question about computer performance

[elana i am]

i'm researching getting a new laptop and i've found i can either afford 6G ram or an intel core i7 processor, but i can't afford both. assuming it does have 1G dedicated ram for video and i'd be using it for recreational video editing for youtube and also assuming i would be using photoshop, illustrator and indesign concurrently, what matters more? the 6G ram or the intel i7 processor?

thanks!

[canetoad]

1. I'd go for the Core i7

I also use the programs you mentioned above concurrently (with often a few others thrown in) and have no problem with 4gig ram although my chip is AMD Phenom6.

If you find you need more ram, you can add that later.

[elana i am]

2. thanks !

[struggle4progress]

3. Maybe is you posted some examples of machines you are considering

that would give people here a better idea about the price range and features you want

Another possibility is to list the range of cpu features, RAM and hard drive sizes, and graphics card options that you would consider acceptable

It's my impression that affordable laptops often don't have very fast cpus. It's also not always easy to upgrade laptop memory: that depends on make/model. So be sure (before you buy a laptop with the cpu you think you want but less memory than you'd like) that you understand your upgrade options

You already told me why you want a laptop rather than a desktop. But if that reason is only short term, maybe you'd do better to buy a cheap laptop and save for a good desktop for your potential professional work. I have a $250 laptop and a $1000 laptop. I generally don't take the $1000 laptop anywhere -- because if I drop it, or if it's stolen, I'm out $1000 -- whereas if I drop or lose the other one, I'm only out $250. You're likely to have much faster processor options, much larger RAM and hard drive options, and much better graphics card options in a desktop

I don't do video-editing work, so I really can't advise you well. You might want to read reviews: I often read newegg and compusa customer reviews when deciding what product to purchase. Another thing you might want to do is to play around with configuring machines on mfr websites and save screenshots. Don't get in a hurry. Pick 5 or 6 companies and just play around with configuring to see what your options are; check out the company reputations online; google for what video editing folk say about certain companies and configurations

Here's a company I don't really know anything about, but it gets good reviews at resellerratings and the lowend price seems reasonable to me, though at the high end I don't think I'd drop $5K on a laptop

Is That A Notebook? MALIBAL's Six-Core, Dual-GPU, Speed Demon
2:00 AM - November 3, 2010 by Thomas Soderstrom

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/MALIBAL

I configured a 15" Lotus notebook with 2.8-3.46GHz i7 (4MB L3 Cache), 8GB 1333GHz RAM, GTX 460M graphics, 750GB 7200rpm hard drive, for about $1550; that doesn't include the operating system; they'll knock $50 off it you do a bank transfer instead of using your credit card

http://www.malibal.com/lotus/

[EOTE]

4. How much ram does the i7 have?

If it has 4GB, I'd imagine you'd be good to go, but i7 systems can run either dual or triple channel memory, so you might find a model with 3 gigs as well. If you'll be doing lots of multitasking, I'd say the i7 with 4 gigs is a good bet. However, on laptops there can be very little difference between i5 and i7 quad core processors. So I guess I'd need to know the specs of your other systems before making a judgement call.

As an aside, my desktop has had an i7 in it since the beginning of '09 and it's been a fantastic chip. I've got 6 gigs and this has been the first time that I have no intentions of upgrading my processor for a while in many years. I anticipate this processor lasting me at least until 2013. My GPU, however, will be upgraded well before then.