GPU for Graphic Design. Not Gaming.

[nrylee]

Hello, I am putting together a PC for a friend who is in graphic design. The pc will be a workstation only, no games or anything really besides Photoshop and other graphics software. I am setting him up with a machine that should allow him to use PS without any slowing.

Current build here: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/ZPhkQ7

My question is, as far as Graphic Design performance is concerned, would a GPU with GDDR5 be any real difference compared to GDDR3, because I can get a 1GB GDDR3 for a much nicer price, and all I really need it for is posting a picture to two 1920 monitors.

The two graphics cards I was considering are:
GT610 1GB GDDR3 for $45.99
GT740 1GB GDDR5 for $94.99

I understand that the GT740 is more than twice as good as the GT610, but I am only concerned with whether or not the GT610 will bottleneck performance of Photoshop like software (not video editing).

 

[ZENprime]

Depends on what actual thing you are doing in photoshop some filters and features may require the help of a GPU to do it faster
Since this isn't "making a movie" so you would go with any modern GPU
When it comes to the Photo edit programs the most important thing to check in the GPU is Memory bandwidth & bus ( how fast the GPU is sending and receiving data from the memory chips )
The GT 740 has far better memory bandwidth & bigger bus meaning it will do filters and features faster than the GT610

HD 7750 should get you far better performance than the GT 740
HD 7750 1GB GDDR5 $79.99

If you want there is also a better card with 2GB GDDR5
R7 360 2GB GDDR5 $114.99

 

[ZENprime]

also you would need a pure sine wave UPS to work with an active PFC PSU

UPS of this line :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842102132

You would also be much better using this power supply
Seasoinc G-650 watt PSU
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seasonic-power-supply-ssr650rm

 

[nrylee]

Depends on what actual thing you are doing in photoshop some filters and features may require the help of a GPU to do it faster
Since this isn't "making a movie" so you would go with any modern GPU
When it comes to the Photo edit programs the most important thing to check in the GPU is Memory bandwidth & bus ( how fast the GPU is sending and receiving data from the memory chips )
The GT 740 has far better memory bandwidth & bigger bus meaning it will do filters and features faster than the GT610

HD 7750 should get you far better performance than the GT 740
HD 7750 1GB GDDR5 $79.99

If you want there is also a better card with 2GB GDDR5
R7 360 2GB GDDR5 $114.99

So I found a benchmark test for Photoshop CS6 filters that use the GPU (here). It is an older test, but it looks like the 7750 is a little less that 33% faster on average. Considering it's a little over 33% of the price, I will buy the cheaper GPU for now, and if in the future those filters become a performance bottleneck, I'll set him up with a GPU nicer than both of those.