Did you check the settings Chris mentioned? Your issue sounds like there might be a video card or driver issue, which can disable the GPU related features and give you a lesser version of the blur filters. See this link for some troubleshooting suggestions. See if issues with the video card have disabled - Edit>preferences>performance use graphics processor. Also check the advanced settings drawing modes. Be sure you have the current driver (system is updated and current on mac or go to the video manufacturer's website for pc) . That is often the cure.
You might want to copy your system information (photoshop help>system info) here for us to look at.
Pattie
