Want to make sure you have the right device to run Adobe Photoshop? Or maybe you are about to buy a computer and need to make sure the specifications for the graphics editor software are right. No matter the situation, this article should be your guide.

Adobe Photoshop System Requirements

According to Adobe’s official sources, here are the minimum and recommended system requirements for Photoshop on both PC and MacOS:

Windows System Requirements for Adobe Photoshop

If you are using a PC with the Windows operating system, here are the system requirements for Photoshop version 26.0 and later:

Minimum System Requirements

• Processor: Intel, AMD, or WinARM with 64-bit support, 2 GHz or faster 
• Operating system: Windows 10; Windows 11
• RAM: 8 GB
• Graphics: DirectX 12 support with 1.5 GB of GPU memory
• Video RAM (VRAM): 1.5 GB
• Monitor: 1280 x 800 resolution
• Hard disk space: 10 GB

These are the minimum specifications required to run Photoshop on your PC. While you may not be able to do the most extreme editing tasks, these should be enough to get started and learn Photoshop. 

Recommended System Requirements

• Processor: Intel, AMD, or WinARM with 64-bit support, 2 GHz or faster 
• Operating system: Windows 10; Windows 11
• RAM: 16 GB
• Graphics: DirectX 12 support with 4 GB of GPU memory
• Video RAM (VRAM): 2 GB
• Monitor: 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Hard disk space: 100 GB

If you are looking for a device that can run advanced levels of editing operations on Photoshop, then these are the specifications to go for.

macOS System Requirements for Adobe Photoshop

Apple users running the macOS operating system should follow these system requirements:

Minimum System Requirements

• Processor: Intel or Apple Silicone with 64-bit support, 2 GHz or faster 
• Operating system: macOS v12, v13, v14, v15
• RAM: 8 GB
• Graphics: DirectX 12 support with Metal
• Video RAM (VRAM): 1.5 GB
• Monitor: 1024 x 786 resolution
• Hard disk space: 10 GB+

Recommended System Requirements

• Processor: ARM-based Apple Silicone
• Operating system: macOS Sonoma (version 14.6.1)
• RAM: 16 GB
• Graphics: DirectX 12 support with Metal
• Video RAM (VRAM): 1.5 GB
• Monitor: 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Hard disk space: 100 GB

Best Setup Options for Different User Needs

When choosing the right setup for Photoshop, your hardware requirements will largely depend on how you plan to use the software. Below are tailored recommendations for beginners, intermediate users, and professionals to help you invest in the right system based on your workload.

For Beginners/Light Users

If you’re just starting with Photoshop or only using it for basic photo editing tasks, you don’t need a high-end system. In fact, you don’t even need a dedicated graphics card. Instead, focus on affordability while ensuring smooth operation.

Key Components to Prioritise

• RAM: At least 8 GB of RAM
• Storage: A 256 GB SSD for fast boot times and loading Photoshop, alongside an additional HDD, if you need extra storage for files.
• Processor (CPU): Dual-core processor with at least 2 GHz speed. Examples: Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3.
• Graphics (GPU): Integrated graphics like Intel UHD Graphics or AMD Radeon Vega 

Example Setup

• Intel Core i3 (10th Gen) or AMD Ryzen 3 processor
• 8 GB RAM
• 256 GB SSD (or 1 TB HDD + 128 GB SSD)
• Integrated graphics

For Intermediate Users

A mid-range system is ideal for hobbyists, small business owners, or content creators who work on more complex tasks. Therefore, if you already have a good idea of how to work with Photoshop, you may want to level up to the “intermediate” status. With the following specs, you can do more with Photoshop, such as creating marketing materials, designing social media graphics, or editing larger image files.

Key Components to Prioritise

• RAM: 16 GB of RAM 
• Storage: A combination of a 512 GB SSD and a secondary HDD (1 TB) o
• Processor (CPU): Quad-core processor such as an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 
• Graphics (GPU): Dedicated GPU with at least 2-4 GB VRAM (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon RX 5500)

Example Setup

• Intel Core i5 (12th Gen) or AMD Ryzen 5
• 16 GB RAM
• 512 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or equivalent

For Professionals

Professional photographers, graphic designers, and video editors require a system that can handle demanding tasks. Advanced Photoshop tasks include editing large RAW files, working with extensive layers, and applying resource-intensive filters and effects. High performance is non-negotiable.

Key Components to Prioritise

• RAM: A minimum of 32 GB of RAM
• Storage: High-capacity SSD (1 TB or more) 
• Processor (CPU): Powerful multi-core processor, such as an Intel Core i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9
• Graphics (GPU): High-end dedicated GPU like the NVIDIA RTX 3060/3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6800

Example Setup

• Intel Core i7 (13th Gen) or AMD Ryzen 7
• 32 GB or 64 GB RAM
• 1 TB SSD + additional external SSD/HDD
• NVIDIA RTX 3060 or equivalent

If you have the right device to run Photoshop, why not start learning? Sikkhon’s well-crafted courses provided by Photoshop experts can be your gateway to a graphic design career.