Laptop for remote workflow?

[AndreasOberg]

Hiya,
Looking at upgrading our laptop for being abroad for a few month. Any ideas. I'm thinking powerful and fairly heavy.
Something like this:
6 core CPU (they dont have more right?)
1080 GTX GPU, if they come in time 2080 would be great
3-4kg
15" inch monitor probably, maybe 17.
At least 3 USB ports preferably more.
32GB Ram or more
Needs to be well built and cooled. Fan noise can be an issue as well.

Probably not Apple since their GPUs are too much of a compromise.

Any pointers?
/Andreas

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Can’t do more than 6 cores without going to a desktop CPU. GTX1080 is also the best you’ll get for now in the mobile GPU offerings. There is a Quadro M equivalent that has some advantages, but you pay a lot more for it so not worth it. Keep in mind these are mobile GPUs, not their desktop equivalent so are still crippled. GPU in new MacBook Pro is good, but can’t do CUDA and not quite up to GTX1080M for some tasks. Better at driving external 4K+ monitors though and computationally with OpenCL its comparable.

You don’t need big and heavy, but you will get some big/bulky for many of the options due to cooling and the PC industry insisting on cheaper construction. If you don’t go Mac, then Dell and Lenovo are work looking at. MSI has a couple options too, but the screens are trash. People like to hate on the MacBook Pro for various reasons, but it’s still the best notebook out there. Some PC offerings do some things better, but can’t beat it as a well rounded package. This is where you have to get specific about what you need to see if some offering out there truly makes more sense than another.

I have to say don’t go with any big and chunky notebook using desktop CPU/GPU. I have yet to own one of those that doesn’t melt itself within 3 months. They usually do good for games, but can’t cope with hammering both CPU and GPU on full load for hours on end.

I have a special Dell laptop that is their government/corporate equivalent to the lates Alienware 15”. It’s great, but only has one TB3 port. Has a Quadro 5xxx GPU that’s the GTX1070 equivalent and 6-core CPU. I like it, but the new MacBook Pro is better all around. MBP is sleeker, lighter, performs mostly the same as it’s the same CPU. Both systems throttle back under load, Dell edges out the MBP on intense GPU stuff. MBP edges out the Dell everywhere else, and destroys it when comparing internal SSD speeds, not a big deal but definitely something to consider when working off internal storage or using internal for scratch/cache space.

Take a look at the new Lenovo P2. The screen is a compromise in quality compared to the MBP, but you can get it fully loaded otherwise and it has a couple USB ports and two TB3 ports. You’re basically sacrificing screen quality and two TB3 ports to gain a couple convenience USB ports and a better GPU.

 

[jake southard]

i9 Macbook 32gb RAM working great for me. .R3Ds and Arri footage editing smoothly.
Getting a Vega 64 eGPU for the office at home for faster export speeds. But not really any complaints about the laptop. Performs how expected.
Got an employee discount on it so happy camper.

 

[AndreasOberg]

Thanks a lot for the insight Jeff.
Screens is my main worry when it comes to gaming laptops. Apple screens I trust much more.
Heat is also a big concern. Melting laptop is not good like you say.

But as we saw Red will release improved decoding on Nvidia, so this seems like a potentially big miss on the Apple laptops.
Also can they really handle the heat the new ones?
/Andreas

 

[Misha Engel]

Thanks a lot for the insight Jeff.
Screens is my main worry when it comes to gaming laptops. Apple screens I trust much more.
Heat is also a big concern. Melting laptop is not good like you say.

But as we saw Red will release improved decoding on Nvidia, so this seems like a potentially big miss on the Apple laptops.
Also can they really handle the heat the new ones?
/Andreas

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme with UHD screen and 8+2 bits color(same as iMacPro) looks pretty good and you can always hook on an eGPU or 2.
https://www.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/thinkpad/x-series/ThinkPad-X1-Extreme/p/22TP2TXX1E1?menu-id=X1_Extreme

 

[John Conn]

Maybe this could be an option?

Maybe this could be an option?

I know this isn't the RED marketplace but.... might fit your needs.

We're actually in the process of getting our monster editing laptop ready for sale (ended up going back to the MacBook for a project we were working on because of need for ProRes).

This definitely is a desktop replacement / laptop option. Super powerful. Like... insanely powerful.

Happy to share the specs and see if you're interested.

Sager NP9877 (CLEVO 9870TM-G)
Bought from Xoticpc
https://www.xoticpc.com/np9877-clevo-p750tm1-g.html

Crazy connectivity
(2) Thunderbolt 3 ports (full speed), 5 USB 3 ports, (2) Displayports, (2) Gigabit ethernet ports, (1) HDMI Port

Still has room for several more SSD hard drives (insane) and also can install a 2nd GTX 1080 graphics card in SLI mode. Easy to upgrade (I installed a 2nd NvME drive and the ram in a few mins).


I did a full round of upgrades and customization to bring it to the following specs:
Intel Core i7 @3.7ghz 6 core processor
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 8gb GDDR5
17.3" 4k QFHD LED Backlit Widescreen (3840x2160) Matte type with G-Sync Tech
Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit
Upgraded to 32GB Dual Channel DDR4 SDRAM at 2400 MHz (4x16gb)
1tb Samsung 960 EVO M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
2tb Firecuda SSHD Drive
Sager 2 year Parts & Liftime ltd Labor warranty with lifetime domestic customer support


I bought the customized system March 3, 2018 for $3,962

and then added in house after it arrived:
1tb Samsung Pro M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD - Add of $541.24
Upgraded 32GB RAM to 64G of Ram Dual Channel DDR4 SDRAM at 2400 MHz (4x16gb) - Add of $409.74


As thus our total outlay for this beast this spring was $4,912.98

I'd like to see what we can get out of it as it's only been used on one project and is in perfect working condition. Feel free to email me at john@stage2studios.com and I can send over a full speccy report.