Laptop for Data Science

[Malokeon]

I'm being pointed towards Intel i7 / i9 with a RTX 3080 card for a laptop for my studies in data analytics.

However, looking at general software for data science and reviews / benchmarks on AMD systems, I think that AMD is a better option.

 

so 2 parts to my questions.

 

1) Has anyone used data analytics software that is "locked" to Intel?

2) What would be a good AMD equivalent to the Intel i7 / i9 and RTX 3080 setup but from AMD?

[AndreiArgeanu]

7 minutes ago, Malokeon said:

2) What would be a good AMD equivalent to the Intel i7 / i9 and RTX 3080 setup but from AMD?

At the moment the R9 5900HX is a great alternative to the i7/i9, and the 6800M is the best AMD has out there for the mobile platform so far but it's not quite as fast as the 3080, it's better than a 3070 though. A laptop equipped with a 6800M and R9 5900HX will also be cheaper in general compared to other models, sharing weaker or similar cpu's paired with a slower 3070. For example the Asus Strix G17 with a 5800H and a RTX 3070 goes for 1800$, while Asus Strix G15 with a faster R9 5900HX and a faster RX6800M costs 1650$.

[Malokeon]

so a R9 5900HX with a 3080 would be the most powerful laptop currently i guess?

[Darkseth]

Probably, but i doubt you will need anything remotely this powerfull to do Data science in University as a Student.

I mean, how do you think Data Science was possible 1 ye ar ago, when those hardware didn't exist yet?

 

These specs are completely overblown here, unless you do data science for Google, and can't have enough performance.

Who exactly pointed you towards an i9 and RTX 3080? Your Professor?

 

Every 500-1000 Dollar laptop should be fast enough to do the job, since a University can't really expect students to have the latest 3000 Dollar Laptop.

Plus, these Specs only come along with big and heavy Gaming Laptops / Workstation Laptops. You won't find a RTX 3080 in a 13-14" Laptop.

 

Oh yea, there is no software that is locked to Intel, that isn't even possible. More optimized for Intel's architecture maybe, but that won't be a big difference.

 

Which Software will you be using, and how will your workflow look like?

[Malokeon]

@Darkseth brilliant point you made about the ability to do data science a year ago when such powerful hardware didn't exist!

 

I do agree that the specs are completely overblown and they were pointed to me by the Professor (Chief of the Programme). I initially wanted to get the M1 Macbook Air as I read that it ran really well for R and Python which are the 2 main programs that are in data science these days.

 

Glad to know that there is no software locked to Intel, so I am looking forward to AMD and replacing my 6 year old 7500 desktop with this for the next (10) years.

 

The software that was mentioned was SPSS and JMP which I found the hardware specifications to be really really low..........................................................................................

[Darkseth]

I wonder, if any of those tools actually can work with a GPU to calculate things.

 

I'm kinda starting with data science, but at this point it's just basic Python stuff and R Studio, and there are basicly no requirements. You could do it with a 7 year old Dual Core Notebook. But of course, i don't know about later semesters

[Malokeon]

i'll let you know when i know more.
in the end, i went for the Aorus 15P with 32GB RAM upgrade..