Faster SSD or add Ram to already 16G to Get the most of 4k screen for gaming

joeyb649

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Jan 15, 2013
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10,580
Hello everyone, first I would like to say thank you in advance. I AM computer literate, however this is my first laptop (only built gaming PCs before.)-- Actually just found out couldn't replace graphics card or anything else isn't replaceable in my laptop as well besides ram and SSD as far as it being worth it from what i'm told.

So, TBH my above rant was my questions I have the attached specifications on my 4K lenovo laptop in which I play games like Skyirm and The Whitcher III.. which is great but I never can run them on 4k. Let alone get above medium graphics at 1920 x 1200 ( a little over full 1080p.)

So having found out changing graphics card (solder) is probably a no go. Can I up the speed of SSD or is it fast enough I never really could find out "speeds" of SSDs. or Upgrade the ram to 32gb's would this help. I just don't get it I knew this was a high end laptop. Maybe just not high enough for 4k gameplay.

Please Advise.

ProcessorIntel Core i7-4710HQ 2.5 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapterNVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M - 4096 MB, Core: 1097-1176 MHz, Memory: 1253 MHz, GDDR5, ForceWare 352.86 (9.18.13.5286), Optimus
Memory16384 MB
, DDR3-1600, dual-channel, two memory banks (both filled)
Display15.6 inch 16:9, 3840x2160 pixel, Samsung L FLLTN156FL02L01, IPS, glossy: yes (Just says 256gb SSD)
 
Solution
Dedicated GPUs like the GTX 960m have their own dedicated VRAM (Video RAM). They will never use system RAM. However, it is not the amount of VRAM that limits the GTX 960m; it is the fact that the GTX 960m is not a very powerful GPU for games. Before the release of nVidia's Pascal generation GPUs like the GTX 1060, most gamers would tell you that if you are going to buy a gaming laptop, then the minimum GPU you should consider is the GTX 960m. "Minimum" does not cover 4k resolution or ultra settings.

Nowadays, gamers would tell you to try to get a laptop with the GTX 1060 which is basically slightly better than the GTX 980m if you can afford it.

If you want better performance than the GTX 960m can provide, then the only real solution...

joeyb649

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Jan 15, 2013
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10,580
https://gyazo.com/09beece2c7a7f851be425d1bceb6f390

[Display]
Operating System: Windows 10 Home, 64-bit
DirectX version: 12.0
GPU processor: GeForce GTX 860M
Driver version: 368.81
Direct3D API version: 12
Direct3D feature level: 11_0
CUDA Cores: 640
Core clock: 1019 MHz
Memory data rate: 5010 MHz
Memory interface: 128-bit
Memory bandwidth: 80.16 GB/s
Total available graphics memory: 10196 MB
Dedicated video memory: 2048 MB GDDR5
System video memory: 0 MB
Shared system memory: 8148 MB
Video BIOS version: 82.07.34.00.08
IRQ: Not used
Bus: PCI Express x16 Gen3
Device Id: 10DE 1392 397817AA
Part Number: 2704 0010
 

joeyb649

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Jan 15, 2013
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Okay, well at least I know this is normal. How are SSD's measured never really see a spec like Ghz for cpu etc.. (I know comparing apples & oranges)

So, i'm out of luck just use 4k for movies? Can I speed up my games at all adding some ram maybe 16gbs or a Faster SSD... again IDK how i qualify a faster one however mine is filling up ass it is, so that may need to happen anyway. Thank you for your time btw.
 


No. 1920 x 1080 (1080p) is exactly half the resolution of 3840 x 2160. 1920 x 1200 would screw up the aspect ratio.
 

ShadyHamster

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Jan 3, 2012
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18,610
3840 x 2160 is 16:9 ratio the same as 1920 x 1080.
1920 x 1200 is 16:10.

SDD speeds are measured in MB/s (Megabytes) and IOPs much like a HDD.
A regular HDD usually caps out around 200MB/s, where as most SSDs cap out around the 500-550MB/s, PCI-e based SSDs are even faster.
Adding another SSD or upgrading is only going to give you extra space since you already have an SSD.
SSDs really only effect boot times of windows and games, not FPS.

Anther 16GB of ram is only going to give you more since 16GB is already plenty for gaming.
 
More system RAM will not improve frame rates.

A SSD will not improve overall frame rates, but if you are playing an open world game, then the SSD can reduce load times / minor pauses when additional parts of the game world is loaded into memory.

If you are experiencing texture pops caused by the GPU waiting for large textures to be loaded into VRAM, then a SSD can minimize or eliminate this type of problem.


The GTX 960m is not really appropriate to play games at 4k resolution. Compared to a desktop GPU it is less powerful than a GTX 950. In order to play games on a laptop at 4k resolution you would need at least a GTX 1070. However, even the GTX 1070 will only be able to provide around 35 FPS at 4k using high quality graphics in the Witcher 3. A GTX 1080 would be able to provide about 50 FPS.

 

joeyb649

Honorable
Jan 15, 2013
26
0
10,580
Thank you everyone! So, wuld it be worth it at all for just a "performance upgrade" maybe not higher resolutions but, i'll just run at 1080p (1920 x 1080), and possibly go to ultra graphics.... but your saying faster SSD or 16 + G ram won't help. Even for better graphics quality like "ultra" not just higher FPS.
 
Dedicated GPUs like the GTX 960m have their own dedicated VRAM (Video RAM). They will never use system RAM. However, it is not the amount of VRAM that limits the GTX 960m; it is the fact that the GTX 960m is not a very powerful GPU for games. Before the release of nVidia's Pascal generation GPUs like the GTX 1060, most gamers would tell you that if you are going to buy a gaming laptop, then the minimum GPU you should consider is the GTX 960m. "Minimum" does not cover 4k resolution or ultra settings.

Nowadays, gamers would tell you to try to get a laptop with the GTX 1060 which is basically slightly better than the GTX 980m if you can afford it.

If you want better performance than the GTX 960m can provide, then the only real solution is to return the laptop and increase your budget so that you can buy a laptop with a more powerful GPU. The GTX 960m cannot handle Witcher 3 @ 1080p using high quality graphics very well; average FPS would be between 19 FPS and 27 FPS depending on the specific laptop tested according to game benchmarks from NotebookCheck in the following link.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-960M.138006.0.html
 
Solution


I'm a bit confused: In your initial post you indicated a 4GB 960M, but further down your data specs say a 2GB 860M. Which one is it?

If it's the 2GB 860M I'm surprised you can play The Witcher at all.