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Need more RAM but can only choose between laptop or desktop

Tags:
  • Desktops
  • Autodesk
  • Mobile
  • RAM
  • CPUs
  • Laptops
  • Windows
  • Windows 8
  • Memory
  • Memory Upgrade
  • Memory Management

Which system should I upgrade to 16GB of RAM?

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October 13, 2014 6:08:35 PM

Hey, thanks to everyone who reads.

I have recently started teaching myself 3D modeling with a student license of Autodesk Maya using the tutorial provided by Autodesk here: http://docs.autodesk.com/MAYAUL/2015/ENU/GettingStarted...!/url=./files/landing_page.htm ... So far I enjoy it a lot, enough to invest money into new hardware for it.

My dilemma is that I know I need at least 16 GB of RAM to do the size of projects I want to, but my hardware...

Desktop: Intel Core i3 4330 @ 3.5GHz (2 cores 4 threads); 8GB 2400MHz CL10
Laptop: (Lenovo Y500) Intel Core i7 3630QM @ 2.4GHz forcible sustained 3.2GHz (4 cores 8 threads); 8 GB 1600MHz CL9

Which system should I upgrade to 16GB? Do I need to upgrade the desktop CPU to run more threads? Does Maya use more than one thread? If so, would the 3630QM run Maya better than the 4330?

Is there a way to stop Windows from hoarding memory even after I close Maya? If I can, what would I need to change in Windows for my specific memory management needs?

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The main reason I ask is because I am trying to do what's going to be cheaper in terms of still achieving acceptable performance.

Type of projects: indie game development (shading, animation, modeling, rendering, etc), portfolio assets, and future larger projects.

The system does become very slow and frustrating at times when the RAM becomes full, which is even more aggravating by the fact that in order to clear the memory (eg. from 7.1GB full to 2GB full) I have to restart Windows.

The laptop does get used more since I spend more time at school and away from home and it is where I currently work from.

Lastly I acknowledge that a desktop is THE ideal solution for this type of application, so if anybody feels the need for attempting to remind me of that, go troll somewhere else, this is a genuine question about how someone can do the most with what little resources they have that may very well help other forum users in the future.

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