CS4 and graphics cards

SF
Posted By
Shaun_Ferguson
Feb 23, 2009
Views
405
Replies
11
Status
Closed
Not being all that technically-minded I’m not sure if my graphics card will manage all the functions required by Photoshop CS4. I’ve looked on ATI’s site for the graphics card but can’t find it – ATI Radeon 9650.
System Profiler tells me:
ATI Radeon 9650:

Chipset Model: ATY,RV351
Type: Display
Bus: AGP
Slot: SLOT-1
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x4150
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-A58503-115

Can anyone tell me if this card (which came with the G5) will allow me to use all the new functions of Photoshop CS4?
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NK
Neil_Keller
Feb 23, 2009
Shaun,

Is your card on Adobe’s list? See the tech notes in the grey panel on the Photoshop/Mac home page (one step up from here), particularly
< http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb 405711&sliceId=1> and < http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb 404898#supported>

Neil
SF
Shaun_Ferguson
Feb 25, 2009
(Strange – I posted a reply the other day – and it’s not here!)

Card not on their list – but they won’t have checked all the older cards. I hoped someone else might have a similar set-up and have tried it out.
S
NK
Neil_Keller
Feb 25, 2009
Shaun,

Then check with the card manufacturer.

Neil
R
Ram
Feb 25, 2009
Specifically, ask the card manufacturer if the card supports OpenGL 2 and Shader Model 3.
R
Ram
Feb 25, 2009
Or, download the CS4 trial version and see what it tells you.
AS
Ann_Shelbourne
Feb 25, 2009
Specifically, ask the card manufacturer if the card supports OpenGL 2 and Shader Model 3.

It doesn’t.

From MacPro Software:

ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 256MB, PC & Mac Editon ROHS < http://www.mac-pro.com/ATI-Radeon-9600-Pro-256MB-PC-Mac-Edit on ;jsessionid=0a0109441f43b58a907636f649dc8d13f81ccf39c9c3.e3e TaxmKbNaNe34Pa38Ta38Oax50 >

The Specs. say:

SmartShader 2.0 – Full support for OpenGL 2.0
SF
Shaun_Ferguson
Feb 25, 2009
Thanks for the replies.

I also found this statement on one forum: "If you expect the Radeon 9650 (standard equipment on the G5/2.7GHz Power Mac) to perform OpenGL and Core Image "miracles" just because it has 256MB of DDR and dual-link circuitry, you will be very disappointed."

So I took Ramón’s advice, downloaded Photoshop CS4 demo – and true enough, the 9650 card doesn’t have the necessary features.

All in all, having played around with CS4 today, I don’t think it offers me sufficient changes to justify upgrading from CS2 – for what I do I just don’t need the new features.
AS
Ann_Shelbourne
Feb 25, 2009
It is ONLY the OpenGL features of CS4 which will be unavailable to you with that card (which are only a very small part of CS4’s features) and Photoshop CS4 has advanced aeons beyond CS2 in so many respects.

If you use a digital camera, ACR 5.3 would be reason alone for upgrading to CS4; as would Bridge CS4.

You could always consider getting a better video card at a later date so that you would be able to use the OpenGL features in addition to the regular features of CS4.
NK
Neil_Keller
Feb 26, 2009
Shaun,

I currently run a G5 with a video card that does not support OpenGL features. I can’t do 3-D stuff or rotation. It hasn’t stopped me from using Photoshop and Bridge CS4. Overall, there is an improvement of features and their implementation compared with CS2 and even CS3.

Neil
R
Ram
Feb 26, 2009
Shaun,

having played around with CS4 today, I don’t think it offers me sufficient changes to justify upgrading from CS2

If you’re not a photographer shooting raw, I’d agree with you.

I upgraded exclusively on the strength of ACR 5.2 and later. However, Bridge is much improved, which should have been fixed in CS3.
SF
Shaun_Ferguson
Feb 26, 2009
I shall experiment more – thanks for the helpful comments. S

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