sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Does a gaming computer with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, make a good computer for Photoshop?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

You don't mention the rest of the specs or the platform. This is certainly not a top of the line gaming computer with a card like the GTX 1650 but if you're asking if that graphics card will make working in photoshop better, it depends on how Photoshop uses graphics card GPU's. A lot of the current post-processing programs use a graphic card's GPU for various features. I am not a Photoshop user. You can do a quick Google search to determine how Photoshop uses a graphic card's GPU and which cards would be acceptable.

This link is to a very general discussion of hardware for Photoshop. It mentions a couple of Nvidia cards at the higher end of the spectrum. I'm pretty sure the GTX 1650 is supported, but assuming that no one here actually uses that card with Photoshop, you'll have to do a little research.

https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-Adobe-Photoshop-139/Hardware-Recommendations#GPU

By the way is the card the GTX 1650, or a GTX 1650 Super? The Super version is a superior gaming card and may make a noticeable performance difference depending on how Photoshop uses Its GPU.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

I just bought a new computer (mostly to use for photo processing) in January. There are gaming computers and "G --A--M--I--N--G" computers which cost as much as a small car. I picked up a Refurbished Dell XPS 8940, i7 processor, 16GB ram, 500GB SSD and Nvidia GTX1660ti or about $900. I plan to upgrade RAM to 32GB however currently this new one runs circles around my old 12 year old i3 w 5GB RAM which didn't have a video card. A GTX 1650 would be satisfactory but you need at least 16GB RAM and an SSD HD makes a difference.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

COVID boredom inspired me to build a new computer using the last year's discounted budget gaming parts. The CPU is a 3600 AMD, 32 gig of RAM and using my old NVIDIA 1050TI video card... Key is that the NVIDIA programming language is better for some installed graphics programs and the TI has 4 gig of onboard DDR-5 RAM. Plenty of kick for photo graphics. TI implies better or more memory. But if you are buying the graphics card new, then balance price and the extra power.. and if it is really needed.

Your post starts with "Does a gaming computer..." which suggests you have doubts... based on use or you may plan to buy one so equipped. My previous computer was a 5y old entry "gaming computer" that lived beyond its time for modern computer power-hungry programs. You did not say any info about how old, how much memory etc the computer in question has. Soda Pop, we can read your mind for that information or you can volunteer it to us so that we can better advise. Reading your brain will require we use invasive skull opening Tympanory tools from Harbor Freight we will then use EXIF to get the details. Fun

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Simply put, yes.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Why a graphics card will help with photoshop & is a must, if you are purchasing or building a new computer, get the most CPU you can afford also.

Nddave01 Loc: Bismarck, ND

I recently sold my 4 yr old MSI gaming computer and purchased their MSI Prestige 15 A10SC. This series is aimed at image processing. Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10710U CPU @ 1.10GHz, 1608 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 12 Logical Processor(s), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with Max-Q Design. 32 Gb of ram, 500 Gb ssd for system & 1T ssd for data.
I use both Luminar 4 and Luminar AI and have been satisfied with the responsiveness with this system (both L4 and L-AI have had a lot of complaints from users for lagging.) For my use as an amateur this has been an adequate set-up and reasonably priced. Hope this is helpful.

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

My computer is a 24 core with 64GB RAM. I use DxO PhotoLab to process my photos. I recently purchased an EVGA GTX 1080 TI 11GB gaming video card. I am not a gamer nor am I interested in gaming however ..........
DxO PhotoLab can use the GPU and has significantly cut my processing time. I also use software called PAVTube to convert video format. What use to take 34 minutes, now takes 9 minutes using the GPU. So yes, a powerful video card can and will make a difference to any software which can access it.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Thanks for all the helpful replies. You have answered my question clearly and concisely. Except for one garbled rant by someone who doesn't know the difference between advice and advise.

Schoee Loc: Europe

Although some software can use a GPU to accelerate the processing, my understanding was that Photoshop does not do that. Perhaps the most critical component is the monitor.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Photoshop:
Edit => Preferences => Performance
That brings up a dialog that includes a checkbox to use the GPU or not.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

So does Lightroom

ksmmike

I have the Nvidia 1660 Super. I purchased it after doing research on Youtube and Adobe's website regarding the specs needed to run Photoshop and LightRoom. I'm not a technical geek as far as why that was the one recommended, I only know after reading Adobe's site and watching some videos, it was the best value. There are other cards which will work better but when you evaluate cost vs effectiveness, that one seemed to hit the sweet spot.

Meaning laws of diminishing returns where you can pay 50% more for a card and get 1-5% better performance for Photoshop's use of the video card. I've been happy with it other than I do have an issue with a couple of software glitches I had using Photoshop. I contacted Abobe and spent hours on the phone. I seems to be a bug in the Nvidia software. It shows up when cropping and some of the flyout windows. I reinstalled the latest driver twice and the issue still happens sometimes. If I reboot the computer, it fixes it every time, but it's a pain. It would be my one issue with that card. It could be mine alone, it could be a software bug, but Adobe can't seem to find the problem within Photoshop and the card. My guess is that it a Nvidia problem. I don't have issues with any other program.

JBRIII

Agree. I checked this just a few months ago, data indicated that PS makes minimal use of graphics cards, but it is increasing.
Some other software can make extensive use, but varies with software.
Jim