Hey everyone! I'm a new member and could really use some advice. It's been nine years since I put together my current computer, with some help from a friend. Honestly, it's been running smoothly for all this time!
I primarily use it for office tasks, emails, web browsing, and photo editing in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Classic. Lately, I've been getting some error messages in Photoshop, and after looking into it, I realized my video card is seriously outdated. It only has 2GB of memory, while Photoshop now recommends at least 8GB for optimal performance.
The rest of my computer is still solid. I've got a spacious, quiet case and an 850W power supply, which I think is adequate. Here are my specs:
- Intel Core i7-6700K CPU @ 4.00GHz
- 32GB of RAM
- 64-bit operating system
- ASUS Z170 motherboard
- Samsung 950 PRO SSD (almost full)
- Two 2GB HDDs in RAID with a lot of space left
- **Nvidia GeForce GTX 960** (the main culprit!)
I'm considering whether I only need a new GPU or if I should explore other upgrades like additional RAM. I'd need to figure out how to remove my cooling fan to access the memory, which adds a layer of complexity.
I'm aware that some might laugh at how old my computer is and suggest starting from scratch, but I'm in the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" camp. I really do need a new video card, though; I've narrowed it down to a few options. Any suggestions on upgrades would be much appreciated!
1 Answer
It looks like you definitely need a GPU upgrade! Since you're using Adobe apps, I'd recommend sticking with Nvidia. A card like the 1660 Super or better would do wonders for your performance. If your budget allows, something like the RTX 3060 or even the upcoming 5060 could be a great fit too. Just make sure it fits in your case and that your power supply can support it!
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll definitely look into those Nvidia cards. I’m excited about the performance boost!