GTX 860m 4gb with 1080p or 2gb with 4K resolution

[dmutantx]

Hi guys, my first post here on Tom's Guide.

I'm looking to buy the Lenovo Y50-70 laptop. Though I am a heavy gamer, I mostly play games on console, so I don't know much about games-specific PC specs. I can't really afford one of those top-end gaming machines, and I also need something much more portable, and the Y50 perfectly fits the bill.

But I'm stuck between two options: Either buy the one with GTX 860M 4gb graphics card but with 1080p screen or the 2gb one with 4K resolution. Both are priced nearly the same at my local dealer. I have read reviews of both, and obviously the 4K resolution is winning. There are also complaints of poor brightness and viewing angles with the 1080p version. On the other hand, there's the graphics card difference between the two. Like I said, I don't know much about PC specs so I was wondering how much of a difference the graphics cards would make with respect to current and near-future games. Should I just go for the 4gb version or will the 2gb work? I can't afford to upgrade it for at least another year or two. I really do want the 4k but not at the expense of poorer graphics if that's the case. What do you reckon?

Thanks.

 

[metalicgeek]

The GTX 860M is not powerful enough to either merit the use of 4GB of VRAM, or drive a 4K display in high-performance 3D games. You can get the 2GB version with a 4K display, and run games at 1080p, which won't look bad at all due to 1080p being a full 1:4 downsample from 3840x2160. Also, try to find the version of the Y50-70 that comes with a 960M rather than an 860M, as the 960M is approximately 10% faster. Note that either graphics card is more powerful than the GPU in the PS4, so gaming with PC ports may prove to be quite enjoyable for you.

However, more useful than this would be for you to provide us with your budget. The official Lenovo website indicates that the 4K version of the Y50 comes with a GTX 960M, and prices start at $1119. If you stretch to $1300, for example, you can buy the Gigabyte P55W, which comes with a tremendously powerful GTX 970M - a graphics card that resembles a desktop GTX 960 in performance:

http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834233094&cm_re=gtx_970m-_-34-233-094-_-Product

 

[Cons29]

it's ironic that they put 4gb of ram on a 1080, then 2gb vram for a 4k. even on high end gpu 2gb will not be enough for 4k, let alone an 860.
it is not bad, but don't expect too much from it. you get what you pay for as they say

 

[sshortguy1]

you can't use a gtx 1080 the newest video card to run it on 4k with settings maxed out which i'm alittle p*ssed with NVidia saying it can be used to game with 4k gaming with it all maxed out which isn't true