Upgrade my PC or upgrade my tablet?

[EduardoGaray]

As the title says, i can not decide between upgrading my pc or my digital tablet.

My computer have 4gb of ram memory dd3 and a 1g graphic memory, but still it lags when i use certain brushes or in bigger resolutions, etc...

And for my tablet i have a wacom bamboo fun small.

Is really a big difference between a small bamboo and, for example a medium or large Intuos? or i really dont need a bigger tablet?

What do you think people?

Thanks in advance!

[Star Eater]

I'd say focus more on the PC. I used a locally made tablet
for years before moving to Wacom. It had no buttons on the
tablet itself and a cheap battery operated pen.

I changed to Wacom because of the product support and
the patented no battery pen. The buttons on the side
also sped up my process. But really, if you are able to render,
all you need is a pen that is pressure capable.

A tablet will not help with any performance from the PC
or drawing software.

[EduardoGaray]

Many thanks Star Eater!
Then i think i will update my computer and let the tablet for the future.

[Black Spot]

I have a Volita II (below a bamboo) and my old computer couldn't always cope with the way I'd scribble. I agree with upgrading the computer

[Mossi]

Focus on the PC dude but, your specifications on it are really vague.

What kind of an operating system are you using (specifically 32 or 64 bit)? What processor (CPU) do you have, which graphics card, and hard drive.

You could try running disk defragment, disk cleanup, and deleting unused stuff from your harddrive. That can affect the speed a bit, especially having free space.

But, my computer is a relatively good one, but still it lags when I use bigger brushes, especially soft edged ones, but, I don't know how bad it is for you.

[EduardoGaray]

Thanks Mossi, i used dxdiag to see my specifications:


Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120330-1504)
Language: Spanish (Regional Setting: Spanish)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: H55M-D2H
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU 540 @ 3.07GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.1GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3320MB RAM
Page File: 4701MB used, 1935MB available
Windows Dir: CWindows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GT 220
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GT 220
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0A20&SUBSYS_34D61458&REV_A2
Display Memory: 2382 MB
Dedicated Memory: 978 MB
Shared Memory: 1403 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Monitor PnP genérico
Monitor Model: ASUS VS239
Monitor Id: ACI23D2
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: DVI

i dont understand a good part of this lol

[keeptime]

Yeah, it doesn't look like your computer is that great for heavy tablet work. I used to have one similar to yours (slightly better) and I used to get lag once I had lots of layers or a large canvas/brush. I'd recommend getting some more RAM and upgrading your graphics card. Upgrading your tablet won't do anything. If at all, it might actually make your computer work harder and give you even more problems.

[EduardoGaray]

really? then it is more than decided, i will go for 8gb of ram and a new graphic card.

[Mossi]

Well, first you have to get a 64 bit operating system.

With 32 bit OS, it will only register and use around 3.25 GBs of RAM, but IIRC 64 bit OS caps at 128 Gbs.

Oh, and when you buy it, make sure the new RAM will have the same clock speed (MHz) as the one you've got. ( or, you could just replace it entirely, since RAM isn't expensive nowadays).

Also, I would suggest going for a better graphics card also, since photoshop uses it also.

I would recommend getting a Geforce 480 GT if money is tight, (it's a little bit old, but it's still good enough).

I think your CPU has a few good years left, so, no worries there.

But, as for the OS. Find the installation disk. If I remember correctly, Windows 7 had both 32 and 64 bit OS placed on the same CD. But, I could be wrong.

[Star Eater]

If I remember correctly, Windows 7 had both 32 and 64 bit OS placed on the same CD. But, I could be wrong.

Some of them...it was an extra cost. I shelled out for both versions
in one package.

[EduardoGaray]

Thanks Mossi, Star.

My windows cd vanished aeons ago in the chaos of my room :p i will have to search it.

For the graphic card, i searched that model (480) on various shops of my country and i didnt found anything but this one looks nice:

Asus GeForce GTX 550 Ti 1GB GDDR5

[keeptime]

That's the same graphics card I have (not Asus, but some other company). It's a fantastic bang for its buck. I run all my games (some released in 2012) on their highest possible settings with all sorts of unnecessary extra crap and I've yet to experience any lag. It'll be more than enough to handle your tablet needs.

[EduardoGaray]

Thats great, i cant wait to upgrade my machine