Does the video card on my iMac affect my Adobe Programs? I'm having problems...

Mauiloving wrote:

It's running the same version of OS now as it was when she bought it last week, 10.12.4, which is the newest version of Sierra, right?

I have noticed that the newest versions of OS are usually glitchy too. It's possible that Adobe has some updating to do?

I have no idea.

The video card is the weakest link in the model iMac you sold AND for serious video work, that iMac REALLY should have had an i7 CPU, too!

It's possible that Adobe has some updating to do

Well, if the requirements are 1 GB VRAM and yours has 512 MB, then updating isn't going to solve the problem. However, updating may take care of other glitches or misbehavior. You might want to suggest that she inquire at the Adobe forums about the requirements for the specific apps she wants to use.

Also a few other video editors

HITFILM free/HITFILM PRO

I use the free version of HITFILM on OS X 10.11.6 El Capitán, but to get a lot more special effects and other higher end, pro video/audio editing features, you need to purchase the $350 Pro version.

Wondershare Filmora Video Editor for Mac

She needs a better spec'd video card.

No way to upgrade the video card/chip in that year and model iMac!

None.

I suspect that video chip is soldered in and NOT removable!

You cannot upgrade that GPU chip on that model iMac.

Apple stopped making even the remote possiibility of upgrading the GPU in iMacs after 2011.

The only way to get a better GPU in that iMac is to sell it and purchase a better spec'd iMac, used OR new!

Bottom line she is stuck with the 512 VRAM GPU.

Hey, she may get Adobe Premiere to work with it? You never know.

She will have to ask for advice on how to get this iMac to work in the Adobe Premiere forums.

Maybe there is some sort of workaround for using a computer with lesser GPU hardware.

I edit video using an older version of iMovie (iMovie '06 HD) and Final Cut Express with a lesser GPU than she has in that iMac.

My 2009 iMac only has a 256 MBs VRAM GPU!

This is why I gave you a list of alternatives than sticking with Adobe if Adobe CC apps are going to cause her issues.

Does she have to use Adobe apps exclusively for her work/workflows?

If yes, then she needs to do her own research to figure out if how to get these problem Adobe apps to work.

Was this iMac sold to somebody, some stranger online/eBay?

OR

If this is someone you know that you just recently sold this iMac to and it isn't working out, you can't refund her money and take this iMac back?

This seems as if this person bought this iMac NOT knowing everything she needed to know before purchasing this from you.

Just sayin'

Then YOU are not responsible!

She is on her own, now!

She owns this iMac, now!

This Mac is her problem and NOT yours!

If she didn't tell you anything about why she needed YOUR iMac and you put in the Craigslist ad everything about the specs of this iMac and that the sale is final, then this is NOT your problem to help solve, any longer!

I appreciate what you hav been trying to do to help this woman, but if she understood the terms of the sale, then, this is now squarely out of your hands.

If this iMac isn't going to work out for her, if the can't get Adobe CC to work, her other options are to go online to Amazon.com and see if she can get lucky with finding some full version of either CS5 or early CS6 to purchase and install on that Mac OS version

OR

She needs to wipe the iMac, boot into OS X recovery mode to install the original Mac OS X that came with that model iMac and, again, find an older FULL version of Adobe CS apps that isn't too expensive, like a full version of Adobe CS3, CS4 or CS5 and run this from an older version OS X.

OR forget trying all of this and simply sell this iMac herself, on her own and use the proceeds to purchase a better spec'd iMac that meets her needs!

At this point, none of this is your responsibility, any longer.

She purchased a Mac that didn't meet the requirements she needed for the software she wants to use.

If she downgrades the OS on that iMac back to OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, and/or has an Official Apple Store location install OS X 10.9.5 Mavericks, she can run Adobe CS3 or CS4 or CS5, I believe.

Older Adobe apps with lesser system requirements.

She would have to look on Amazon.com for the older Adobe apps/suites she would need.

I run both Adobe CS3 and CS4 Design Premium (No Adobe Premiere) on both OS X 10.8.5 Mountain Lion and OS X 10.9.5 Mavericks.

If she didn't want to sell this iMac, herself, this is her only other option.

The Apple Product Community Forums are always available to you to get help and ask questions.

We all try to be as professional as possible and to be good user representatives for Apple.

The wealth of product knowledge, here in these Apple technical forums, from many long-time volunteer community members, like myself, is vast and always free.

Many smarter, and gernerallly, wiser volunteer community members here, other than myself, and you'll, generally, get fairly immediate responses to any Apple product issues or questions you may have and post here.

Good Luck to you!

Be Well...stay well!

Michel

Well,

Since you haven't responded here and I haven't seen any direct email from you just to confirm you sent out my correct address, I guess I was right, all along, and don't need my help or assistance, after all!

Hi!

It's the graphics card/video card, it's not fast enough

Run Etrechack, then paste the output in a reply here.