pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

I have installed Topaz A1 Sharpen and Denoise. Since I bought Denoise all my photo processing software has slowed down to a snail's pace. With my Topaz products it takes me anywhere from anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour to process one frame! Even my Photoshop and Lightroom have slowed down, but not as severe as Topaz. I spoke to the shop that services my computer when I have problems. I was told that I need to upgrade my graphics card. I was given a choice of three different graphic cards to chose from. Each one will cost me a pretty penny. Do any of you folks out there have any ideas as to which card I should get? I'll welcome your feedback.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

You don't mention what computer you are using, Windows or Mac. You didn't mention the version of the operating system you are using, or the processor, or the amount of ram you have. And lastly you didn't mention the three recommended cards or the card you will be replacing. Understand that the choice of graphics card will, in part, depend on an appropriate available slot for it and and power supply that will be compatible with it. Without knowing the details of your computer there no way anyone can make a reasonable suggestion. I am also concerned that current processing takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour. That is extremely excessive even if you are using your computer's CPU for Topaz processing rather than a graphics card's GPU. That says to me you have an older computer with significant limitations. Those limitations may include insufficient Ram, an older slower processor, and/or insufficient virtual memory, amount other things. If that is the case, a fast graphics card may only be a bandaid.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Agree 100percent. He may not have a cpu and enough ram and a big enough power supply to support a decent video card. My last desktop would only support a minimal video card and it was useless for photography processing. Then I bought a power spec G435 from Micro Center 1100.00 on sale. I7 10th gen nvme2 hd rtx 2070 Nvidia GPU 32gb ram. I added 2 SSD if 2tb each. Nice box very nice. I did see the other day they have increased in price about 300 or so dollars for the same kit.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I can tell you from experience that the first thing to do is see if you can extend your RAM. Depending on how old your system is, this may not be possible, but it is the least expensive first option if so.

Different memory standards support different maximum capacities, and some computer firmware supports less than that maximum, so you may have to do some investigating and experimenting. There is a critical shortage of the most capable graphics cards right now, so an option that doesn't involve trying to replace yours right now is going to be important to try first.

As an example, I just updated three older Dell laptops that use DDR3 memory. They had 8GB, which was the maximum available and supported when they were built, even though the DDR3 maximum is 16GB. Updated firmware/BIOS that I had installed along the way supports 16GB just fine. My computers run like brand new machines now,. I can do big panoramas and export big files from LightRoom that had stopped working as the operating system grew from accumulated updates. I still do not have access to some of the advanced functions in PhotoShop because of CPU and graphics processor limitations.

Note that at Micro Center, the most advanced graphics cards ate being sold on a first come, first served basis to a physical line of folks on days that their trucks arrive. There is not even a wait list. That's the severity of the shortage and why I suggest looking at any possible alternative solution right now, even if it doesn't get you all the way to where you want to go.

pdsilen Loc: Roswell, New Mexico

I use Windows 10 and Google Chrome

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

That is not enough information. I also asked you what processor your computer is using and the amount of ram you have. Additionally, is this a laptop or desktop? What is the make and model number of your computer? The make and model will help up identify whether you have an appropriate card slot available and a power supply with sufficient capabilities for the card you may select. You also still haven't indicated which three cards were recommended to you or the card already in your computer. If you are unable to provide this information you will have to rely on someone who has access to your computer to help you. I could recommend a half dozen cards that would work well with Topaz from $700 to $2000 but it is very likely that none of them will work with your computer without additional upgrades, and even then they may not give you the overall performance you are hoping to achieve. Without knowing more, I can't help you.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

👍👍 exactly. And in addition, open performance monitor (ctrl-alt del and select performance) while a file is being processed and see what the CPU, DRAM and Storage (disk) percentage utilization is and post the percentage utilization of each. That will provide further insights as to where the bottleneck is.

mjc925 Loc: SF Bay Area

Good luck getting a decent graphics card...been trying for 6 months. A tiny bit easier (if you have the $) than riding a unicorn.
If you need 45min to 1 hr PER Image, either you computer is REALLY OLD, or something is odd. My 9 year old CPU and 5 year old video card are showing their age on many programs, but even I can usually do an image in 5-8 minutes worst case, usually less. I think (I could be misremembering) that there may be a setting somewhere in Topaz you can turn on and off that forces the graphics card to be used? Make sure that is clicked on or the CPU will be doing the heavy lifting. I think there are recommended "minimum" graphics cards memory (2GB memory I think is a minimum). It may very well work without the 2GB minimum, but could be why it is so slow. Doing all this from memory, so forgive any errors.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

How to make Topaz Products Run Faster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GraqwH2YYJ4
Start at about 1:40 min. into the video.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

And your computer was built in 1990 and was then a low-end laptop ?!?!!! ... You have given us no info and foolishly people are trying to give suggestions with no info... OK, I will make some assumptions and be foolish.

Of course, 1990 is an exaggeration but if older it has DDR3, that is OK... but google and find how to run a memory test ...

If $ are a low budget... then consider a "refurbished" off-lease unit get a friend with computer know-how to help chose. Adding memory and a graphics card to a desktop unit is easy and makes a world of difference. Also upgrading hard drives to solid-state is amazing compared to old clunker mechanical running at 5200 rpm!!!

Comments: Ai i have found takes a lot of processing.. but with modern memory and at least 16 gig and of course assuming a desktop a graphics card. At the low-end NVIDIA 10xx Ti series with 4 gigs will be less than $200. [My NVIDIA 1050Ti with 4 gig of DDR5 works well for still photos as is pointed out by reviews... one published Mar 23, 2021... A zombi back from the grave ... good is good even is an old design.
https://www.pcgamesn.com/nvidia/gtx-1050-ti-relaunched ]

Best of processing... best of luck ... I hope you upgrade and solve the problem posed by new heavy demand software.

PS: thank you Jimmy T, I will watch that video.. never to old to learn

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I have a discreet GPU with 4 G memory. Topaz AI sharpen will not run using it but runs quickly and perfectly well when using my built in Intel GPU.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I know that high-priced graphics cards are necessary for playing games, but processing images doesn't require a lot of processing power. I've used LR and PS without expensive cards - no waiting.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I discovered this by watching computer channels on YouTube. Both fast AMD processors and good graphics cards are hard to find. Game-playing and bitcoin mining are responsible.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Not so quick, Jerry. Many image processing software suites/individual programs use the GPU for processing and rendering. I can’t speak for LR or PS, but Topaz and ON1, for example, use the GPU extensively. The difference between 4gb and 8gb and 16+gb on the GPU makes a “huge” difference in speed. Now, more than ever, a check of the system requirements before buying is definitely worth the time and effort.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

But 45 minutes?"