Lightroom

Processor

Selecting the right processor for Lightroom is critical as it uses both the number of processing cores and operating frequency of the processor for overall system performance. Lightroom takes advantage of multiple processor cores, but there is a diminishing performance increase per core after 8 cores. We recommend a 8 core processor for optimal performance.

Processors have base and turbo clock speeds. An example is a CPU model with 6 processing cores with a 3.8GHz base frequency and a 4.6GHz turbo frequency. If the system tasks are utilizing all 6 cores, the CPU will function at 3.8GHz. If the system is utilizing 1 core, the CPU will function at the 4.6GHz turbo. The CPU will function between 3.8GHz and 4.6GHz depending on the number of processing cores utilized. We recommend a 4GHz+ turbo frequency.

Intel offers the Core i7/i9 processors as the consumer series and the Xeon processors as the professional series. In the past, Xeon CPUs were more powerful than their Core-series counterparts. Today, however, there is little functional difference between the two Intel product families for workstations. Core-series processors, especially with the 'K' designation (e.g. the Core i7-14700K) have the highest clock speeds, while the Xeon models maximize the number of cores. Since Lightroom will effectively take advantage of limited cores, a Core-series CPU is perfectly fine. You can opt for a Xeon if you prefer to stick with enterprise-class components developed for 24/7 operation and intensive workloads.

Memory

The amount of RAM needed depends on the size and number of images you will be working with.

If your images are smaller, the minimum should be 16GB, but ideally 32GB RAM.

If your images are moderate size, 32GB RAM is most common.

If your images are larger and you have massive amounts of images, 64GB is recommended.

It's better to have ample memory than for your system to run out of memory causing bottleneck and lag; especially, if you have multiple projects or applications opened at the same time.

Graphics

As technology advances, applications progressively increase graphics card acceleration. Lightroom achieves the largest boost in performance from the processor and the demand on the graphics card is relatively light, so even a mid-range graphics card will be adequate. We recommend at least 8GB VRAM for signifcant raw performance and powering multiple 4K monitors.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 16GB (highest performance)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 12GB (most popular)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB

Storage

We recommend a NVMe SSD for the operating system, applications and project files. 1TB is the most common capacity for Lightroom workstations. A 500GB is fine if your projects are moderately sized and the workstation is utilized for basic function work purposes. A 2TB is recommended if your projects are large and you will you will use the workstation for a variety of professional applications.

If your projects are complex, are running multiple applications as the same time, and you want to maximize performance, we recommend two SSDs:

1. Primary NVMe SSD: operating system and applications
2. Secondary NVMe SSD: dedicated to active projects

For storage or backup, we recommend a SATA SSD or Hard Drive.

M.2 NVMe Gen4 SSD performs at ~5,000MB/s
2.5-inch SATA SSD performs at ~500MB/s
3.5-inch SATA Hard Drive performs at ~250MB/s