Photoshop, a widely used image editing software, has evolved over the years, becoming increasingly reliant on graphics processing units (GPUs) to accelerate various tasks. While Photoshop can technically run without a dedicated GPU, the experience will be significantly less smooth and efficient.

Understanding GPU Usage in Photoshop

GPUs are designed to handle computationally intensive tasks, such as rendering graphics and video. In Photoshop, GPUs are used to accelerate various features, including:

• Neural Filters: These AI-powered filters can significantly impact performance, and a dedicated GPU can significantly reduce processing times.
• Object Selection: Photoshop’s object selection tools, such as Select Subject and Quick Selection, rely heavily on GPUs to identify and isolate objects accurately.
• Zoom and Magnify: GPUs handle the rendering of zoomed-in images, ensuring smooth and responsive zooming and panning.
• Panorama Stitching: Combining multiple images into a single panoramic view is a GPU-intensive process, and a dedicated GPU can significantly reduce stitching times.

Running Photoshop Without a GPU

While Photoshop can run without a dedicated GPU, the experience will be noticeably slower, especially when using features that rely heavily on GPU acceleration. Here’s what you can expect:

• Reduced Performance: Tasks like Neural Filters, object selection, zooming, and panorama stitching will take significantly longer without a dedicated GPU.
• Lag and Stuttering: The interface may feel sluggish and unresponsive, especially when working with large or complex documents.
• Reduced Flexibility: Some GPU-accelerated features may be unavailable or have limited functionality without a dedicated GPU.

Recommendations

If you plan to use Photoshop for basic editing tasks, such as resizing, cropping, and applying basic filters, you may be able to get by with an integrated graphics card. However, if you intend to use more advanced features, such as Neural Filters, complex object selection, or panoramic stitching, a dedicated GPU is highly recommended.

For professional photographers or graphic designers who rely heavily on Photoshop, a high-performance dedicated GPU is essential to ensure a smooth and efficient workflow. Consider a GPU with at least 2GB of dedicated VRAM (video RAM) for optimal performance.

In conclusion, while Photoshop can technically run without a dedicated GPU, the experience will be significantly compromised. For a smooth and efficient Photoshop experience, a dedicated GPU is highly recommended.