Laptop vs Desktop for CC

[Catalytically]

I'm trying to decide between my desktop and a laptop I picked up last night. I'm in a graphic communication major, so I will be utilizing most of the CC suite with my classes, definitely PS, Illustrator, InDesign, and Premiere Pro, possibly After Effects and Dreamweaver. Long term, videos aren't high on my list, vectors are mainly my plan and InDesign.

Desktop is i5-6600k (not overclocked), 16GB RAM, GTX 970. Laptop is i7-8750H, 8GB RAM (if I switch to this I will put in 32GB), 1050Ti.

I did PassMark benchmarks, and the desktop comes out ahead, but I'm unsure of how much of that is due to more RAM. It looks like the GPU is better, as well. I guess my question is, how well is the laptop's 1050Ti going to do if I put 32GB RAM in it?

I have always hated laptops, and I'm a former gamer, but now I'm finding I'd like to be more mobile. I know if the laptop is a big step down from the desktop I'll hate it, though.  How much of CC is CPU/RAM dependent vs how much is GPU?

Desktop Benchmark

Laptop Benchmark

Any thoughts? Figured I would come to the pros who actually use CC to guide me!

[Daniel E Lane]

You will just end up putting all of the software on both. Use the laptop when you need mobility, but you will end up doing all of your heavy lifting on the desktop computer. Makes sense as well since you will probably have the larger monitor on the desktop as well. More working real estate to deal with the larger things to do.

[Catalytically]

Hi Daniel, I'm a one-computer girl 😞  I hate moving between computers haha.  I do have some travel coming up, but I usually deal with using my kid's laptop for that (until I bought this one).  But other than travel, if I don't use the laptop as "my" computer, I won't have access to it.  One of these computers will be mine, the other one will be my son's.  (Both are sufficient for his needs)  Since we both tend to use them at the same time, I won't be swapping between them.  He doesn't need a laptop (I set it up with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse anyway), and since this one was decent, I wondered if it was time for me to make the switch and put him on my tower.  But I need to know if this laptop is going to work well for me.  I mostly use PS, InDesign, Dreamweaver, and Illustrator, but I do have classes coming up that will require Premiere Pro and possibly After Effects.  Unlikely I will use PP or AE much other than what is required for my classes though, as my interests don't lie in video.

[John Waller]

If you've already got the laptop, have you tried running the Cloud app trials for 7 days for free?

You'll get most of your answers taking them for a spin yourself.

[Catalytically]

I'm downloading CC stuff onto the laptop now.  Not really familiar enough with PP to try it out, but I can test PS and Illustrator.  (I expect InDesign will be fine, this laptop has a slightly better CPU than my son's gaming Acer and I had to borrow it for InDesign last term when my PC died for a bit.  He has 16GB RAM, but RAM can be added, so not worried about that)  I need to decide in the next 12-ish hours, so I can set one of them up for the kiddo. 

[Abambo]

Ram is a topic to tackle.

[Daniel E Lane]

Yeah, if you can get that laptop up to 32GB of ram, that is a must. All of the programs you mentioned are Ram pigs. the more the better for sure. The processor will work just fine for what you are looking to do. So other than the Ram, the only other issue would be if you like working on a small, laptop monitor or like a little more real estate to move around in with a large monitor. But if you are already plugging a monitor into the laptop, then you should be good to go. You could even set it up as dual monitors if you wanted, having your workspace on the large monitor and your tools and other windows on the smaller monitor.