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    Inspiron 1720 GPU question

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by DR650SE, Apr 21, 2009.

  1. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    I have done a search on this so forgive me if its been addressed already. I found no answers.

    I have seen taht a number of Inspiron 1720s have the 8600m GT card in them with 512 mb of memory, while others such as mine have the same card, but with 256mb memory on them. I'm getting ready to start doing some photoshop work as well as some CAD work. I'm going to start my engineering degree as soon as I finish my current degree. Would this increase in memory help out in what I will be doing? Will it also help in gaming? I pretty much use this laptop for everything and am trying to learn what I can about it so I fully understand it's capabilities and such.

    Also, if I can, where can I buy a 512 version of the card? I havn't been able to find a place online. thanks again for any advise or info
    Dan
     
    DR650SE, Apr 21, 2009
    #1
  2. raduque

    raduque Notebook Evangelist

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    Photoshop CS4 can use GPU acceleration which would be helped by more ram, but the 8600m is not on the list of supported GPUs.

    Going from 256mb to 512mb isn't really going to speed up much of anything, unfortunately.
     
    raduque, Apr 21, 2009
    #2
  3. SteveJonesy

    SteveJonesy Notebook Evangelist

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    Where have you seen a 1720 with a 512MB 8600GT?
     
    SteveJonesy, Apr 21, 2009
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  4. millermagic

    millermagic Rockin the pinktop

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    a lot of programs pick it up as 512mb. Shared ram? The card itself only has 256 on it.
     
    millermagic, Apr 21, 2009
    #4