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Forum Thread
New computer specs: Can dedicated GPU RAM make up for less system RAM?
January 8, 2021 at
06:35 AM
I know just enough tech to not know what I'm doing. I currently have a laptop with an i7-7700HQ, 12GB of RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce 1050 graphics (and an SSD). Performance is very good for my needs, but I broke the case and need to buy something new.
I'm looking at a laptop with an i-7 9750H 6-core with 8GB of system RAM and an NVIDIA 1650 with 4GB of dedicated RAM. It's got a 4K OLED screen and an SSD with 32GB Intel Optane.
I am the type of person who literally has 4 different browsers open (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera as I type this) with around 200 tabs open at a time (bad habit, but #thisisme). My current machine handles all that with PowerDirector open at the same time to edit a video (just light video editing, but I do hope to be able to render an hour-long video a bit faster than it currently happens).
Am I taking a step down with the new computer? Essentially, will I be OK stepping down from 12GB to 8GB given the step up to a 6-core processor and the 4GB of dedicated graphics RAM?
I don't game if that makes a difference. 200 tabs and the ability to do light video editing in 1080p are my main concerns.
Thoughts?
I'm looking at a laptop with an i-7 9750H 6-core with 8GB of system RAM and an NVIDIA 1650 with 4GB of dedicated RAM. It's got a 4K OLED screen and an SSD with 32GB Intel Optane.
I am the type of person who literally has 4 different browsers open (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera as I type this) with around 200 tabs open at a time (bad habit, but #thisisme). My current machine handles all that with PowerDirector open at the same time to edit a video (just light video editing, but I do hope to be able to render an hour-long video a bit faster than it currently happens).
Am I taking a step down with the new computer? Essentially, will I be OK stepping down from 12GB to 8GB given the step up to a 6-core processor and the 4GB of dedicated graphics RAM?
I don't game if that makes a difference. 200 tabs and the ability to do light video editing in 1080p are my main concerns.
Thoughts?
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However, I would recommend 16gb RAM unless you use something like the great suspender [google.com] for each browser. That 8gb will get used up fairly quickly - BUT, depending on the laptop, you could get one with 8gb and upgrade it to 16gb.
There have been quite a few good deals on laptops lately, so hopefully you are getting one for a good deal. Also, the new 11th gen intel chips and 3rd gen Ryzen built-in graphics are much better than previous generations. It's possible you don't need a laptop with a dedicated GPU. I use an 11th gen Intel and 3rd Gen Ryzen with built in graphics for similar work as you and they both handle things great. I don't game on computers. A dedicated GPU may help with video encoding depending on what software you are using. Intel's Quick Sync is quite good though.
YMMY on this.
Thoughts?
However, I would recommend 16gb RAM unless you use something like the great suspender [google.com] for each browser. That 8gb will get used up fairly quickly - BUT, depending on the laptop, you could get one with 8gb and upgrade it to 16gb.
There have been quite a few good deals on laptops lately, so hopefully you are getting one for a good deal. Also, the new 11th gen intel chips and 3rd gen Ryzen built-in graphics are much better than previous generations. It's possible you don't need a laptop with a dedicated GPU. I use an 11th gen Intel and 3rd Gen Ryzen with built in graphics for similar work as you and they both handle things great. I don't game on computers. A dedicated GPU may help with video encoding depending on what software you are using. Intel's Quick Sync is quite good though.
I'm not getting the world's greatest deal from a dollars-per-spec perspective, but a combination of factors limit my choices:
I have only considered i7 processors (I'm not sure I need 6 cores as my current quad-core seems to handle everything I need, but 6 sounds better than 4 I guess? I know nothing about AMD apart from name recognition, so I haven't even considered something with a Ryzen chip). I've only considered machines with dedicated graphics with my thought being that my current laptop with its quad-core i7 (albeit several generations old) and NVIDIA 1050 takes an hour and a half or two hours to render an hourlong video at 720p (more like 2.5hrs at 1080p), so I've not assumed that integrated graphics would work for me (though I see that there is a lot of hubbub from Intel about the Iris Plus Xe graphics with the 11th gen i7 is supposed to be nearly as good as dedicated graphics).
I've basically narrowed my search to HP Spectres. The Dell XPS 15 doesn't have a number pad and I'm not particularly excited about the Inspiron line (partly personal preference and partly not been thrilled with past Dells). I'd theoretically be good with an Asus Zenbook of some sort also (and in fact like the light form factor), but I've eliminated a number of the Zenbook deals I've seen because they have the 11th gen chip with integrated graphics. Is it a mistake to go with a 9th gen i7 with 8GB of RAM and the 1650 with 4GB dedicated over an 11th gen i7 with integrated graphics?
This is the machine I've got out for delivery today:
https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp...5-df1047nr
I paid a little over $1200 before tax. I actually tried to cancel the order (long story) but it got shipped anyway. Debating whether to keep it or not. I don't necessarily need the new laptop today, but I'm struggling with the thought of waiting a month (which is what I'd need to do if I configure a new HP Spectre myself with 16GB of RAM). The RAM is soldered in the Spectre above unfortunately, so no expansion. If that were an option, I wouldn't even ask here (or I would, but it would be a question related to how to open the case and add the other 8GB of RAM :-).
Assuming this is a windows machine, you will survive on 8gb of ram and with the SSD probably not feel any performance downgrade.
200 tabs? Not sure how much resources that would swallow, but sounds extreme to me. No way to really know if 8 is enough as I'm sure every tab could consume a different number. Check your processes and performance sections in task manager when you have enough tabs open to see what it looks like. You are just reaching for an answer without enough details so any guess is going to sound good. If there are no budget or other reasons to limit the ram, try to future-proof your system if you plan on keeping it for a while.
I'm not getting the world's greatest deal from a dollars-per-spec perspective, but a combination . . . .
This is the machine I've got out for delivery today:
https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp...5-df1047nr [hp.com]
I paid a little over $1200 before tax. I actually tried to cancel the order (long story) but it got shipped anyway. Debating whether to keep it or not. I don't necessarily need the new laptop today, but I'm struggling with the thought of waiting a month (which is what I'd need to do if I configure a new HP Spectre myself with 16GB of RAM). The RAM is soldered in the Spectre above unfortunately, so no expansion. If that were an option, I wouldn't even ask here (or I would, but it would be a question related to how to open the case and add the other 8GB of RAM :-).
That said, you already ordered it... I suppose you could meet the driver and refuse delivery.
I have no way to verify this as I do not have that specific computer.
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That said, you already ordered it... I suppose you could meet the driver and refuse delivery.
Anyway, I just checked out that Great Suspender that you linked to and it actually sounds like that would be really helpful for me with whatever laptop I buy. Thanks for that!
Anyway, I just checked out that Great Suspender that you linked to and it actually sounds like that would be really helpful for me with whatever laptop I buy. Thanks for that!
I have no way to verify this as I do not have that specific computer.
You know far more about this than I do (I upgraded RAM in desktops in like the late 90's and haven't ever taken apart a laptop): when it says it is not user accessible, am I not going to be able to get the tools I need to do the job myself? I always figure I can follow a Youtube video. Maybe I should check for one of those right now....thanks again!
You know far more about this than I do (I upgraded RAM in desktops in like the late 90's and haven't ever taken apart a laptop): when it says it is not user accessible, am I not going to be able to get the tools I need to do the job myself? I always figure I can follow a Youtube video. Maybe I should check for one of those right now....thanks again!
Based on your requirements you should definitely be looking for something with 16+GB RAM and not worrying about the GPU at all.