LOL im pretty happy with my 32G system and it was around 1600 with a firepro 2G ddr5 card.  I have yet to have success with GPU rendering as well. I am still getting faster times with CPU vs the notebok. As I mentionned its such an added bonus to have the 2 machines to build scenes start them and really let them run & refine at home while away. Mind you one does not have to build a 32G monster to accomnplish that. I was just lucky enough to have a busy spell with commish projects which have slowed down again. It comes & goes...