Is discrete graphics card required?

[rogerfries]

I'm looking to get a new laptop and I'm having trouble finding one that I like that's availabe with a discrete graphics card.  

I'm looking at a Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series Ultrabook™ (E7450) with UMA graphics.  Does anyone know if this will run Fusion 360 resonably well?  

Any recomendations on good fusion 360 laptops that are not too clunky?  Must be PC, no fruit.

[chengyun.yang · Accepted solution]

Hi, 

Fusion can definitely run on the UMA graphics cards but it is recommended to run Fusion on a dedicated graphics card if you want to have the optimal performance experience. UMA graphics cards are actually integrated graphics cards. Essentially this kind of graphics cards use system memory as GPU memory to store the graphics data. So basically it will be running slower (main system memory is slower than dedicated graphics RAM) than the dedicated graphics cards. It also uses the same buses within the system to transfer data so there is more contention because the memory bus has to be shared with the rest of the system. As a result, heavy graphics usage will slow down the overall speed of the system in a UMA machine.

Thanks

Chengyun

[rogerfries]

Thanks,  I chickened out and ordered a machine with a dedicated graphics card instead.  I wish they would make thin light laptops with discrete graphics!  I almost ordered a Razor Blade, but that had no SD card slot! 

[tmodcustoms]

Can anyone recommend a few laptops, or places to buy them?

I'd like to spend $700 or less much appreciated.