Yes, the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon gen 11 utilizes shared video RAM.
Yes, the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon gen 11 utilizes shared video RAM.
I am searching for a suitable laptop primarily for writing and video watching; not focused on heavy gaming.
I prefer the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon gen 11 because of its great keyboard (ideal for an amateur writer), though I’m worried about the integrated video system that seems to share the main RAM.
My main use will be writing software like MS 365 and Scrivener 3.0 on Windows 11 Pro.
I’m leaning toward choosing an IPS touch screen over an OLED non-touch display.
I think 16GB RAM at 6400MHZ would work well, but I’m uneasy about the shared RAM situation.
Should I opt for a more expensive gaming PC with a dedicated graphics card, or keep my budget for building another PC?
Thanks for your assistance
Ethan - Ultrarunner 100
Even with a dedicated GPU, some system RAM can still be reserved for VRAM. If you're using your PC, you can check the Performance tab in Task Manager to see what's being allocated. For dedicated graphics cards, this allocation is usually not necessary.
I suppose if I'm worried about shared RAM, I might opt for the upgraded processor with 32GB, which costs a bit more—just 6000MHz compared to the 6400MHz in the 16GB version. I don’t really think the difference would be noticeable, except for having more memory available. It’s actually a solid deal since the upgraded model with 32GB is only $100 more.
Think about it, my current setup has the main RAM at 3200MHz, while the RTX 2070 Super’s base clock is 7000MHz.
I’m sorry if I come across as a bit new to this, but it’s been a while since I’ve had a laptop.
I believe the premium processor and 32GB RAM will secure my future.
I expect performance to remain similar to my current setup on the Tuf Gaming X570+ 32GB @ 3200MHz and RTX 2070 Super 8GB @ 7000MHz, even with shared RAM at 6000MHz.
I’m sticking with the IPS touch screen, thinking it will offer better value than an OLED without touch.
Is now a good time to buy a Lenovo laptop?
I see on their site that prices are (supposedly) 1/2 off, but I read that Lenovo is almost always running sales.
But would I do even better if I waited for Black Friday? I'm not in a real hurry to have this laptop, so if I could save a few bills, the wait would be well worthwhile.
Purchase the RAM size that suits your requirements and disregard the shared RAM concern.
The shared RAM capacity will be limited and won’t significantly affect performance.
I believe you should be able to define the reserve amount.
Yes, Lenovo frequently offers sales.
A good idea is to contact Lenovo directly and speak with a sales representative.
They might guide you toward a better option and provide information not available elsewhere.
You may also consider the x1 extreme units, which come with a smaller discrete GPU.
I chose the Thinkpad X1 Carbon gen 11 with i7 1365u and 32G RAM (IPS touch screen) over the 1370P mainly because of the longer battery life. For my needs, I wouldn’t have noticed much improvement with the P processor. My initial idea was to maximize value by getting the 32G RAM upgrade along with the P processor, but then I considered the shorter battery life—especially since I might be traveling on Amtrak without access to power outlets.
I did not buy a Lenovo computer. I recently upgraded my old Lenovo ThinkPad with a Lenovo T16 G2, which had served me well for over five years. This new machine is not an upgrade; I'm reviewing my previous ThinkPad because, seven weeks after purchase, I encountered serious problems with the screen and mousepad. Around six weeks into its use, the lower portion of my display began to pixelate, making it impossible to see the toolbar at the bottom. I was working in low light when this happened, trying to launch the programs I relied on. Almost a week later, a technician replaced the screen, which seemed to resolve the issue—though I have no idea how it worked. Two days after that, the mousepad stopped functioning entirely. I was on the phone with support, trying to fix things remotely, but they needed me to open a browser for assistance. Since the mousepad was unresponsive, I couldn't navigate or launch any applications. At this stage, the computer is essentially useless to me. Because I didn't opt for the premium service, I waited from Thursday morning until Monday afternoon for a scheduled visit, only to find out it was cancelled and rescheduled for later this week without any prior notice. It's regrettable that older Lenovo models were reliable, as I had expected their newer versions to be just as dependable. Please avoid making the same mistake and save yourself trouble.
I’m satisfied with my Lenovo X1 gen 11. Just like you, I chose the i7 1365U with 32 GB RAM and an IPS display. Choosing the i7 over the i5 really increases the Iris Xe GPU to 96 EUs (compared to 50 in the i5). Although the Iris GPU isn’t as strong as a dedicated graphics card, it still works well enough for this laptop, especially if you add an external GPU.
I wanted a machine focused on performance, but I found that the P processors in an ultrabook format weren’t ideal. My previous ultrabook often throttled the processor during heavy use, making any performance improvements from the specs disappear. My worries about using a P processor were confirmed in this report on NoteBookCheck, which mentioned that even under heavy multitasking, this Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G11 with the i7-1365U is slower than the X1 Carbon with the i5, despite having more cores.
It seemed wise to stick with IPS and skip OLED. The pulse modulation caused noticeable flicker, and battery life wasn’t worth the trade-off. The IPS screen is bright and clear, and at home I use external monitors. I connect my laptop to home via an external keyboard, mouse, and screen. At home, I prioritize portability and battery life over raw performance. I just plug in a single Thunderbolt cable, put it in a travel case, and go. That gives me the best of both worlds.