What is the best processor for Photoshop 2023?
Currently, the best CPU for Photoshop is Intel's Core i9 14900K. It leads the pack of other 13th & 14th Gen Core and AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processors in our Photoshop benchmark, though it is only slightly faster than the previous 13900K. The i7 14700K is also a solid option if you want to save some money.
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Multicore Intel® or AMD processor (2 GHz or faster processor with SSE 4.2 or later) with 64-bit support | |
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit (version 22H2) or later; LTSC versions are not supported | |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB or more |
The Intel Core i9-13900K is one of the top CPUs on the market for running Photoshop. Its 13th-generation technology, Intel 10nm lithography, and impressive 24 cores and 32 threads make it a powerhouse for handling even the most demanding image editing tasks. Additionally, it has 8 P-Cores and 16 E-Cores.
Can I Run Adobe Photoshop? You'll need an Intel Core i7-920 processor and 8GB of RAM to meet the Adobe Photoshop system requirements. Although a dedicated graphics card is not necessary, a GeForce GTX 950 will provide you with just enough power to improve performance marginally.
If you mainly use Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator and InDesign, an Intel Xeon 6-Core processor with a high clock frequency from 4.00 GHz in Turbo Boost is sufficient. However, if Premiere Pro and After Effects are used frequently, we recommend using a high-frequency Intel Xeon 8- or 10-Core processor.
As we mentioned in the introduction section, Intel has historically held a performance lead over AMD in lightly threaded applications like Photoshop, and this holds true for the new 14th Gen processors as well.
Photoshop can efficiently utilise multiple processor cores, but efficiency drops off after two cores, with the four-core processor only being around 25% faster than the two-core at the same clock speed. The six-core processor is approximately 8% faster than a four-core.
A Core i7 will typically be better for multitasking, media-editing and media-creation tasks, high-end gaming, and similar demanding workloads.
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Multicore Intel® or AMD processor (2 GHz or faster processor with SSE 4.2 or later) with 64-bit support | |
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit (version 22H2) or later; LTSC versions are not supported | |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB or more |
Photoshop is CPU-intensive, so upgrading your graphics card doesn't really do that much in terms of performance; while upgrading your RAM doesn't do much directly either, the fact that you have more memory to temporarily store data in (instead of your hard drive or SSD) means Photoshop will perform better with more and ...
Is processor important for Photoshop?
In general, CPU clock speed matters tremendously for Photoshop, with many operations still using a single core. Multiple cores are much more important for importing and exporting in Lightroom, where you'll likely see CPU usage vastly higher than 100%.
Is Core i5 enough for Photoshop? Yes. As long as your laptop or computer has at least an Intel Core i3 with 64-bit support, you can easily edit images in Photoshop, so a Core i5 is more than enough. Adobe notes that Photoshop just requires 64-bit support from an Intel or AMD processor.
Photoshop relies on your GPU for effects using Mercury Graphics Engine, which is associated with blurring tools, warping tools etc. Your CPU is used for general photo editing, resizing etc., and Photoshop prefers a fast single core in a CPU, and will use multithreading for complex compositing.
We recommend the Core i7-13700K as a starting point, but you can even upgrade to the Core i9-13900K if your budget can handle it. Stay away from the Core i9-13900KS unless you just won the lottery and you're not sure what to do with all this extra money.
Which processor is best for photo editing on a desktop? When it comes to processors, you should aim for a fast and capable one. Look for desktops with processors from Intel® Core™ i5 or AMD Ryzen™ 5 series and above. These processors offer good performance for photo editing tasks.
For a CPU, we'd recommend not buying anything less than an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 or equivalent. Then, a good laptop for Photoshop should have at least 16GB of RAM to run the software smoothly and at least 512GB of storage to store all your Photoshop creations when you're done editing.
More RAM will help when working with large and multiple files, manipulating images, rendering, and other tasks. RAM is significantly faster than storage, which is why performance lags when files have to be cached on the SSD.
All processors from i3 to i9 will work just fine for photoshop. Your processor isn't very important since all modern processors are fast enough. Make sure that you have atleast 8-16gb ram, a fast 500gb nvme ssd for installing photoshop and as a work drive.
TL;DR: AMD Ryzen 7000 Series performance in Photoshop
The new AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processors do very well in Photoshop, showing a solid 22-30% performance gain versus the previous generation Ryzen 5000 Series.
A more powerful processor will help with tasks such as streaming or running multiple programs. At the same time, large amounts of RAM will help with multitasking but will primarily improve performance in complex programs and operations.
Is the i7 really that much better than the i5?
Intel Core i7 processors are typically faster and more capable than Core i5 CPUs. The latest i7 chips offer up to six cores and 12 threads, making them better suited for advanced multitasking.
Many of the Core i7's technical specs don't differ much from the i5. Both use the same integrated graphics, and both have similar turbo and base clock speeds. Generally, for standard tasks and some gaming, the i5 should be enough.
i5: i5 processors are more budget-friendly compared to i7 processors, making them an attractive option for users seeking a balance of performance and affordability. i7: i7 processors come at a higher price point due to their increased performance capabilities and additional features.
Use a fast, large disk
If the efficiency number is usually above 95%, spending money on a faster scratch disk has little benefit. To improve Photoshop performance, use a disk with a fast data transfer rate. For example, use an internal hard disk or an external disk connected directly to your computer.
Configurable with AMD Ryzen or Threadripper CPUs, or Intel Core or Xeon processors, you can truly sculpt a perfect photographers PC that exactly suits your needs, whether its a massive pool of memory or an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 for generative AI tools to complement your photographs.
