Updated on August 14, 2022
Graphics processing units (GPUs) are used heavily by Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Illustrator. Poor graphics will be produced as a result of a low GPU. In order to make use of these programmes, you’ll need a high-end PC.
In order to get a higher GPU, you don’t always need to buy a new PC. Your graphics card can be upgraded if your PC supports it. For a graphics card, there are things to consider.
We’ll get to that later. First, here are the top 10 best graphics cards for Photoshop, Lightroom, and Illustrator that you can buy:
Best Graphics Cards for Photoshop Lightroom & Illustrator
1. ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge
Based on NVIDIA’s Ampere, ZOTAC’s GeForce RTX 30 Series is designed for gamers. Just as well for Photoshop and Lightroom and Illustrator as a gaming graphics card. Boost clock 1807 MHz, PCI-e 4.0, and 12 gigabytes of DDR6 are all part of this system.
RT cores and Tensor cores have been improved, and new multiprocessors have been added, making this a high-performance graphics card. There are 2x more RT cores than the first generation.
There are 3rd-generation tensor cores that can boost performance by up to two times. Because Ray tracing is supported by your graphics card, you get real-time cinematic rendering. Edit your photographs and movies to their most potential using this tool.
It makes advantage of NVIDIA’s DLSS AI rendering technology. To increase frame speeds without sacrificing quality, it employs artificial intelligence. Higher resolutions and various display options are available.
The IceStorm 2.0 powerful cooling technology ensures that you won’t have to worry about overheating. Active fan control, freeze fan stop, and an 11-blade fan are all included. There’s also a wider aluminium array heatsink and an enhanced configuration for the heat pipes.
2. ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1650 OC 4GB
Zotac has created a graphics card that is incredibly small. New-generation graphics based on NVIDIA’s Turing architecture and with ultra-fast memory are the features of this product.
One of the best graphics cards currently on sale boasts an outstanding list of features. A 3.0 PCI Express, 896 CUDA cores, and a GDDR6 VRAM of 4GB are all included in this model.
HDCP and 4.6 OpenGL are also supported by the graphics hardware. Power consumption is 75W, and the suggested supply is 350W. Customers are drawn to this graphics card because of its low power usage.
Zotac’s dual-slot GeForce GTX 1650 OC is capable of 4K resolutions. It’s only 5.9 inches long, yet it’ll work with virtually every system. As a result, there is a good probability that it will work with your computer.
The cooling system for this graphics card is a single fan. The fan has stripped blades and measures 90mm in diameter. In addition, it has a sunflower heat disc, which distributes heat more evenly, resulting in more efficient cooling.
Graphics are also adorned with the new Zotac Firestorm user interface. This is an easy-to-use interface that lets you alter settings and check the health of your devices.
3. XFX Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX Edition
XFX has a graphics card at number three on this list of the best ones for Photoshop, Lightroom, and Illustrator. Based on the most recent Polaris architecture, the Radeon RX 580 has 8 GB of VRAM.
In addition to the Next FinFET 14 process and 4th Gen GCN graphics cores, there are new multimedia cores and a whole new display engine included in this chip set. You’ll benefit from improved functionality and effectiveness.
True clock is 1366 MHZ, 8000 MHZ memory clock is 256-bit, and 2304 stream processors are included in the graphics card’s specifications. XFX True Clock Technology, which is hardware-controlled, is a notable feature.
This technology ensures that the graphics card is always running at its maximum speed. XFX Zero dB Auto Load Sensing Fans are also included.
Fan RPMs are lowered when necessary to minimise overheating and to eliminate bothersome fan noise. It can go as low as 0 RPM, but it can also accelerate up as needed.
4K video editing is possible with this graphics card. A 3-year warranty is included in the purchase of a Radeon Rx 580 GTS xXX Edition graphics card. You’ll be compensated if the card has any manufacturing flaws.
4. MSI GeForce RTX 3070 LHR 8GB
Another Nvidia Ampere-based graphics card has been released. The new SM has 2X FP32 throughput, making it twice as fast. It has RT cores from the second and third generations, respectively.
DLSS AI acceleration is used on this 8GB VRAM graphics card. When editing high-quality videos in Lightroom, this ensures the best possible quality and frame rate.
With addition, ray tracing is supported for cinematic-quality rendering in this software. MSI’s dragon centre software gives you easy access to all of your system’s settings. MSI’s graphics card software is easy to use, with a user-friendly interface.
The Tri Frozr 2 cooling technology is employed by this graphics card. Fan speeds are kept to a minimum so as not to interfere with your work, thanks to the system’s careful balance of cooling and noise.
It has an Airflow Control that improves airflow dynamics and deflectors that direct air to the spots that need cooling. Precision-machined core pipes distribute heat uniformly over the heatsink, ensuring maximum cooling efficiency..
The Zero Frozr feature automatically restarts the fan when the heat is turned on. Several heat dissipation pads are included on the graphics card as well. This MSI GeForce RTX 3070 LHR graphics card is very immune to overheating.
5. VisionTek Radeon 5450 2GB DDR3
The VisionTek Radeon 5450 2GB DDR3 graphics card provides both value and functionality. At 5.9 inches in length and 0.6 inches in height, the VisionTek Radeon 5450 2GB DDR3 graphics card is quite small.
Using a Radeon 5450 graphics card and 2GB of RAM, you can render in Photoshop and Lightroom using GPU. All three of these formats are supported: HDMI, VGA and DVI-I. Just 1GB of system memory is required to install the graphics card.
The AMD Avivo HD Video & Display Technology is an interesting feature of the graphics card. The 5000 series graphics processors provide enhanced image processing, which will be more appreciated by gamers.
Editing with heavy effects and filters on photographs or movies is now a breeze thanks to this feature. The AMD PowerPlay Technology is also worth mentioning.
Using AMD PowerPlay Technology decreases power usage if you’re dealing with heavy graphics; it balances performance and power.
If you register your VisionTek Radeon 5450 2GB DDR3 graphics card within 30 days of purchase, you’ll obtain a three-year limited guarantee. Unless you register, the warranty is only good for one year.
6. ASUS GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB
This is a well-known graphics card that is also one of the most durable on the market. It has a dual ball-bearing design that extends the life of the graphics card by two times.
As an additional safeguard against damage, the graphics card incorporates a sturdy metal backplate. In addition, the circuit board is better protected in this way.
NVIDIA chipset with a clock speed of 7008 MHz and PCI Express 3.0 Interface are found on the graphics card. Powered by NVIDIA GPU Boost, which dynamically increases clock speed depending on your workload, it is compatible with this device.
The airflow performance of two optimised fans is doubled. There are no worries about overheating because of the increased cooling.
In addition, the fans’ lifespans are extended. The International Protection Marking (IPM) has verified them to be dust-resistant (IP code). It’s a guarantee that the fans will work even under the most extreme circumstances.
If you’re using your graphics card at full capacity, you won’t have to worry about it consuming a lot of power or making much noise.
A low-cost option for Photoshop, Lightroom, and Illustrator users is the ASUS GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB.
7. EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti FTW3
EVGA’s 8GB graphics card has tensor and RT cores that have been improved. It has a G6X memory with modern multiprocessors, which is extremely fast. Also, the I/0 data rate is rather high.
The EVGA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti FTW3 graphics card has a PCIe 4.0 interface, 6144 CUDA cores, 256 memory bit width, 19000 MHZ memory clock, and 1860 MHZ Boost Clock, among other notable characteristics.
All the products on this list use NVIDIA’s Ampere Architecture for their graphics. Frame rates are increased with the usage of DLSS AI Acceleration. Using this method, you may alter high-resolution images without sacrificing quality.
3D rendering and 8K video editing can be handled by the graphics card. It includes a slew of cutting-edge features to keep things cool. A 180-degree heatpipe and ventilation chambers surrounding the heatsink ensure adequate airflow.
A third fan on the graphics card reduces noise while still increasing cooling performance. The fans automatically shut off when the temperature drops below 55 degrees, making no noise.
8. MSI GeForce GTX 1660
The GeForce GTX 1660 is the second MSI device to make this list. A 450-watt power supply is suggested for this graphics card, which consumes 120 watts of power. Compared to other MSI GeForce GTX 1660 cards, this one consumes 1.4 times less power.
It includes an 1830 MHz Boost Clock and 6GB GDDR VRAM with a 192-bit memory interface. The NVIDIA Turing shaders are used for optimal performance, and the NVIDIA Architecture is used.
The Dragon Center’s RGB lighting support is a unique feature of the graphics card. It is possible to select from a wide range of lighting effects and colours while editing your photographs and videos.
MSI’s Twin Frozr 7 Thermal Design is present on this graphics card as well. That’s why there’s an air-speed dispersion fan blade and a standard fan blade on it.
Even at maximum performance, the heatsink is well-optimized for efficient heat dissipation. In addition, Zero Frozr technology will turn off the fan when the load drops.
9. MAXSUN AMD Radeon RX 550
MAXSUN’s AMD Radeon RX 550 features a 4GB memory capacity. High frame rates are guaranteed thanks to Microsoft’s DirectX 12 (DX12) technology. Almost any situation can be accommodated by this card size.
These ports are available on this graphics card: DVI, HDMI, and DP. PCI Express 3.0 with X16 lanes and a 50-watt TDP are just some of the other features.
Video and picture editing in 4K are no problem with the AMD Radeon RX 550 of the MAXSUN. Specifically, if you’re running Windows 7, 8, or any other recent version of Windows, you’ll like this graphics card.
This is due to the Vulkan API’s inclusion. Vulkan’s close-to-metal control equals improved performance all around. A graphics API that can compete with the Vulkan API is hard to come by.
The AMD Radeon programme allows you to customise the graphics card’s settings. When using Photoshop or Lightroom, the ALT+R hotkey can be used to edit directly from the application.
You won’t have to worry about overheating with this graphics card because of AMD Radeon Chill. Frame rate control is a power-saving tool that adjusts the frame rate to match your workload. When you’re not working hard, it automatically reduces the frame rate to conserve battery life.
10. PowerColor Hellhound Spectral White AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
Finally, the PowerColor Hellhound Spectral White AMD graphics card is ranked at number 10. The graphics card stands out immediately due to its white colour scheme.
It has a 12GB GDDR6 video memory, 2560 stream processors, 2424MHz game clock, up to 2581MHz boost clock, and 16 Gbps memory clock. The two 8-pin PCI-E connectors and high-quality polymer capacitors boost performance.
Heat dissipation is enhanced by the graphics card’s triple fan design, cooler heat pipelines, and a nickel-plated copper base. The cooling fan has two ball bearings for four times the lifespan, making it a long-lasting card.
The card is notable for its white LED lighting, which comes on when the fan is activated. A switch on the LED light makes it simple to turn it off. As soon as the temperature drops below 60 degrees, the quiet fan technology activates. This reduces the amount of power used and the loudness of the fan.
How To Select The Best Graphics Card
You can’t just buy any graphics from the store. Prior to purchasing, double-check to make sure it will work with your PC and will provide you with the desired results.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
Check if you can upgrade your graphics card
There are a lot of laptops out there with graphics cards that are permanently attached to the motherboard and can’t be taken out. In Mac laptops, this is the most common problem.
In order to observe the graphics card’s connection to the motherboard, you should look at your system’s manual or open the case. Consider upgrading your graphics card, if possible.
Also, the size of graphics cards can vary. You should check to see if the graphics cards you intend to buy will fit in your case by measuring the available space.
Graphics cards have varying power requirements. You can find this information on the unit’s label or in the system’s manual. Make sure that your power supply’s capacity is compatible with your device before you buy it.
Check other specifications
Graphics cards are available in a wide range of configurations. All aspects should be considered, even if some are more important than others. Listed here are some of the most critical graphics card and computer performance parameters.
Memory
This is the GPU’s RAM (Random Access Memory) capacity. High graphics programs demand graphics cards with at least 4GB of memory, with 6GB or more preferable for 1080p output at high settings.
Generally, more memory means higher performance. Nevertheless, other features such as memory speed also impact PC performance.
Memory speed
It is important to know how fast a graphics card’s RAM can be used. A card with the same memory capacity but a different speed may perform quite differently, therefore this is critical.
Power Supply
Consider the power supply’s compatibility with the graphics card you’re planning to buy. As previously stated, the power consumption of graphics cards varies.
More than the 75 Watts of power required by the majority of PCIe graphics cards. Using a 6- or 8-pin power connector, the PC’s power supply can be directly connected to the GPU, allowing for more power.
Thermal Design Power (TDP)
Thermodynamics A GPU’s power is measured in terms of the amount of power and heat it produces. A graphics card with a high thermal design power (TDP) will need more power.
In most cases, the manufacturer of the GPU provides a recommended wattage for use. Using the TDP, you can figure out how much cooling you need for your system.
Size/Interface
The length of a graphics card and the number of PCI-e slots it takes up in the computer’s case are used to gauge its performance. Numerous factors influence graphics card size, but the most crucial is that it must fit in your computer case.
Make sure that your motherboard has enough room for your graphics card. A majority of today’s discrete GPUs use PCIe slots, and the majority of those are 16x. There are single, double, and even triple-slot configurations for graphics cards.
A PCI-e slot is required for any additional components that will be linked to the GPU. The components you intend to install must fit in your case. Inadequate space may result in subpar cooling and thus subpar performance.
Check the program requirements
It’s a good thing that as technology advances, more graphics cards can be used with most software. There are still certain graphics cards that don’t work together.
Photoshop, Lightroom, and Illustrator all have varying GPU requirements from Adobe. If you want to get the greatest graphics card, you must also take this into consideration.
For example, Adobe specifies the following GPU requirements for Photoshop.
;
A year or two after that.
Graphics memory capacity is 512 megabytes (MB). Photoshop’s minimal necessities.
For optimal performance, Photoshop requires at least 2 GB of VRAM. The more VRAM your graphics card has, the better it will run Photoshop.
A similar list of unsupported graphics card series can be found on Adobe’s website. Here are a few of them:
Radeon HD 4000 and Radeon HD 5500 graphics cards
Intel HD 2000, 3000 and 4000 series cards
A number of different series of NVIDIA GeForce GPUs can be found at these links:
Consider Price
Finally, be sure that the credit card you select is within your financial means. If you don’t want to spend more than $500 on a graphics card for your Adobe software, there are options available.
Despite this, high-capacity graphics cards can cost up to $1,000. A high-capacity graphics card that outperforms your present requirements is an option if you have the cash. In the future, this could come in helpful.
Should You Buy A Graphics Card?
Graphics editing software like Lightroom, Photoshop, and Illustrator are said to be GPU-independent. In the end, do you need to get a graphics card? Yes, it is correct!
If you don’t have a strong graphics card, you can still use these design applications, but they won’t be as efficient as when you do. If you don’t have a graphics card, you can’t use all of the game’s capabilities.
A GPU is needed for a number of complicated features. Graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration is an example. Using the GPU and CPU to speed up video playback in real-time is known as GPU acceleration. As a video editor, you’ll find this tool particularly useful.
High-resolution TVs like 4K and 5K can benefit greatly from the use of an appropriate GPU. This is not to say that a low-end graphics card will suffice for all of your needs.
Note that these editing programs aren’t just reliant on the quality of their visuals for their efficiency and effectiveness. Memory, storage, write, and read speed are just a few of the key factors to consider.
Bottom Line
Photoshop, Lightroom, and Illustrator work will be faster and easier with the greatest graphics card.
When shopping for a graphics card, take essential to check the specifications and requirements to ensure that it will function properly on your PC.
