Is it possible to use Adobe Lightroom without spending much?
Is it possible to use Adobe Lightroom without spending much?
Hi
I currently have a Nvidia GeForce GT 1030 with 2GB GPU. In the main, it functions properly with my single-screen setup, but for the Dell U2717D it works fine. I don’t play games, but I use Adobe Lightroom occasionally. Even then, my 16MB RAW files run smoothly, though I’m looking for some AI features like denoise and upscaling. They either take too long or don’t work at all.
Do you have any ideas for someone with a budget (around £200 to £300) who’s hoping to find a deal before Black Friday? The device should fit my motherboard, power supply (upgrade if needed), and generally run reliably, even if slowly?
My motherboard is a Gigabyte Z97-HD3 with an Intel i5-4690K CPU. I’m using a 600-watt PSU and running Windows 11, which I forced on because of security requirements. It works without issues and updates smoothly.
I understand this is older equipment, but it feels like a waste to upgrade now when it still meets most of my needs. Thanks for any suggestions!
TIA Steve
The PSU's make and model (or part number) is provided. Its age and whether it was purchased new or used/refurbished are also clear. The RTX 5060 is excellent, and the PC part picker page shows a price of 30W GT 1030. A 145W GPU is significantly more powerful than that. For a decent PSU, 600W would be sufficient; however, if the PSU is low quality or outdated, upgrading to a new one would be advisable. The answer to your original question remains the same.
From a compatibility standpoint, it works well. The RTX 5060 supports PCI-E 5.0 x8, while your motherboard uses PCI-E 3.0 x16, which are both backward compatible.
Hi, thank you for your prompt reply. The power supply was purchased new, specifically an FSP Group Inc - FSP600-50ARN, along with the motherboard, in August 2014!
This appears to be a budget option for a 5060 RTX with 8GB of VRAM. What are your thoughts?
A new PSU is essential because what you currently have is of poor quality and significantly outdated. The original warranty for this PSU has expired well beyond its expected lifespan, nearly three times over. Although it has managed to run a 30W GPU for quite some time, it’s likely to fail once a more powerful 145W GPU is connected, potentially damaging the entire system—including your new GPU and other components.
Additionally, the PSU you have is only 500W, not the 600W advertised on the label. Check the +12V rail; it supports up to 42A, which equals 504W. You can’t simply merge PSU rails to boost output. For optimal performance with a dedicated GPU, a Tier A PSU is recommended. Examples include Seasonic Focus/Vertex/PRIME, Corsair RMx/RMi/HXi/AXi, and Super Flower Leadex Gold/Platinum/Titanium.
Here’s the PSU tier list:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...JW...1973454078
Tier A is sufficient, while Tier A+ is preferred.
My two PCs are powered exclusively by Tier A+ PSUs. I own Seasonic PRIME 650 Titanium (Tier A+) and Seasonic PRIME Ultra 650 Titanium (Tier A+). Details and images are available in my profile.
It should function properly if you choose a high-quality, modern PSU as well. Otherwise, you might end up with a collection of impressive-looking components—like an RTX 5060 with the MSI logo—without any real performance gains.
Solid power supply.
👍
That's the approach I typically recommend, although I haven't encountered it frequently in Europe. However, there is a good amount of it available in the USA.