Best PCs for Adobe Photoshop

The best PC for Adobe Photoshop prioritises fast CPU performance, enough memory for your documents and fast local NVMe storage, rather than simply the most expensive components available.

For most professional users we'd currently start with a modern AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel Core Ultra 7 class processor, 32GB to 64GB of RAM, modern dedicated NVIDIA RTX graphics and NVMe storage, then adjust the specification around your files, the other applications you use and where your current computer slows down.

The best CPU for Photoshop has fast individual cores and a modern architecture, rather than the highest possible core count.

Photoshop can use several CPU cores, but independent workstation testing consistently shows the benefit tailing off beyond roughly eight fast cores. A high core count workstation processor is rarely good value for a Photoshop focused machine, and dual processor systems tend to perform worse.

At the moment, modern AMD Ryzen 7 class processors are among the fastest Photoshop options. The fastest choice changes between processor generations, so we select the best platform available when your workstation is ordered rather than promising one model will stay the best indefinitely.

Current independent testing favours AMD Ryzen in Photoshop focused benchmarks, but both AMD and Intel can provide excellent Photoshop performance.

The gap at the top end is modest and shifts as new processors arrive. Intel Core Ultra is often a strong fit when the workstation also runs a broader mix of creative software, including Lightroom Classic, so we choose the platform around your full application workflow rather than a single benchmark.

Yes. Photoshop uses GPU acceleration, and we recommend a modern dedicated graphics card for any professional Photoshop workstation.

A dedicated GPU accelerates supported effects, Camera Raw and Neural Filters, and drives high resolution and multiple monitors properly. However, Photoshop generally sees relatively small performance improvements when moving from a good modern mid range graphics card to an extremely expensive flagship GPU.

32GB of RAM is a sensible starting point for a new Photoshop workstation, and 64GB is our preferred level for many professional users.

Extremely large layered documents, high resolution panoramas and heavy multitasking can justify 128GB or more. The figure that matters is the size of your documents once they're open in Photoshop, with every layer included, rather than their file size on disk.

Yes, 32GB of RAM is enough for many Photoshop users, including general photo editing, retouching and moderately sized PSD files.

64GB makes more sense if you regularly work with large layered PSD or PSB documents, high megapixel photographs, panoramas and composites, or keep Lightroom Classic and other applications open alongside Photoshop.

For many professionals, yes. 64GB of RAM is worth it if you work with large PSD or PSB files, complex composites or high megapixel photography, or run Photoshop and Lightroom Classic together.

When Photoshop runs out of memory it relies on its scratch disk, which slows everything down, and 64GB gives you that headroom. It won't make a small document open faster, though: enough RAM keeps Photoshop fast, but excess RAM doesn't magically make it faster.

Yes, we strongly recommend one. Fast NVMe SSD storage makes Windows, Photoshop and large documents open and save noticeably faster.

We typically fit an NVMe drive for Windows and applications, a second NVMe drive for active projects and, for particularly demanding workflows, a dedicated NVMe scratch disk. Hard drives and network storage remain excellent for archive and backup.

Photoshop always uses scratch disk space when it needs it, but a dedicated physical scratch drive isn't essential for every workstation.

For most users, scratch space on the fast system NVMe drive is fine. A separate NVMe scratch drive becomes worthwhile when you regularly work with very large documents or complex composites that push beyond your installed RAM.

For Photoshop alone, generally not. Independent testing shows a modern mid range NVIDIA RTX graphics card delivering Photoshop performance within a few percent of flagship cards such as the RTX 5090.

A more powerful GPU can make sense when the same workstation also runs GPU intensive applications such as Topaz, Premiere Pro, 3D software or local AI. For a Photoshop focused machine, the difference is usually better spent on memory, storage or the processor.

Absolutely. That's how we'd approach most professional photography workstations.

Photoshop and Lightroom Classic respond slightly differently to hardware, and running them together raises memory requirements, so we balance the processor, memory, graphics card and storage around both. Our guide to the best PCs for Adobe Lightroom Classic covers the Lightroom side in detail.

Yes. We can help you plan the move from Mac to a Windows workstation, not just sell you the hardware.

We'll help you specify connectivity, storage, displays and how your files and workflow move across, so the new workstation fits the way you already work.