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saladsamurai
saladsamurai
Inspiring
November 28, 2016
Question

Graphics Card (GPU) Recommendations?

  • November 28, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 13391 views

Hi All - I am building a new PC (first time builder) as discussed in another thread.  Can anyone recommend a graphics card for someone who primarily uses lightroom as there heaviest task.  I need to support dual 2K monitors using sRGB.  Motherboard is ASUS Z170A LGA 1151 if relevant. I do not game.

I have primarily been going by this link from Adobe but it seems kind of old.  The only "criteria" they give are as quoted below (bold emphasis mine).

I have been looking primarily at GTX 960 and 1060 but a few people think those are overkill at apporx $200-250.

Would something like the GTX 1050 ti be more appropriate? Should I care that there is only 1 fan?

I'll tell you that I am a fairly technical person, but shopping for a graphics card has been a nightmare

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" Suggested system requirements and graphics cards
      

  • 1 GB of VRAM (Video RAM, or RAM on the video adapter). 2 GB of dedicated VRAM is suggested for large, high-resolution (such as 4K and 5K) monitors.
  • OpenGL 3.3. If you're not sure if your card fully supports OpenGL 3.3, contact the card manufacturer.
Note: Use only one graphics card. Performance isn't enhanced with multiple cards.

     

  • For NVIDIA cards, consider using a card from the GeForce GTX 760+ line (760, 770, 780, ...) or from the GeForce GTX 900 series

  • For Intel cards, Intel HD Graphics 4400+, 5000+, 510+, P530, Iris Pro Graphics 5200, 6100+, P6300, P580 or later are required"

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    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    November 28, 2016

    Adding to JimHess​'s comment, when a new major upgrade of Lightroom is released (possibly in the next 6 months, possibly not), the way Lightroom uses the GPU may be enhanced (or it may not be enhanced) and so a more powerful GPU might be worthwhile for general use (or it may not be).

    So you pay your money and you take your chances, or not. No one here in this forum (or any other forum) knows what Adobe will do, except for Adobe employees, who are not allowed to say.

    saladsamurai
    saladsamuraiAuthor
    Inspiring
    November 28, 2016

    Go it. I am not overly concerned about the way Adobe does or does not make use of the GPU acceleration potential.  I am more looking for a recommendation on a GPU that "plays nicely" with LR.  I think have convinced myself that the GTX 1050 ti will do the job.

    saladsamurai
    saladsamuraiAuthor
    Inspiring
    November 30, 2016

    "Plays nicely" is a criteria for deciding, rather than functionality? Ok, I wouldn't look at it that way, but under the "plays nicely" issue, there is a bug with GTX cards that requires an older video driver to work properly in Lightroom. According to this thread, this bug eliminates (for the time being) the GTX 1060. Whether or not it also eliminates the GTX 1050, I don't know, you can do the research.


    That's nice that Adobe doesn't support new graphics driver.  How is that a thing?  That is in direct conflict with their recommendation to use a GPU produced within the last 2 years.

    Anywho... It is still unclear to me if this or the 960 will work.  Both the GTX 1050 ti and the GTX 960 have a latest driver of 376.09 which is a higher revision than the one that does not work from the link (372.54).  Chances are it doesn't work.

    I love than Adobe "solution" is to roll back a driver.  Sorry if I sound bitter here

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    November 28, 2016

    That link is still the current information from Adobe. There is no more recent information, because the way Lightroom uses the GPU hasn't changed. So the recommendations for video cards are in that link. And that assumes that you have a 4K monitor (or larger). If you are going to use a standard HD monitor, any of those video cards is overkill and a waste of money.

    You might want to read this also: GPU notes for Lightroom CC (2015)

    JP Hess
    JP Hess
    Inspiring
    November 28, 2016

    That is true for Lightroom. However, there are several features in the latest version of Photoshop that require GPU to function. One of them is the Liquefy filter, and another is the distortion correction filter. That probably isn't the exact name of the filter. But if you are using Photoshop CC then you will definitely have added capabilities with a good graphics card. I'm using integrated graphics (no dedicated graphics card) and GPU is automatically disabled in Lightroom and Photoshop. I'm now thinking of adding a card.

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