Notebook for 3D modeling and rendering

[Cypriaan]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm here to help my dad find a perfect notebook for work.

My dad is an Belgian architect who works most often with these (3D) programs: 

 

- SketchUp Pro

- Vectorworks

- AutoCAD

- Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop...

- ...

 

In the past he always had the most powerful Apple Macbook Pro.

Now he is considering buying a Windows notebook.

 

The only things that matter for him is that the notebook has a screen 15 inch or more and that he can work without any lagg or something on those programs I mentioned above. He also needs to render a lot. At home he will connect the notebook to a 27 inch monitor.

 

PS: He doesn't mind a gaming logo on the notebook

 

Price should not be more than 2600 euros.

 

I have no idea what he should buy.

Please help us. Thank you!

[-iSynthesis]

For example this: http://www.msimobile.com/level3_productpage.aspx?cid=114&id=481

Dont know about the price in your country, but you can have a look at this page: http://www.msimobile.com/level2_productlist.aspx?id=114

[D2ultima]

-snip-

Ask him the following:

1 - Do you want a quadro GPU in it for GPU accelerated rendering scenarios?

2 - Do you wish to game on it at all?

3 - Would you be willing to do a little cooling modification if necessary? (replacing thermal paste, maybe buying an extra backplate to modify for much better cooling, etc? Haswell is HOT.)

4 - Are you interested in overclocking your CPU for better performance? I can help with that if necessary. It WILL remain covered under warranty if you overclock.

5 - What screen size of laptop would you prefer? 15" or 17"?

6 - Are there any quirks you need otherwise that I should look out for? Screen gamut, etc? I'll say it straight: only one model with a properly working CPU carries an IPS screen; the rest you'd have to settle for TN. You can get 72% NTSC gamut TN on 17", and if you're fine with sourcing screens and replacing them externally you can put in a 95% NTSC gamut TN screen on a 15", but I can't guarantee you'd be able to find one of them selling anymore.

7 - Does he require SSD storage?

[Ace Lean]

SAGER NP9377

[nj4ck]

Gigabyte P35W v3...? Not sure if he needs a quadro/firepro GPU, if he does maybe he should look at the Dell precision M3800.

[D2ultima]

Gigabyte P35W v3...? Not sure if he needs a quadro/firepro GPU, if he does maybe he should look at the Dell precision M3800.

Nah. That's using integrated CPU. It's garbage for someone who wants CPU power.

 

SAGER NP9377

He wants more CPU than GPU, so the P377SM-A wouldn't be up his alley. Also, the CPU cooling on that model without using the P370EM CPU & Slave GPU heatsinks is sub-par. A P170SM-A is what I'm thinking of.

[Naty722]

Take a look at the Lenovo W series: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/w-series/

 

The quadro really helps for AutoCAD and other professional products. I have a friend who has the old 200 series with a K1000 or something old in it, but it still outperforms modern laptops just because of the quadro. You can also upgrade to much higher end cpus than you normally can on most laptops, which can be crucial for this kind of work. The W series is just really nice and actually quite a good deal for one of the few professional gpu laptop options out there. Also note the thunderbolt port which can also be great for that kind of work. I would highly suggest it.

[D2ultima]

The user hasn't even replied yet. I wonder if he's really seriously looking for a machine, because he just liked everyone's post and vanished. My post was only a barrage of questions.

[Cypriaan]

Ask him the following:

1 - Do you want a quadro GPU in it for GPU accelerated rendering scenarios?

2 - Do you wish to game on it at all?

3 - Would you be willing to do a little cooling modification if necessary? (replacing thermal paste, maybe buying an extra backplate to modify for much better cooling, etc? Haswell is HOT.)

4 - Are you interested in overclocking your CPU for better performance? I can help with that if necessary. It WILL remain covered under warranty if you overclock.

5 - What screen size of laptop would you prefer? 15" or 17"?

6 - Are there any quirks you need otherwise that I should look out for? Screen gamut, etc? I'll say it straight: only one model with a properly working CPU carries an IPS screen; the rest you'd have to settle for TN. You can get 72% NTSC gamut TN on 17", and if you're fine with sourcing screens and replacing them externally you can put in a 95% NTSC gamut TN screen on a 15", but I can't guarantee you'd be able to find one of them selling anymore.

7 - Does he require SSD storage?

Hello,

 

- Yes a quadro GPU would be nice.

- Won't be used for gaming.

- I don't think we have the skills to do a cooling modification.

- Never overclocked anything before. If I won't lose the warranty with it, it's no problem.

- Rather 17 inch screen or more.

- I don't think so.

- 500 gb ssd like in the Macbook Pro would be nice.

 

I asked him today about his budget and he says it has no limits because it's for work.

Sorry for the late answer and my bad English.

 

Thank you

[D2ultima]

Hello,

 

- Yes a quadro GPU would be nice.

- Won't be used for gaming.

- I don't think we have the skills to do a cooling modification.

- Never overclocked anything before. If I won't lose the warranty with it, it's no problem.

- Rather 17 inch screen or more.

- I don't think so.

- 500 gb ssd like in the Macbook Pro would be nice.

 

I asked him today about his budget and he says it has no limits because it's for work.

Sorry for the late answer and my bad English.

 

Thank you

I can find quadro

That's fine

It's not difficult, but if you rather not, I understand.

You will not; the machine's official driver spec comes with overclock software

That's good.

I can get you up to 4TB of SSD storage if you want.

 

okay, I think the P170SM-A will be a good fit indeed... but due to living in belgium, I would say repasting the CPU and possibly the GPU with good paste may be a worthwhile investment.

 

http://www.mysn.de/detail.asp?bestellnr=SCHENKER-W704&userid=517556386&KategorienOrder=010;030;010;008;010I believe this is the closest place to get it for you.

 

i7-4910MQ

Quadro K3100M

16GB 1866MHz RAM

Hard disk 1 and 2 are HDD slots

Hard disk 3 and 4 are mSATA slots.

 

I suggest a 500GB Crucial mSATA SSD and a 1TB HGST 7200RPM HDD, but you can mix and match this anyhow you want to. Just remember that the mSATA slots can ONLY house SSDs, while the other slots can house HDDs.

 

Intel 7260 AC wireless card

and the platinum warranty to be sure.

 

Read the whole page and explore the options and let me know if you want to get it from another company (such as a UK one) or any such thing. I'm glad to help.

[Cypriaan]

I can find quadro

That's fine

It's not difficult, but if you rather not, I understand.

You will not; the machine's official driver spec comes with overclock software

That's good.

I can get you up to 4TB of SSD storage if you want.

 

okay, I think the P170SM-A will be a good fit indeed... but due to living in belgium, I would say repasting the CPU and possibly the GPU with good paste may be a worthwhile investment.

 

http://www.mysn.de/detail.asp?bestellnr=SCHENKER-W704&userid=517556386&KategorienOrder=010;030;010;008;010I believe this is the closest place to get it for you.

 

i7-4910MQ

Quadro K3100M

16GB 1866MHz RAM

Hard disk 1 and 2 are HDD slots

Hard disk 3 and 4 are mSATA slots.

 

I suggest a 500GB Crucial mSATA SSD and a 1TB HGST 7200RPM HDD, but you can mix and match this anyhow you want to. Just remember that the mSATA slots can ONLY house SSDs, while the other slots can house HDDs.

 

Intel 7260 AC wireless card

and the platinum warranty to be sure.

 

Read the whole page and explore the options and let me know if you want to get it from another company (such as a UK one) or any such thing. I'm glad to help.

 

Hi.

Thank you for your help.

My dad suddenly said he only wanted the best so I send him this one "http://www.alternate.nl/MSI/GT80-2QE-TITAN-SLI-030NL-18-4-notebook/html/product/1181493?event=search".

It's the best I should be able to get in Belgium.

 

Greetings

[PaulKolby]

4k lenovo y50 could be a possibility

[D2ultima]

Hi.

Thank you for your help.

My dad suddenly said he only wanted the best so I send him this one "http://www.alternate.nl/MSI/GT80-2QE-TITAN-SLI-030NL-18-4-notebook/html/product/1181493?event=search".

It's the best I should be able to get in Belgium.

 

Greetings

That isn't the best. The HQ CPUs don't like heavy loads, which is why I specifically went out of the way for a MQ chip. If you want the "best", then you want a P570WM.

Here:

http://www.mysn.de/detail.asp?bestellnr=SCHENKER-W713-MESSE&userid=694498366&KategorienOrder=010;030;010;005;010

 

Unfortunately, this website does not allow for the quadro GPUs. You would have to order it outside of Europe from a place called Eurocom to get that kind of customization on building.

Here:

http://www.eurocom.com/ec/configure(1,234,0)ec

 

You may configure your storage, CPU and GPU requirements to your heart's content.

[alicskysareblue]

lenovo thinkpad w series come stock with really poor tn panels, you would have to order customize them which would cause a delay in shippin,. plus the current trackpads on the x40 generation are very uncomfortable to use

 

I would look into the Dell Precison Series  or the Hp  zbook series, they have a lot more ports and the trackpads are standerd  with buttons also their  laptop screens have 90% rgb rating.

[D2ultima]

I would look into the Dell Precison Series  or the Hp  zbook series, they have a lot more ports and the trackpads are standerd  with buttons also their  laptop screens have 90% rgb rating.

That's well and good, but they are also HQ CPUs. Which means they are not good for a user who wants the best quality and a system that does anything. Of course, it's up to his father what he wants. 

[alicskysareblue]

That's well and good, but they are also HQ CPUs. Which means they are not good for a user who wants the best quality and a system that does anything. Of course, it's up to his father what he wants. 

 

what do you mean HQ cpus

Im not trying argue, I am just genuinely curious 

[D2ultima]

what do you mean HQ cpus

Im not trying argue, I am just genuinely curious 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/246907-how-mobile-i7-cpus-work/

all explained here.

[alicskysareblue]

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/246907-how-mobile-i7-cpus-work/

all explained here.

okey thanks

 

still, HQ should still be fine but again its up to the guys father

[erty176]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm here to help my dad find a perfect notebook for work.

My dad is an Belgian architect who works most often with these (3D) programs: 

 

- SketchUp Pro

- Vectorworks

- AutoCAD

- Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop...

- ...

 

In the past he always had the most powerful Apple Macbook Pro.

Now he is considering buying a Windows notebook.

 

The only things that matter for him is that the notebook has a screen 15 inch or more and that he can work without any lagg or something on those programs I mentioned above. He also needs to render a lot. At home he will connect the notebook to a 27 inch monitor.

 

PS: He doesn't mind a gaming logo on the notebook

 

Price should not be more than 2600 euros.

 

I have no idea what he should buy.

Please help us. Thank you!

So, I don't have specifics, but I can tell you what in general you will need, as being a mechanical engineering student, I do a significant amount of CAD. Your going to want a good CPU, very good. Separate graphics are better, but you can get by with integrated. I wouldn't worry about the hard drive, as most laptops nowadays have pretty easy access and you can swap in whatever you want. Also, if your going to have that big of a screen at home, it's not entirely necessary to have a large one on the go(not saying it's bad, but a larger screen can often subtract from what your getting in terms of performance, more area to drive). Most of CAD is based off of CPU rather then GPU performance, so I would start shopping based on CPU performance, then work down from there on your list of features.