CPU/GPU Trade-Off

[zero-giulio]

Hi guys,
registered in the forum just few minutes ago (but using dolphin for years).
I'm just changing my (very) old (but nice) Dell M6300 and I'm just uncertain between two models.

Basically, the choice is between:

i7-4710MQ + Intel HD 4600

or

i5-4210M + Nvidia GeForce GT 940M

Same price.
I have a (light) preference for the first solution (just because it's a 14'', which I prefer over the 15.4'' of the second solution) but I'm just guessing what may be better for dolphin (or maybe they are both too weak?).

Is there a strong difference between the two configurations?
Which guarantee the greater number of games to be playable?
What about, say, Donkey King Country Returns (Wii), Resident Evil 4 (GC) and Metroid Prime (GC)?

Any suggestions welcome!

Thanks,
Giulio

[IceStrike256]

First option would be better then the second. Dolphin uses CPU more than GPU but don't expect the best performance on a laptop.

[admin89]

The 2nd is better imo. Intel HD 4600 can't handle more than 2x IR in demanding games but GT 940M can
If you play game at low resolution then the i7 will be a better choice though

[emmaus]

if you just want speed over quality, choose 1.
if you want quality over speed,choose 2.
but with how fast dolphin is getting,getting the second one will help you a lot in other areas like pc games and other emulators.even with my setup, i can hit full speed in most of my games(except last story) at 2.5x.And 2.5x looks good on a laptop.

[NKF98]

Quality over speed...what?

[IceStrike256]

(08-29-2015, 11:39 AM)NKF98 Wrote: Quality over speed...what?

Lol where's the like button

[emmaus]

(08-29-2015, 11:39 AM)NKF98 Wrote: Quality over speed...what?

you know that little setting in the nvidia control panel where you slide to quality or performance. I used that as an analogy here. sliding over to quality increases the quality settings. and performance performance reduces such settings. I read somewhere( I think the forums or the dolphin FAQs ) that to increase the resolution and other stuff in the enhancement tab of the graphics setting, your gpu must be able to handle the load so as not to lose speed. even efb copies are also affected . this can be tested easily on optimums laptops. it could be that the 2nd choice is an optimus with HD 4600 as integrated gpu.

[DrHouse64]

What he's trying to say is, with the 2nd you will be able to enable more graphics enhancements, but you will get more slowdowns on demanding games in comparison to the i7 one.

[NKF98]

aye. that makes more sense.

generally, pick having full speed over a nice GPU...

[zero-giulio]

Graphics is not relevant to me.
I think I'll disable lot of graphic options in dolphin, as I just want to play at full speed and I don't care of special visual effects.

So, according to you, with the first solution will I be able to play DKCR or Metroid?