Workstation laptops under $1k

danalog · March 26

I am looking for a solid, somewhat recent workstation laptop (last 5 years) to replace a 3rd gen i7/Kepler Dell Precision M6800. Will be used for video editing, video encoding, CAD, rendering (CPU and GPU).

Requirements: Sub $1K, 32GB+ RAM, ONLY Intel CPU, Nvidia discrete graphics, preferably used/refurbished.

I'd love a Dell Precision or HP Zbook but I'm not sure where to start with modern laptops. Newest computer I own runs a Xeon E5 v4 and I haven't been keeping up at all with new CPUs. I could use guidance on what the best value for price to performance would be currently.

Thanks!

jaslion · March 26

Issue with intel is that the used parts you'd be looking at (10-14th) gen run STUPID hot and consume way more power than amds faster counterparts. So I can't recommend going intel if an amd option is available of similar performance and they often are as they are usually sold cheaper.

Either way is there a size restriction or anything like that? Battery life?

danalog · March 26

1 hour ago, jaslion said:

Issue with intel is that the used parts you'd be looking at (10-14th) gen run STUPID hot and consume way more power than amds faster counterparts. So I can't recommend going intel if an amd option is available of similar performance and they often are as they are usually sold cheaper.

Either way is there a size restriction or anything like that? Battery life?

I really don't care about battery life, size between 15 and 17 in.

Intel only because the affordable laptops are all Intel-based anyway.

podkall · March 26

3 hours ago, danalog said:

I really don't care about battery life, size between 15 and 17 in.

Intel only because the affordable laptops are all Intel-based anyway.

Intel laptops aren't really problematic much with battery life as they are with the fact that you run a program and the laptop is instantly Nuclear Star.

I'd even assume since they instantly turn into Nuclear Star they throttle saving some of the power they'd otherwise be boosting to, if their thermals allowed them.

I guess it depends though, this would be assuming you're planning to pin the CPU at 100% on all cores.