GPU VRAM v SSD

[ajhmartin903]

I am considering two laptops of similar spec.

One has a Nvidia GTX 980M 8GB card, with a 250GB SSD drive with 540mbs read, 520mbs write.

The other has a Nvidia GTX 980M 4GB card, with a 250GB SSD drive with 1600mbs read, 1130mbs write.

Which would be more suited to gaming? I've heard many arguments that the VRAM on a GPU is largely irrelevant (at least currently) beyond 4GB, but would you rather the 8GB card, or the faster SSD drive?

 

[13thmonkey]

you'll notice next to nothing in terms of day to day usage between either of those.

 

[greens]

SATA 6Gb/s port, can reach up to 550/520MB/s sequential read and sequential write speed rates respectively.

Something is wrong with the numbers on your SSD, go with the 8GB Vram.

 

[theyeti87]

Is there a specification as to which solid state drives are installed in these laptops? Brand and model? Those are notable differences in read/write.

My gut instinct leans toward the 4GB model. The extra vram would be more beneficial in a desktop setting in my opinion. Laptops aren't where you push the envelope in terms of gaming performance.

What kinds of games are you looking to run on this machine?

 

[ajhmartin903]

Maybe I've misunderstood the specs, but the 540ms read, 520mbs write was a Samsung 850 Evo. The faster SSD was a Samsung SM951.

 

[ajhmartin903]

As for games, the likes of Skyrim on Ultra will probably be the cream of the crop (although in time I'll play more demanding things I imagine). Ideally I'd prefer to build a desktop pc, but it's just not an option in my house as I have no desk whatsoever to put a monitor/keyboard/anything else on.

 

[theyeti87]

Honestly, with that information I'd just go with the cheaper of the two, if the specs are otherwise the same (minus the SSD and GPU).

 

[13thmonkey]

it'll be an M2 socket SSD