Question about laptops and graphics cards

TG.

TG.

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I was wondering if it is possible to fit a laptop with a dedicated graphics card, for better photo and video editing, if so is it really worth the expense, many thanks for your feedback.
 
i'm sure it's possible as i'm sure i have seen laptops with them - i think the http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/ has but not sure about windows based laptops. to get one installed might be costly so the best advice is to enquire at your local computer store - and i'm not talking pc world here.
 
You can buy laptops with suitably powerful GPUs rather than on-board graphics and you'll find them ranging in price according to the overall specification of the machine itself. But the power of the graphics card won't really matter that much when it comes to editing images as it's only Photoshop CS4 that has the GPU Acceleration feature which utilises Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0.

So unless you're using CS4 it won't really matter. Any half-decent GPU will suffice. What's more important is the speed of the CPU, the amount of RAM it's running, the speed of the hard-drive and, most crucially, the quality of the display.

As for video editing, I only know that After Effects CS4 and Premiere Pro CS4 have the GPU Acceleration feature and very little about video editing software in general. I'd imagine someone more knowledgeable would be able to answer your question.
 
You can't upgrade the GPU on a laptop. One of the biggest downfalls.

with video and photo editing, CPU speed and memory will affect execution speeds. In windows you can run performance test from admin tools found in control panel. You'll need to select CPU utilisation and free memory. Once you've set that up, run your video or image editing software and the performance monitor will tell you what the bottleneck is.

But if it's down to CPU, it'll be too pricey to upgrade if you can, but memory for laptops isn't too expensive.
 
Ok thank you all for taking the time to answer my question, the laptop i have is this one HERE perhaps you could let me have your thoughts on it, i just wanted it for holidays really (hence the screen size) as i use my PC for most of my photo processing, but i will be using CS3 on it, thanks again :thumbs:
 
Seems like a tidy little package with decent specs. It wouldn't be the ideal choice for your main computer but for its intended usage it will be more than adequate.
 
That is a decent laptop TG, it shouldn't struggle too much.

Being a tosh you may find there're a lot of apps running in the background. If the performance is slow, then try to stop them from running one by one.

Also if virus scans or windows defender are scanning during editing then stop them or wait until they have finished.
 
Thanks again guys very helpful info :thumbs:


Jonno_dudley said:
Being a tosh you may find there're a lot of apps running in the background. If the performance is slow, then try to stop them from running one by one.
Click to expand...

Jonno I've heard the above mentioned before, could you please explain how to do it, sorry for the numpty question but i wouldn't describe myself as technically minded :D many thanks again.
 
Look at

http://www.blackviper.com/

to see what you can shut.

also run msconfig to see what you can shut down on start up apps.
 
PsiFox said:
Look at

http://www.blackviper.com/

to see what you can shut.

also run msconfig to see what you can shut down on start up apps.
Click to expand...

Can't see anything on there relating to my question, could you please point me to where i should be looking, many thanks :thumbs:
 
click the start button, select run from the drop down menu then type msconfig in the box and click ok :)
 
wack61 said:
click the start button, select run from the drop down menu then type msconfig in the box and click ok :)
Click to expand...

Thanks wack61, will this then tell me what i can shut down on start up, or is it just a case of working it out myself as i don't want to make a balls up of it ;)
 
TG. said:
Can't see anything on there relating to my question, could you please point me to where i should be looking, many thanks :thumbs:
Click to expand...


Look for these

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Service Configurations ~ Updated: December 25, 2008

Windows XP x86 (32-bit) Service Pack 3 Service Configurations ~ Updated: December 2, 2008

Windows XP x64 (64-bit) Service Pack 2 Service Configurations ~ Updated: December 2, 2008

Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 Service Configurations ~ Updated: October 24, 2008
Click to expand...



They are links on the original.

Choose the one that fits your OS and folow the page down to where it describes each individual service so you can decide whether to stop it or not.
 
TG. said:
Thanks wack61, will this then tell me what i can shut down on start up, or is it just a case of working it out myself as i don't want to make a balls up of it ;)
Click to expand...

like above if you click start and then run (if run is not present on your start menu then Right click your start button and choose properties. Then choose customise next to the start button option. Scroll down the list of available add-ons for the start button until you find 'run command'. tick the box and click ok, then ok again). From run type in msconfig as previously mentioned by another user. In vista click continue on the UAC admin box. then in the system configuration click on the tab startup. This will list all the programs that execute on boot up. By unticking a program and then restart the program will not run. Obviously be a little vigilant, as you don't want to stop something that may be of some importance. Best way is to google the startup program name or path. That way you'll be able to find out if it's important or not. Hope that helps:)
 
Jonno_dudley said:
You can't upgrade the GPU on a laptop. One of the biggest downfalls.
Click to expand...

Not always the case. It depends on the laptop. Most are limited because they use a integrated cards (chip on the mobo), but there are 'proper' graphics cards for laptops. Ati and Nvidea both supply them. Some of the Dell range use them and they can be upgraded. Dell and Alienware offered a DUAL 8800GTX as an aftermarket upgrade.

There are also external gfx cards that use the PCCard slot, Although I've never seen one in real life I've read reviews.

I'll agree that it is probably not cost effective, but it can be done.

I've upgraded CPUs in laptops without problems.
 
A separate graphics card will improve 3D rendering and processing, while photo and video processing is almost completely processor-dependant (Photoshop CS4 can use the GPU though).

To improve a laptop, I'd suggest more RAM in the first instance...(is it a laptop you already own, or are you thinking about buying one?)
 
Thanks again for all your help and feedback guys,very much appreciated :thumbs: :thumbs:
 
reddeathdrinker said:
I'd suggest more RAM in the first instance...(is it a laptop you already own, or are you thinking about buying one?)
Click to expand...


It,s one i own linked to in post 5, it has 3GB RAM which seems to be running fine at the moment so not sure if i will put anymore in just yet :)
 
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