Apple GPU drivers are only included/installed via macOS updates. If you're not current at the moment it's possible an OS update will solve your problem. Although if everything else is working well on your computer and you haven't "upgraded" to Big Sur or Monterey yet you might want to consider installing an older version of Photoshop first to see if that works. Post-Big Sur has been hit-or-miss for some people. You can also check the 'Help' menu within photoshop (Help > GPU Compatibility) to see if Adobe is at least theoretically giving your GPU the thumbs-up before making a decision.
Our problems sound similar, but the causes and remedies could be different. There's just so many variables. But here's a description of mine and some things I've tried (unsuccessfully) in the event it may be useful to you somehow:
Problem:
• Photoshop launches fine and runs fine for about 5-10 minutes.
• The "beachballs" start and it becomes intermittently and progressively unresponsive.
• Photoshop itself rarely crashes, but it triggers a system-wide slowdown that continues even after quitting PS and requires rebooting.
• The problem seemingly started out of nowhere and doesn't appear linked to an update of PS or macOS (although that could be the case).
• It isn't triggered by a particular tool or activity while using Photoshop and feels more like a process kicking in after a certain amount of time.
Troubleshooting attempts:
• Checked computer and graphics card specs (which fall well within minimum specs).
• Checked hardware integrity for faults.
• Checked permissions within System Preferences > Privacy, and individual Library folders.
• Disabled GPU and Native Canvas options in Photoshop preferences.
• Disabled file syncing and fonts in Creative Cloud.
• Cleared font cache in Photoshop.
• Did some pruning of fonts in FontBook on the Mac.
• Reset Photoshop preferences
• Logged in/out of Creative Cloud, and User on the computer.
• Uninstalled/Re-installed Photoshop and Creative Cloud per Adobe instructions with both the CC uninstaller and Cleaner tools. Un-installed everything Adobe in fact. All of it, even stuff not under the CC umbrella. A curious hallmark of this infuriating riddle is previous versions of Photoshop that worked no longer do.
• Tried running Photoshop with CC quit. And with WiFi off, too, just 'cuz I'm throwing darts at the wall at this point.
• Tried running without peripherals (and making sure Wacom tablet drivers were up-to-date).
• Reset PRAM, SMC and ran Disk First Aid in Recovery Mode.
• And probably a dozen other things I'm forgetting...
Activity Monitor and logs haven't been a huge help. The computer never "crashes" or shows an overloadding of System resources anywhere. It just has these timeouts that fail and end up having a huge ripple effect. The real killer is whatever [failed] process is killing my computer doesn't appear related to the actual functionality of Photoshop. The app itself is fine. It's relationsip to CC, and Apple is likely where things go sideways.
But like I said, you're solution might be different and attainable. I haven't found mine yet. Best of luck.
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