Graphics Card

[Salena]

Hi Brian,

I'm in the market for a new pc.  Going to get a desktop now that I'm able to (sitting in one place rather than moving around).

I have read your article about buying a computer in 2025 which is great thank you.  I am wondering about the graphics card.  You say 4070 or 4080.  I have come across a computer that has all the other specs you mentioned but for the graphics it says this: NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 8GB High end 3D cards  is this a no go or is it just totally different?  I've googled it and it says released 2018 compared with the others being more recent. So that makes me think it's a no, but curious if I should just pass on it.

 

Cheers,

Salena

[Brian]

I'm so glad you asked, because I'm going to save you a bunch of money that you would have wasted.  

Quick Answer: SKIP THAT CARD!! 

Or, "That's a NO from me dog..."  

Take a look at PassMark's Software Video Card List for Photoshop. 

That website Adobe themselves links to for a list of Graphics Cards that have been tested with Photoshop. At this point in 2025, you want a PC Benchmark Score of 10,000 or better. As you can see, that graphics card rates as follows: 

My Radeon Card in my 2017 iMac performs better that that NVIDIA, and it's barely keeping up with PS CC 2023!! I won't dare attempting PS CC 2024, let alone PS CC 2025 with my current graphics card.

So yeah, I know it sucks that things cost as much as they do, but I honestly hate wasting money on this shit.

[Salena]

Thank you Brian.  Are these easy things to change? Wondering if I could ask them to upgrade that part or is that not a thing?

It seems like a really great price other than that.

https://nzpcclearance.co.nz/product/dell-precision-t5820-xeon-w-2104/

[Salena]

OMG my current card is scoring 437 hahaha no wonder it is slow haha

[Brian]

That PC is not for Photoshop. AT ALL. Find another one. You do not need or have the software that will take advantage of a Intel Xeon Processor. In fact, Photoshop will likely run SLOWER. You aren't running some sort of Database Server with  Windows Server 2019 with multiple CPUs with multiple cores on each processor. LOL!! No wonder why it has that video card. This computer was a Corporate Workstation or even a Server in a former life. Business-class software. Number-Crunching. Not Photoshop.

This is like looking to purchase a Bulldozer when all you want to do is plant a small garden next to your house. Sure, a Bulldozer will work, but...why?

 

[Salena]

Thanks Brian really appreciate it!

[Brian]

Keep searching. Run the specs by me 1st. Avoid Xeon Processors for what you want to do with Photoshop. Look for current versions of Intel i7 or i9 CPUs.

Oh, to answer your question, upgrading a video card is a slippery slope. The new cards are physically huge so you might have to buy a new computer case to house it. They also have all sorts of power requirements. So not only do you need to upgrade the Video Card, but it's also very likely you are upgrading the Power Supply to handle it. Then you have to make sure your motherboard will support a newer card, so you might have to replace that. Then the RAM to work with a new Motherboard. Then a CPU that's compatible...

...basically a video card can snowball into a whole computer build if you aren't careful.

But yes, it can be done - but at what cost?

[Salena]

Hi Brian, I'm going to get this one that a friend recommended and upgrade the ram and memory 

 

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/WKSPB53025/PB-Pro-Creator-RTX-5060-Ti-16GB-Studio-PC-AMD-Ryze

 

Is it good!?

 

Also I'm going to need a monitor but I was really hoping that I could do this at a later date you know, soften the blow and maybe try and get a second hand one. 

 

I've read another post about then probably needing another calibrator which of course I don't want to buy haha 🙃 

We have a couple of old monitors hanging around at home, will either of them be ok? At least until I can justify the cost?

 

Philips 243v7q

Lg e1941t-bn

[Brian]

19 hours ago, Salena said:

I'm going to get this one that a friend recommended and upgrade the ram and memory 

Is it good!?

"Meh."

Looks decent. Personally, I don't like the "60" products in NVIDIA's lineup, whether that be a 3060, 4060, etc. I prefer a 3070/3080 and 4070/4080. Or better yet, a 5070. Since the 5060 is so new, it's "better" than the current 4070, but I still don't like the "60" models. Honestly, once you get to a NVIDIA 4070 and above, it all blends together. I do agree with bumping the RAM up to 64GB, might as well. Especially if you have a camera that has a lot of MP, like a Nikon D850, with 45.7MP, and above. Camera's have so many MP these days, and 32GB just isn't enough across the board. Now if you want to go higher, like 96GB or 128GB, that's up to you...but a little unnecessary. I feel that 64GB is the "Sweet Spot" as far as RAM. Mac or Windows Computers. 

HD...1TB is "fine" for a Main HD, you could always add a 2nd HD and have a D Drive in addition to your C (Main) HD. Or you could go for a larger 2TB SSD drive as well. That's up to you. 1TB is still fine for your Operating System and Programs, and storing your data on a much larger / external HD. Remember, SSD / Flash Media gets expensive once you go above 2TB in capacity. 8TB SSD Drives are EXPENSIVE, but it time they will come down in price. 

19 hours ago, Salena said:

We have a couple of old monitors hanging around at home, will either of them be ok? At least until I can justify the cost?

Between those two, use the Philips 243v7q Display. That monitor contains a IPS Display Panel, which is required for editing photos. The LG is fine for general computing, not editing photos. Honestly? I'd upgrade the RAM, keep the HD at 1TB and put money towards a better Display.