VRAM for non-gamer?

[m0nkeyb0y]

In the market for a new iMac, my 2010 is not keeping up. I'm wondering about the utility of 4 vs 8 GB of VRAM. I'm not a gamer, don't edit video, but I will be driving an external 4k monitor AND an older 1920x1280, plus perhaps a second 4k monitor.

So, does it make any difference for anything other than gaming and video/photo editing?

 

[dborod]

Based on what you said, in my opinion, any of the graphics options will serve you well.

 

[Jimmdean]

agreed. running 4k/5k monitors themselves does not eat up a lot of VRAM - it actually takes surprising small amounts (think 100-200MB per 5k). It's more just a technical/architecture issue of the cards - what resolution they can push - how many monitors at such and such resolution, etc.

It's only when you get into the massive textures (games/editing) that highers amounts of VRAM are utilized.