear technical justifications for decisions like these, including whether they stem from technical, logistical, or business constraints.
  3. Offer Transitional Support: Extend updates for older hardware for a defined period, giving users time to plan and adapt without being forced into immediate upgrades.

I appreciate the challenges involved in developing software for a wide range of hardware and understand the need for progress. However, I urge Adobe to consider the impact on its user base and explore solutions that maintain accessibility for all customers. I look forward to hearing about any potential resolutions or plans to address this issue.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

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Community Beginner ,
Dec 21, 2024 Dec 21, 2024

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Audition was auto-upgraded and now I can't get the older version back through the app. Please provided an option for those with older CPUs. Otherwise, why am I spending this much every month?

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New Here ,
Dec 27, 2024 Dec 27, 2024

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I AM soooo UPSET! Went to my lightroom classic to edit only to find out my system is not compatible!!! Are u kidding!... This is horrible. I am not forced to figure this out or buy a new computer? I had bought a mini pc just for editing only 1 yr ago & now this!!! What a shady way to get my subscription monthly! & others only then to not be able to still use a program! u should be able to hv a choice not get shut out.

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New Here ,
Dec 27, 2024 Dec 27, 2024

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Ok, so WHY, cant the still allow the non avx2 uses to keep using a program? Let the others move forward. But feeling locked out of my useless subscription, unless i figure this out or go buy a new computer, just truly erkkks me!

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New Here ,
Dec 27, 2024 Dec 27, 2024

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EXCELLENT QUESTION! I too have the exact same problem & exact feelings about this situation!!.. somebody plz help ... this is a HUGE ISSUE! i have pix to edit And cannot! I'm livid.

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New Here ,
Dec 27, 2024 Dec 27, 2024

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After many years using LR 5.7, I swiched to LrC in late november 2024.
Now, some days later, I realized, that I will not get future updates and I have to pay for using a outdated version.
At the moment, it's not to late to switch back to LR5.7, without a abo.

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Mentor ,
Dec 27, 2024 Dec 27, 2024

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 I  can appreciate the disappointment over a new version requiring AVX2. But, you certainly can still use the program, just the version before the AVX2 requirment kicked in. That pre AVX2 version is still excellent and will always work as good as it has been. The day will come when you will upgrade to a modern machine and then you will be able to use the later versions.

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.

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Mentor ,
Dec 27, 2024 Dec 27, 2024

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"Outdated" yes, but still a fully functional excellent application in the pre AVX2 versions. As you transition to the later but pre AVX2 version of Lightroom Classic, you will fall in love with all the fantastic new features never even dreamed of in V 5.7 🙂

 

 

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.

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New Here ,
Dec 29, 2024 Dec 29, 2024

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To be honest - you only cannot install using Creative Cloud.
There is a workaround though
https://x.com/random_lt/status/1873437718350537038

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Community Beginner ,
Jan 06, 2025 Jan 06, 2025

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Bonjour à tous ,

je suis scandalisé par les méthodes de "Adobe" et consorts qui veut nous obliger à changer de machine pour pouvoir faire les mises à jour vers les nouvelles versions de logiciels.

En effet, j'utilise actuellement photoshop V25.12.1 et Lightroom Classic V14.1.0

Et je ne peux pas mettre à jour vers les versions 26.2 et 14.1.1, car il faut un PC avec un cpu prenant en charge AVX2 ; et ce n'est pas mon cas . (Voir image jointe)

Je possède une station de travail HPZ620, avec 2x CPU Xeon E5-1667 V2 , 48 Go de RAM , qui fait tourner sans problème des logiciels de montage vidéo (comme Da vinci resolve) , des logiciels de création 3 D et de CAO... et on voudrait me faire croire que cette machine ne pourrait pas faire tourner PS et LRc ??? C'est abusé , je trouve !!!

Je n'ai pas l'intention "d'investir" dans une autre machine ... celle-ci est assez performante et me donne entière satisfaction  !

Alors qu'ai-je comme choix  ?

_ Payer un abonnement pour continuer d'utiliser PS et LRc que je ne pourrais pas mettre à jour !!!

_ Acheter une machine plus récente !!!

_Arrèter l'abonnement Create Cloud, pour aller à la concurrence ... c'est peut-être la meilleure solution ?

SVD "Adobe" ne laisser pas tomber vos clients qui n'ont pas tous les moyens de changer d'ordinateur régulièrement ...

je suis certain que PS et LRc peuvent tourner avec des processeurs ne prenant pas en charge AVX2.

Avez-vous une solution à me; à nous proposer ? car je ne pense pas être le seul dans ce cas ?

Par avance MERCI de vos réponses

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Community Beginner ,
Jan 06, 2025 Jan 06, 2025

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Bonsoir KR ;

je suis d'accord avec vous sur le fait que les versions pré-AVX2 sont très bien . Mais je me pose simplement la question de l'intérêt de payer un abonnement mensuel si on ne peut pas faire de mise à jour 😉

C'est un peu dommage, vous ne trouvez pas ?

Très belle journée à vous 😉

 

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New Here ,
Jan 06, 2025 Jan 06, 2025

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To pay a abo for updates I can not use?
I use the catalog very much. If I switch to LrC, I can't switch back to 5.7 later.
From all this facy new features, I only used the masking.

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Engaged ,
Jan 11, 2025 Jan 11, 2025

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Hello - just a plea from the field asking developers to please come out with a final bug fix Lightroom Classic update for those of us who do not have the AVX2 compatability.

 

I'm sure there are many of us subscription users stuck on v14.01 because we cannot update. (ditto for Photoshop that now requires AVX2) 

We are still suffering with all those issues that received bug fixes with v14.1+
Surely some or many of those bugs could be addressed in a 14.0x release.

Thank-you

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Engaged ,
Jan 13, 2025 Jan 13, 2025

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I agree with all you have said.
Adobe released a small update to those of us who did not have AVX2 - and if Adobe does not change their course and remove the current AVX2 requirement - I hope at the least they give Lrc users a v14.0x version that is not riddled with bugs.

Can you please tell me where you got the info to support your statement "it already been proven that new versions of PS and LR can work with AVX when installed without CCD..." email me if you can't post please.

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Mentor ,
Jan 13, 2025 Jan 13, 2025

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I think that depends entirely on the license agreement that applies to the Adobe app one subscribes to. Although almost no one reads those agreements, (I don't 🙂 ), I doubt that Adobe include any guarantee in there that the program will always work on all hardware. I'm sure the license agreement says in order to continue using the program, the user must continue paying the subscription price. In other words, keep paying to keep using the software. That's the basis of a subscription system versus a perpetual license.

 

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.

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Adobe Employee ,
Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

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For the benefit of readers of this thread, Lightroom Classic requirements can be found at https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/system-requirements.html 

Excerpt:

AVX Intel or AMD CPUs having AVX2 support




Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org

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Adobe Employee ,
Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

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It is not an answer. It is reference information.

 

This thread will now be locked. 


Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org

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Adobe Employee ,
Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

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@DexterGordon

Valid comments will not be censored and have not been censored but there is no reason to have multiple threads for this issue.  Any future threads, if appropriate will be merged here. 


Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org

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Adobe Employee ,
Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

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This thread has been retitled and moved to Ideas as a Feature Request. 

This thread is unlocked but under review and may be locked again.

Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org

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