What should i go for- more RAM or better CPU?

angelikakl · March 26, 2019, 4:16pm

Hi guys!
So I reeeeally need your help. I just don’t know what to do anymore- or what to choose.
I’m currently loooking for a convertible laptop/tablet-thing. I have a powerful workstation at home, which handles everything I need super nicely. So I really don’t need a 2000€ “best on the market” device. It’s more for travelling and be able to work on the sofa, or outsiede, etc…because I really suffer from ‘I just can’t sit at my desk any longer- I’m going crazy’.

But of course, it’s a lot of money and I want to be able to use it for as long as possible. And we all know, how fast technology gets outdated.
I’m down to two models now. It’s Lenovo Yoga 720 vs. Acer Spin 5.
In the end it comes down to the question: what is a little more important - CPU or RAM. And that’s why I’m here.
In the Lenovo (1000€) I only have a i5-7300HQ and 8GB RAM - BUT I can upgrade to 16GB if I need to. (This one I already tested with zbrush for an hour and it was quite okay)
The Acer (1300€) has a i7-8550U and also 8GB RAM - but I can’t upgrade
So again it comes down to: better CPU or (eventually) more RAM?
I would pay 300€ more if necessary (the Acer has also a ton of more storage and better ports) BUT then I’m limited to 8GB of RAM. So I relly don’t know what to do anymore.
I mostly want to use it for Zbrush and Photoshop for my 2d stuff. It would be nice if I could use Substance Painter a bit- for the rest I’m going to stick with my desktop Pc.

I appreciate every advice or more information (I’m not that into all the technical stuff).
Huge thanks in advance for every input!

carruter · March 26, 2019, 7:55pm

More RAM means better performance. 16gb is overkill these days.

aurick · March 26, 2019, 7:55pm

When it comes to ZBrush, RAM influences how many polygons a SubTool can have and speeds up switching between SubTools. But since the maximum number of polygons per SubTool is 100 million (and the maximum data that even an 8K map can hold is 64 million points) there’s a clear point of diminishing returns here.

CPU influences how smoothly you interact with the mesh as you are sculpting. So the better your CPU, the better your sculpting experience will be as you increase the polygon count. Here, more cores is typically better than faster core speed. An easy way to compare processors is to take the speed and multiply it by the number of cores. Doing this for each CPU will give you a value that you can compare. That with the highest score, wins. This means that a 6 core CPU at 2.5 GHz would have a score of 15 while a 4 core CPU at 3 GHz would only have a score of 12. The former edges out the latter even though each core is slower.

I hope that helps!

djnumberone · March 26, 2019, 7:56pm

I think more RAM.

guysmileylv · March 26, 2019, 7:56pm

I have a 6850 with 64gb (up to 128 if I want to). Just need to buy a 1080ti have a 1060 with 3 gigs of vmem. 3 copies of maya and 2 copies of Zbrush open at only 4gb mem used. But if you’re using both ps and Ai along with everything else. 16gb of memory is not overkill. The guy who said that is probably just reading emails and browsing the web.
I built my system for 2k. My system is over the Mac server trash can that runs at 8k for the base model with that 32gb of memory. don’t get me wrong I don’t mind Apple but I will only buy them for a laptop.

cgiink · March 26, 2019, 8:06pm

Thanks Aurik. Upgrading to 2950X

dddstudio · March 26, 2019, 8:07pm

Is a faster CPU helps with the noticeable slowdown that occurs when the tool fills the viewport? I’m not working with really high poly meshes, but even sub-1million poly tools start to chug a bit when I zoom in. When I zoom out a bit all is fine and smooth. I have an i5 processor, so I wonder if getting more cores would result in a more smoother viewport navigation. Or is it only helpful for the actual sculpting?

cgiink · March 26, 2019, 8:07pm

According to Aurik:
Quote:
"When it comes to ZBrush, RAM influences how many polygons a SubTool can have and speeds up switching between SubTools. But since the maximum number of polygons per SubTool is 100 million (and the maximum data that even an 8K map can hold is 64 million points) there’s a clear point of diminishing returns here.

CPU influences how smoothly you interact with the mesh as you are sculpting. So the better your CPU, the better your sculpting experience will be as you increase the polygon count. Here, more cores is typically better than faster core speed. An easy way to compare processors is to take the speed and multiply it by the number of cores. Doing this for each CPU will give you a value that you can compare. That with the highest score, wins. This means that a 6 core CPU at 2.5 GHz would have a score of 15 while a 4 core CPU at 3 GHz would only have a score of 12. The former edges out the latter even though each core is slower.

I hope that helps!"

Brek · March 26, 2019, 8:10pm

Good call, a superb CPU and supports 4 channel memory so you should have no issues running big sculpts in Zbrush. I am currently running Zbrush on an 8 core ryzen 1700x with 64 gb ram. That also works well. I am debating next upgrade which is budget constrained, torn between the ryzen 9 recently leaked (higher clock rate but limited to 64gb ram) or 1950 and the better memory performance of four channel ram with possibility when funds allow to go to 128gb ram. Reason for so much ram? houdini sims…