3D animation workstation laptop recommendations (upgrading from an old-ish desktop)

[Ninoid]

Looking to upgrade my current desktop (i7 3770k, 16GB ram, and a 1050ti) with a laptop. I'd imagine at this stage, even the mobile 9th or 10th i7 would be a significant upgrage from my very old 3700k.

 

I am a 3D animator using 3D software such as Maya. I'd be doing a lot of CPU heavy realtime play back of my animation. And not so much on the rendering side so I'd be happy to compromise slightly on graphics card performance. Budget wise im looking up to £1600 ($2000 USD). I prefer low profile rather than the gamer-y look. I'd be mostly using it with a 1440p ultra-wide + a 4k screen

I had my eye on the Lenovo Legion 7i with an i7 10750H, but the performance of the ryzen 4800H processor has put me off intel.

 

What do you think?

[Nerdom]

I've been liking the look of MSI's latest creator series. They seem to have good power and accurate screens, but they are pretty expensive. Also they are pretty sleek, no RGB on the outside (although I think the keyboard has RGB, not sure)

[jaslion]

2 minutes ago, Ninoid said:

Looking to upgrade my current desktop (i7 3770k, 16GB ram, and a 1050ti) with a laptop. I'd imagine at this stage, even the mobile 9th or 10th i7 would be a significant upgrage from my very old 3700k.

 

I am a 3D animator using 3D software such as Maya. I'd be doing a lot of CPU heavy realtime play back of my animation. And not so much on the rendering side so I'd be happy to compromise slightly on graphics card performance. Budget wise im looking up to £1600 ($2000 USD). I prefer low profile rather than the gamer-y look. I'd be mostly using it with a 1440p ultra-wide + a 4k screen

I had my eye on the Lenovo Legion 7i with an i7 10750H, but the performance of the ryzen 4800H processor has put me off intel.

 

What do you think?

Xmg core 15 amd version. Currently the best performing amd laptop out there minus the ones that use actual desktop cpu's.

[imcaspar]

11 minutes ago, Ninoid said:

Looking to upgrade my current desktop (i7 3770k, 16GB ram, and a 1050ti) with a laptop. I'd imagine at this stage, even the mobile 9th or 10th i7 would be a significant upgrage from my very old 3700k.

 

I am a 3D animator using 3D software such as Maya. I'd be doing a lot of CPU heavy realtime play back of my animation. And not so much on the rendering side so I'd be happy to compromise slightly on graphics card performance. Budget wise im looking up to £1600 ($2000 USD). I prefer low profile rather than the gamer-y look. I'd be mostly using it with a 1440p ultra-wide + a 4k screen

I had my eye on the Lenovo Legion 7i with an i7 10750H, but the performance of the ryzen 4800H processor has put me off intel.

 

What do you think?

You will constantly be doing Real-Time Playback, so you should really consider upgrading your Desktop instead of getting a Laptop, especially as you're planning to use it docked on your desk most of the time, for the following reason:

 

Any Laptop with a good enough cooling system - that won't get annoyingly loud when constantly under load - is barely portable anymore and thus I don't see the reason why you would get a Laptop for your animation work. 

 

If want have to work at other places and they have good internet, consider using a Remote Desktop Solution to access your Desktop at home as well.

[Radium_Angel]

21 minutes ago, Ninoid said:

What do you think?

I think you need a lunchbox PC. Best of both worlds!

https://www.bsicomputer.com/products/portable-lunchbox-computer-1430

 

Your wallet will hate me, but I'm used to that. 

[imcaspar]

4 minutes ago, Radium_Angel said:

I think you need a lunchbox PC. Best of both worlds!

https://www.bsicomputer.com/products/portable-lunchbox-computer-1430

 

Your wallet will hate me, but I'm used to that. 

 

What about a portable Server Rack, so he can have a Workstation, Rendering and File Server, Portable 4-Modem Mobile Connection and a UPS so there won't be power spikes when running it off a generator. 

/s

 

What

[Ninoid]

24 minutes ago, imcaspar said:

You will constantly be doing Real-Time Playback, so you should really consider upgrading your Desktop instead of getting a Laptop, especially as you're planning to use it docked on your desk most of the time, for the following reason:

 

Any Laptop with a good enough cooling system - that won't get annoyingly loud when constantly under load - is barely portable anymore and thus I don't see the reason why you would get a Laptop for your animation work. 

 

If want have to work at other places and they have good internet, consider using a Remote Desktop Solution to access your Desktop at home as well.

I can definitely see where you are coming from.

 

The plan eventually would be to build another desktop in addition to a laptop. I was prioritising a laptop first for the convenience. With my desktop cpu being 8 years old now, I thought at this stage buying a decent laptop woud be an upgrade that could do the job just as well, or ideally better than my current set up but on the move. Though I get that cooling is a big issue on laptops.

 

Remote desktop could be a good option though!

[Ninoid]

35 minutes ago, Radium_Angel said:

I think you need a lunchbox PC. Best of both worlds!

https://www.bsicomputer.com/products/portable-lunchbox-computer-1430

 

Your wallet will hate me, but I'm used to that. 

I didnt know these were a thing.. Imagine bringing that out at Starbucks!

[Radium_Angel]

48 minutes ago, imcaspar said:

What

Add wheels, and a wireless router and have a portable LAN party where ever you go!

[sub68]

from laptop to military crate pc's

what happend

[Radium_Angel]

11 minutes ago, sub68 said:

from laptop to military crate pc's

what happend

Well, I showed up to the thread, and generally when I comment on something, everythig goes to Hell.

I'm good like that. 

[Ninoid]

38 minutes ago, Radium_Angel said:

Well, I showed up to the thread, and generally when I comment on something, everythig goes to Hell.

I'm good like that. 

But your name has angel in it.. very misleading