No compromise laptop?

[lightisle]

Whenever I've bought a laptop it always felt like i had to sacrifice in one area to meet my demands in another.
It seems though like all the components are here, or will be here very shortly, for that to no longer be the case.

These are the things i'm looking for in a new laptop:
 

1) Thunderbolt 3 port: Combined with an external GPU enclosure this replaces the need for a desktop computer to play modern games at high quality. The desktop computer of 2016 is an eGPU enclosure.

 

2) Quad core core i7 with integrated graphics (GT3e / GT4e) : This enables playing modern games at medium quality while on the go and has enough CPU power to not bottleneck any games while at an eGPU dock.

 

3) No dedicated gpu: I use linux, and there are no good ways to maintain both mobile gaming capability and battery life requirements with current nvidia / amd drivers. The current igpus are sufficient performance so adding a dedicated gpu is simply adding additional tdp to an already pushed envelope with all the drawbacks that has (heat, noise, thermal throttling etc.)  

4) 16/32 GB of RAM: I'm a developer and some of the projects i routinely compile simply cannot fit in main memory at 8GB, that's a nonstarter. 16 is sufficient and 32 would allow me to run a ram disk to load all my projects into main memory at boot.

 

5) 256+ GB SSD: Most of my storage is network storage these days, but i would like to keep a few games installed locally and still have some scratch space left for projects. Mechanical drives in a laptop has been an obvious nonstarter since 2010.

 

6) 4k 12.5-14.1 inch display: Smaller displays mean smaller keyboards, i'm a big guy so the 12.5 is an absolute minimum. Larger screens are clunky to fit in many bags. HQ print resolution on a laptop, not sure it's necessary but it's available and it's where content will be heading, so i guess a new laptop should display new content at the appropriate resolution. 

7) Weight with adapter < 2 kg: Like i said earlier i'm a big guy so laptop weight was never aligned strongly with mobility for me. But very clunky bricks generally have other design issues which makes for poor mobility.

8) Battery life at lowest power step after 3 years of wear >= 8 hours: I can do my work with a simple text editor and at most i may i need a completely mobile work day.

9) Price < 2500 USD: I'll pay good money for good equipment, but don't push it.

Does this machine exist or are there rumors of one? Are there problems with a spec like this that i don't understand?

PS: I'm a linux user, so the only thing that matters to me is the hardware. A working eGPU solution is irrelevant it only needs HW support for pcie over thunderbolt 3 the rest i'm capable of fixing myself.

[Mohenjo]

5 minutes ago, lightisle said:

Whenever I've bought a laptop it always felt like i had to sacrifice in one area to meet my demands in another.
It seems though like all the components are here, or will be here very shortly, for that to no longer be the case.

These are the things i'm looking for in a new laptop:
 

1) Thunderbolt 3 port: Combined with an external GPU enclosure this replaces the need for a desktop computer to play modern games at high quality. The desktop computer of 2016 is an eGPU enclosure.

 

2) Quad core core i7 with iris graphics (GT3 / GT3e / GT4e) : This enables playing modern games at medium quality while on the go and has enough CPU power to not bottleneck any games while at an eGPU dock.

3) 16/32 GB of RAM: I'm a developer and some of the projects i routinely compile simply cannot fit in main memory at 8GB, that's a nonstarter. 16 is sufficient and 32 would allow me to run a ram disk to load all my projects into main memory at boot.

 

4) 256+ GB SSD: Most of my storage is network storage these days, but i would like to keep a few games installed locally and still have some scratch space left for projects. Mechanical drives in a laptop has been an obvious nonstarter since 2010.

 

5) 4k 12.5-14.1 inch display: Smaller displays mean smaller keyboards, i'm a big guy so the 12.5 is an absolute minimum. Larger screens are clunky to fit in many bags. HQ print resolution on a laptop, not sure it's necessary but it's available and it's where content will be heading, so i guess a new laptop should display new content at the appropriate resolution. 

6) Weight with adapter < 2 kg: Like i said earlier i'm a big guy so laptop weight was never aligned strongly with mobility for me. But very clunky bricks generally have other design issues which makes for poor mobility.

7) Battery life at lowest power step after 3 years of wear >= 8 hours: I can do my work with a simple text editor and at most i may i need a completely mobile work day.

8) Price < 2500 USD: I'll pay good money for good equipment, but don't push it.

Does this machine exist or are there rumors of one? Are there problems with a spec like this that i don't understand?

i can meet most of those requirements 

http://www.amazon.com/ZenBook-Ultra-HD-Touchscreen-i7-6700HQ-Thunderbolt/dp/B018AX3OHO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1457969734&sr=8-2&keywords=thunderbolt+3+laptop

[Orangeator]

http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-systems/razer-blade-stealth

You can thank me later.

 

[Mohenjo]

It apparently also has a desktop 6700. I couldn't find one with iris graphics but a 960m is better performance wise. 

 

EDIT : Wait that might not be desktop, But it seems pretty powerful 

[KemoKa]

1 minute ago, Mohenjo said:

i can meet most of those requirements 

http://www.amazon.com/ZenBook-Ultra-HD-Touchscreen-i7-6700HQ-Thunderbolt/dp/B018AX3OHO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1457969734&sr=8-2&keywords=thunderbolt+3+laptop

Apart from the screen size, I think you just took the cake right off the bat

[Mohenjo]

Just now, Orangeator said:

http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-systems/razer-blade-stealth

You can thank me later.

 

Its not a quad core tho which is complete ASS for the price 

[KemoKa]

1 minute ago, Mohenjo said:

It apparently also has a desktop 6700. I couldn't find one with iris graphics but a 960m is better performance wise. 

Kinda... i7 HQs are embedded hyperthreaded quad cores. Same die as the desktop parts, but at a lower clock. Still bloody fast, though.

[Orangeator]

Just now, Mohenjo said:

Its not a quad core tho which is complete ASS for the price 

Oh, I didn't even see that. I just assumed it had a quad core considering it is designed for gaming...

[KemoKa]

1 minute ago, Orangeator said:

Oh, I didn't even see that. I just assumed it had a quad core considering it is designed for gaming...

It's designed to sell. The gaming design was a nice little perk they could tack on at the end

[VinsinityKT]

7 minutes ago, lightisle said:

Whenever I've bought a laptop it always felt like i had to sacrifice in one area to meet my demands in another.
It seems though like all the components are here, or will be here very shortly, for that to no longer be the case.

These are the things i'm looking for in a new laptop:
 

1) Thunderbolt 3 port: Combined with an external GPU enclosure this replaces the need for a desktop computer to play modern games at high quality. The desktop computer of 2016 is an eGPU enclosure.

 

2) Quad core core i7 with iris graphics (GT3 / GT3e / GT4e) : This enables playing modern games at medium quality while on the go and has enough CPU power to not bottleneck any games while at an eGPU dock.

3) 16/32 GB of RAM: I'm a developer and some of the projects i routinely compile simply cannot fit in main memory at 8GB, that's a nonstarter. 16 is sufficient and 32 would allow me to run a ram disk to load all my projects into main memory at boot.

 

4) 256+ GB SSD: Most of my storage is network storage these days, but i would like to keep a few games installed locally and still have some scratch space left for projects. Mechanical drives in a laptop has been an obvious nonstarter since 2010.

 

5) 4k 12.5-14.1 inch display: Smaller displays mean smaller keyboards, i'm a big guy so the 12.5 is an absolute minimum. Larger screens are clunky to fit in many bags. HQ print resolution on a laptop, not sure it's necessary but it's available and it's where content will be heading, so i guess a new laptop should display new content at the appropriate resolution. 

6) Weight with adapter < 2 kg: Like i said earlier i'm a big guy so laptop weight was never aligned strongly with mobility for me. But very clunky bricks generally have other design issues which makes for poor mobility.

7) Battery life at lowest power step after 3 years of wear >= 8 hours: I can do my work with a simple text editor and at most i may i need a completely mobile work day.

8) Price < 2500 USD: I'll pay good money for good equipment, but don't push it.

Does this machine exist or are there rumors of one? Are there problems with a spec like this that i don't understand?

PS: I'm a linux user, so the only thing that matters to me is the hardware. A working eGPU solution is irrelevant it only needs HW support for pcie over thunderbolt 3 the rest i'm capable of fixing myself.

Well first couple points, we have no clue how thunderbolt GPU will work yet because they kind have just started to release out in the market. Also IRIS graphics laptops are pretty uncommon and I mostly have seen only hd version. I suggest an XPS 15 although I can't  guarantee thunderbolt GPU support.

[Mohenjo]

1 minute ago, VinsinityKT said:

Well first couple points, we have no clue how thunderbolt GPU will work yet because they kind have just started to release out in the market. Also IRIS graphics laptops are pretty uncommon and I mostly have seen only hd version. I suggest an XPS 15 although I can't  guarantee thunderbolt GPU support.

i mean. Almost ALL gpus support it and there are laptops like the macbook where it can be jerry rigged to work. People have been doing it before nvidia even officially supported it lol. He should be good.

[VinsinityKT]

1 minute ago, Mohenjo said:

i mean. Almost ALL gpus support it and there are laptops like the macbook where it can be jerry rigged to work. People have been doing it before nvidia even officially supported it lol. He should be good.

I was talking about support for laptop with thunderbolt connected GPU. Companies still have to change their stuff a bit like a bios update for it to work properly and not some hack.

[lightisle]

Thanks for the great replies guys! I found a flaw in my spec that i hadn't realized before i saw your options. I added a bulletin 7.5 about no dedicated gpu

[Mohenjo]

Just now, lightisle said:

Thanks for the great replies guys! I found a flaw in my spec that i hadn't realized before i saw your options. I added a bulletin 7.5 about no dedicated gpu

But.... but why?

[Mohenjo]

Just now, lightisle said:

Thanks for the great replies guys! I found a flaw in my spec that i hadn't realized before i saw your options. I added a bulletin 7.5 about no dedicated gpu

Finding a laptop that meets those requirements AND has iris pro is i dunno..

[Orangeator]

Found what you were looking for man: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232767&cm_re=i7-6700HQ-_-34-232-767-_-Product

 

It has thunderbolt and a 980m. With a i7-6700HQ (quad core) and 32gb of ram. Does not have a 4k screen though. Only 1080p.

 

It is the closest I could find to what you wanted. 

[lightisle]

Just now, Mohenjo said:

Finding a laptop that meets those requirements AND has iris pro is i dunno..

Yeah it would seem that way.  But i think the modern irises + thunderbolt 3 egpu make more sense without a dedicated gpu in the machine than with it.

[Mohenjo]

1 minute ago, lightisle said:

Yeah it would seem that way.  But i think the modern irises + thunderbolt 3 egpu make more sense without a dedicated gpu in the machine than with it.

I mean a 960m isnt a power hog. Maybe you can turn it off when you are running linux? The Asus laptop fits the bill. Its almost too perfect. 

[Mohenjo]

2 minutes ago, lightisle said:

Yeah it would seem that way.  But i think the modern irises + thunderbolt 3 egpu make more sense without a dedicated gpu in the machine than with it.

Also i believe the only laptops that even have iris pro are macbooks  They meet most of your requirements too 

[lightisle]

5 minutes ago, Mohenjo said:

Also i believe the only laptops that even have iris pro are macbooks  They meet most of your requirements too 

Wow i think you're right, didn't see that but if the next 13 inch macbook comes with thunderbolt 3 then all the requirements are met. I've never considered an apple product before, when are they expected?

[lightisle]

8 minutes ago, Mohenjo said:

Also i believe the only laptops that even have iris pro are macbooks  They meet most of your requirements too 

It doesn't have to be a pro, a regular iris and even the gt3e and gt3 HD graphics would be good enough

[KemoKa]

7 minutes ago, Mohenjo said:

I mean a 960m isnt a power hog. Maybe you can turn it off when you are running linux? The Asus laptop fits the bill. Its almost too perfect. 

I have a laptop with a 760M, that's a 650Ti core, which in a laptop would theoretically suck power through a firehose, but the laptop gets 10 hours of battery doing basic tasks. Having a dedicated GPU these days is not a big deal because the laptop can generally switch them as needed.

[Orangeator]

Just now, Orangeator said:

Found what you were looking for man: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232767&cm_re=i7-6700HQ-_-34-232-767-_-Product

 

It has thunderbolt and a 980m. With a i7-6700HQ (quad core) and 32gb of ram. Does not have a 4k screen though. Only 1080p.

 

It is the closest I could find to what you wanted. 

Has a 17inch screen damn't. Just noticed that. I cannot find a laptop for what you are asking for, either you don't have a quad core or the dream machine doesn't exist. Haha.

[Mohenjo]

6 minutes ago, lightisle said:

Wow i think you're right, didn't see that but if the next 13 inch macbook comes with thunderbolt 3 then all the requirements are met. I've never considered an apple product before, when are they expected?

Uh, dont they have thunderbolt 3? Isnt thunderbolt apples own thing? I also dont know how well apple handles lunix but if it handles windows then it should be fine. 

[lightisle]

Just now, Mohenjo said:

Uh, dont they have thunderbolt 3? Isnt thunderbolt apples own thing? I also dont know how well apple handles lunix but if it handles windows then it should be fine. 

No i don't think they do. The current ones needs additional drivers for 5ghz network to work and a bit of configuration to get the trackpad fully functional but otherwise they work very well from what i can see at: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/MacBook#Early_2015_13.22.2F15.22_-_Version_12.2Cx.2F11.2C4.2B