OpenGL 3.3 Support

[Alan Liddle]

Officially for LightRoom I need to get a video card that supports OpenGL 3.3. I can only find video cards that have OpenGL 4.4. I assume that these cards will also support OpenGL 3.3. is this correct?

I am just a dummy trying to build a new computer and learn.

Alan

[F. McLion]

Yup.

The GPU support is only needed if you use a 4k or 5k display - and it needs a beefy card to really gain something. With smaller resolutions, a fast CPU and a standard graphic card you won't see any gain from the GPU acceleration.

[Alan Liddle]

I am looking at using the GeForce GTX 970 with two Samsung U28E850R monitors.

My computer will be Windows 10 with 12GB RAM and a 2TB Raid Array.

Should this work well?

Regards

Alan

[F. McLion]

This 'should' work well.

Make sure to have a fast CPU as well since this is what LR speeds up the most.

Make sure to calibrate the monitor since it has a very high (unneeded) brightness and otherwise probably will be to bright for photographic work.

[Alan Liddle]

I am finding this whole process like a trip down the rabbit hole. I am actually a computer programmer who has started my own company and grown it over 16 years to the point of selling it and am now the General Manager of a multi-million dollar company and I can't get my head around how a bloody computer works - go figure. Ok - give me a few days and i'll work it out. I am just trying to configure the best computer to suit my growing photographic hobby - which includes LightRoom.

The answer to my question in this conversation is that a video card with Open GL 4.4 will support OpenGL 3.3. I think I have that .

Thanks for the help guys - appreciate it.

P.S. This is for my oncoming retirement at the age of 63. I'll have to leave it to you guys to rebuild the world after Trump

Regards

Alan

[Ian Lyons · Accepted solution]

This link will take you to a list of unsupported Graphics cards and other GPU related information Adobe Lightroom GPU Troubleshooting and FAQ  It might also be worth having a read through the OpenGL - Wikipedia

Also, while F.McLion's remarks about where you'll likely see the benefits of GPU support it's also important to remember that Lightroom and Camera Raw development continues. As such, it's reasonable to expect that the GPU will provide greater benefits in the future.