CS4 and graphics cards

[Shaun_F...@adobeforums.com]

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?

[Neil_...@adobeforums.com]

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=kb405711&sliceId=1> and <http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb404898#supported>

Neil

[Shaun_F...@adobeforums.com]

(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

[Neil_...@adobeforums.com]

Shaun,

Then check with the card manufacturer.

Neil

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

Specifically, ask the card manufacturer if the card supports OpenGL 2 and Shader Model 3.

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

Or, download the CS4 trial version and see what it tells you.

[Ann_She...@adobeforums.com]

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-Editon;jsessionid=0a0109441f43b58a907636f649dc8d13f81ccf39c9c3.e3eTaxmKbNaNe34Pa38Ta38Oax50>

The Specs. say:

SmartShader 2.0 - Full support for OpenGL 2.0

[Shaun_F...@adobeforums.com]

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.

[Ann_She...@adobeforums.com]

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.

[Neil_...@adobeforums.com]

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

[Ramón_G_Castañeda@adobeforums.com]

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.

[Shaun_F...@adobeforums.com]

I shall experiment more - thanks for the helpful comments.
S