A gamer sent his gaming laptop for repair, but instead, the model was disassembled. The support offers him a replacement, but the new laptop is worse than his old device.
Many of you have probably sent a device for repair. Either because you have grown fond of your device or just to do a favor for the environment. A gamer sent his gaming laptop for repair directly to the manufacturer.
But instead of his device, the user received an email stating that his device had been accidentally scrapped.
Repair offers him a new device
What exactly happened? The user explained himself that he had sent in his “OMEN” laptop, a brand from HP, for repair of a hinge. This was all within the warranty, and that’s why he contacted the manufacturer’s support (HP).
However, in an email, they informed him that his device had been accidentally scrapped. His device was supposedly labeled incorrectly, causing it to end up in scrapping instead of being repaired.
What happens next? The user explained in his reddit post that he now has two options. Because his original model is no longer being produced.
- He gets his money back. How much, he does not say. Although it is a warranty case, he has used the device for several years.
- Or he accepts the model that the support offers him as a replacement. That would be a laptop with Intel i7 and a GeForce RTX 4050.
But the replacement model sparks a big debate in the community about whether he should really accept it.
Offer sparks heated debate
How good is the replacement? That is exactly a point of contention within the community. Because they disagree on whether the user should really accept the proposed device. Because the new model is not a real upgrade.
- The processor used is a significant upgrade compared to the old model; everyone seems pretty much in agreement on that.
- However, opinions differ on the new graphics chip, an RTX 4050 6 GB: Some users consider the new GPU to be a clear downgrade since the model only features an RTX 4050 with 6 GB of video memory.
- Additionally, he is “only” getting a device from HP’s Victus line. His old device was an Omen model, which is regarded as significantly higher quality than the Victus line. For many, it is clear: Instead of the high-end series, they only want to offer him a budget model.
Many gamers say: 6 GB of video memory are just not up to date in 2023. After all, the old RTX 2070 in his old model still offered 8 GB of video memory. Some say he should rather discuss with support and ask for a model with RTX 4060, which would provide him with 8 GB of video memory. Or else take his money and buy a new device elsewhere. As one user explains under the post:
An RTX 4050 is definitely not an upgrade. Ask for a better GPU or take the money. You could actually get less performance with this [new GPU].
Are graphics cards with 6 GB of video memory still sensible?
What is video memory even needed for? In video memory (or VRAM), data such as textures are stored temporarily. The higher the resolution, the greater the load on video memory increases. If the video memory is not sufficient, it usually leads to unpleasant loading stutters. Because your computer has to reload textures or data and remove old ones from memory. In the worst case, the game simply crashes.
But is 8 GB of video memory still enough in 2023? The tech colleagues from GameStar checked based on several games, how much video memory games actually require in 2023. They come to the conclusion:
- 8 GB should definitely be enough in Full HD, and in WQHD at least 10 GB.
- 6 GB VRAM or less is simply not future-proof today. Anyone wanting to play in WQHD should steer clear of graphics cards with 8 GB.
The problem is that all games handle this differently: Some games require very little VRAM, while others demand significantly more. Many agree: If you want to play without compromises, then anything below 8 GB is too little.
AMD and Nvidia have long been criticized for releasing very inexpensive graphics cards. Because here, video memory is often skimped on. This makes the GPUs cheap but a disappointment for most gamers:
Why the most important graphics card in 2023 from Nvidia is currently disappointing many
