On a laptop, a GPU with the same markings typically always has lower performance than a desktop. For example, it is a difference of 20% and more in favor of the desktop version. The reasons are technological, e.g. size, memory, cooling efficiency, etc. Here I found a comparison of the RTX 4070 and “my” RTX 4070 Laptop:
So the laptop GPU 4070 is less powerful and has only 8 GB of memory. The desktop GPU with the identical markings has 12 GB of memory (dedicated), which of course benefits performance more. The laptop GPU is mentioned because the original question (see above) was aimed at the possibility of purchasing a new laptop.
As far as I know, the GPU XXXX Super means that it is a slightly improved GPU XXXX compared to the newer version of the (expected) GPU YYYY, something between XXXX and YYYY.
Yeah, that type of pricing ($4K realm) is definitely out of the budget I could spend. It’s been a long time since I’ve bought a “work caliber” laptop. Very long time. Vs the ones I’ve gotten just to volunteer teaching art or give talks to photo groups. So my tech needs (aka desires) are bumping up against personal wallet sticker shock reality.
I suppose, just like with house hunting in the past, I’ll have to compromise. But I’d expected to pay roughly half what your example comes in at. So what I’m finding is a rude $ (USD) shock. I worry about spending even that huge chunk of change then having it be underpowered for my primary intents (Ps beta, Substance suite betas, Boris FX)… on the other hand I don’t want to drag my feet given the (I could commentate but shouldn’t) direction of politics here recently & potential pricing impacts.
I was actually contemplating also upgrading my laptop for something with a bit more “oomph” but whenever I start looking i get taken back both by the prices of the ones carrying a dedicated GPU and those same differences between laptop/desktop version.
I rather keep a decent powerhouse at home and run the crazier stuff remotely when “out and about”. It’s not like I need to run everything through Superfocus or need to verify that the only face Redefine spits out Topaz Girl and her family. Those few photos can be uploaded to my desktop at home and processed there. It’s not like most cell data plans aren’t good enough in this day and age - at least not here in Spain.
The rest… My laptop isn’t exactly powerful, but a bit of regular nr and sharpening can be done when on the road anyway.
Anything less than a 4090 on a desktop is not going to cut it at this time with the apps as they are, and even then there is a bit of waiting… This has been going on for awhile now with Recover in GPAI (full image preview) on the 4090:
The real answer is optimization of the software. This has already been done 2X with Refocus, hopefully Redefine and Recover in GPAI follow soon.
I gave that up once I noticed even Cloud rendering would take 32 minutes and downsized this mushy long-zoom image… (Results were not good and I realize we are in the PAI thread but the time invested applies.)
RAW Denoise is completely separate from any Apply all/Auto-Pilot. It will systematically kick in on any RAW file with Bayer sensors, such as Nikon/Canon files. If it does not apply with your current RAW image, that will not be fixed with a apply all. These inconsistency are because unfortunately your machine was always under requirements for any Photo AI version, and now the new versions/features are going over what your machine can handle. You can force Photo AI to not use that underpowered graphics card with the CPU option in EDIT > Preferences > AI Processor and put it to CPU. Then import your files and see if RAW Denoise kicks in. You can also revert to a prior stable version, and the newer version will be available when you do meet the minimum requirements!
Thanks for this example. I sent this to the development team as a feature request to see if prompts can be implemented in the Remove tool and to show this unwanted result to them!
Hello @sevenof9 - Once all files selected, you can right-click/Apply > Current Settings to Current - This will apply the enhancements you have on the picture selected in blue, to all the other selected files.
Thanks for the logs. Seeing that most of these are saved in Pictures,not on a harddrive. Can you send to help@topazlabs.com next time if gives a crash and let me know a file name exemple it crashes on? The next time a crash happens on harddrive, we want to test the same files on the desktop to rule out any issues occurring with space or permissions on the harddrive. Make sure to send this to help@topazlabs.com
And you can click the “Swap” button to repeat with new results, over and over. In PAI you have to undo, reselect all over again, try again…
Notice Photo AI didn’t remove the bull – it replaced it with something totally irrelevant, with no prompt able to be applied, making this Replace effort a total crapshoot (and it always yells at me about the size of my image-!):
@plugsnpixels - apart from the creepy headless man, it did do a good job ahah. I’ll add to the open ticket we have for the Remove Tool as well. Thanks for the examples.
I hear what you are saying but it does not match my experience. Could it be that there IS a bug?
I wonder if you missed that I am on a brand new machine now. It more than meets the requirements. VRAM is no longer an issue.
I installed v3.3.3 on that new machine. There is nothing else on it. Only Topaz. I was still able to reproduce the issue I had on the old mac.
I then installed v3.3.1 and everything worked as before. My steps:
Load 5 images all RAW by dragging and dropping them into Topaz Photo AI
Do not click on any of the images
Edit the image that is showing: Change denoise to strong and add strong sharpen
Check the checkbox to select all images
Right click on one of the other images and apply the current settings
Export the 5 images
Results
In v3.3.1 all images have strong denoise and strong sharpen applied
In v3.3.2 and 3.3.3 the first image is exported with strong denoise and strong sharpen. The other four images fail to save and an error is shown for each.
Workarounds
I can stay on v3.3.1
If this is a hardware issue as you stated, can you at least identify what changelog item for v3.3.2 now needs heightened hardware?
For me, these items look suspicious for the issue I am seeing because someone was likely in the part of the code that may cause the issue I am seeing:
Allow saving with crop and no filters enabled
Fix reset to default bug in Autopilot preferences
Fix applying current settings allowing RAW filter to get doubled up
Fix applying current settings to linear DNGs adding RAW
Also, thank you for you comments on my photos. A close friend plays and it’s quickly become a passion of mine to get out and shoot the action.
Hello @scott.k - Oh no, I had missed the part where the system was updated!
Can you send me the 10 logs of the app? I will compare them and see with the development team what could be happening. If you can send them to support@topazlabs.com. You can grab them from the app Help > Open Logs folder and zip them all.
Also send me a fresh System Profile in the email and we can have a look at that is happening!
When roundtripping from Capture One 16.5 on MacOS 15.1, PAI crashes every time after export back to C1. The export succeeds, but PAI closes even though I have selected the option to leave the image open. This happens whether I’m working with a RAW file or a TIFF file out of C1.
When roundtripping from C1 with a JPG file, PAI only offers an export option with the processed photo – not export back to C1. In other words, roundtripping is broken.
I was very impressed with the Super focus results I was getting from this legit blurry iPhone photo (PAI release version) until I rendered… What happened? Final result was “simplified” somewhat.