Laptop ideas (part deux)

Yes, I know I had a topic on the old board about this, but I cannot get to the post and the parameters of the situation is different now. I am no longer with the prior company that was going to pay for the machine. So my budget has decreased to a max of about $1100 or so.

Primary needs:

• Will become my daily machine for an e-commerce business, so heavy use and daily travel with me to and from day job.
• Has to be reliable as possible, I will sacrifice features and performance for reliability.
• Handle some heavy graphic strain from intensive programs like 3D Studio Max, Photoshop and AutoCAD2011.
• Good size monitor for above programs.
• Quadcore processor if possible.
• 4+ gig ram.
• Moderate HD space.
• 64-bit
  

Secondary needs:

• BOINC.
• GPU that is BOINC friendly.
• Heavy Internet traffic.
• Minimal Bloatware.

I have a few personal preferences, but due to BOINC and software needs, the Macbook preference is nixed. I do favor Toshiba and Dell, but I am open to ideas. I have been scouring Newegg every few weeks.

I'm posting here so I can remember to look at this when I get home. Will edit this post with thoughts then...

If you are interested in a laptop that can handle the abuse of constant travel, take a look at Panasonic's Toughbook series. Most aren't military spec but are much better than the average lappy.

HP EliteBook Laptops also meet Military specs (but are not as tough as Toughbooks) Graphic options are limited last I checked.

For durability and long term reliability I really llike Thinkpads. Need to look at the W series. I have a 510 with an i7-820QM and a Quadro FX 880M. The W710DS has a slide out secondary display. Very cool! It also supports dual Hard Drives so you can have SSD and traditional spindles in on box.

Ok - there's reliable, and then there's RELIABLE. The stuff that's been linked to before I think falls in the RELIABLE category. My off the shelf Toshiba is reliable. As long as you treat your lappy well, you should be good. The single best investment you can make for it is probably a good quality carrying case...

From a quick browsing of Newegg, these caught my eye (in no particular order):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115857
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152207
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834146848

The middle one will be your best BOINCer (easily 200k/day, I'd guess) and should run the crap out of your graphics programs, but is at the top of your budget.

Also, you should probably invest in a laptop cooler to be on the safe side...

Thank you for all the feedback guys. I am hesitant with HP, I have had bad luck with more then a number of HP machines. Never owned an ACER or MSI. The Lenovo's CS history is a turn off. I was checking out the MSI's last go round.

For the Lenovo, would it be able to run as a pseudo 8-core with the i7? Was able to do that for a little while on a friends i7 920 for a little while. I tend to focus on CPU based projects, hence the question in terms of the MSI's i5 in comparison.

Now, would the feature set on this Toshiba be worth the few extra dollars?: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

Hi Denim,
If you're mainly focused on CPU projects, I wouldn't base the decision off whether you can run one as a "pseudo 8 core" or not. If other factors point toward that model, that's great and *may* be a slight gain in some projects. However, I know during the long 13 day PG Challenge we had with PG, many of the high end German rigs were turning OFF their HT, because it was running more than twice as long with it on.

For example, if it took 1 hr. for the i7 to spit out 4 WUs with HT off, it took more than 2 hr.s to chew through 8, so it was actually less credits per hr. with the HT on. They were all telling each other to turn HT off once they figured that out.

Just something to consider and of course, might not hold true for every project.

I would be real tempted to get which ever model has a better graphics card. And not just for crunching, but for actual use - sometimes graphics in a lappy can be a real dog! ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by denim

Now, would the feature set on this Toshiba be worth the few extra dollars?: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

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I would say no - You're upping the processor (from an i5 to an i7, but decreasing its speed) and the screen size, but downgrading the video card compared to the MSI lappy. Given what you're doing, I'd invest more in the GPU than the CPU.

Dude! Mark this date on the calendar: Maxwell and I are in agreement on something! Just had to razz Mr. MM himself a little. :p<:-P%-(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maxwell

I would say no - You're upping the processor (from an i5 to an i7, but decreasing its speed) and the screen size, but downgrading the video card compared to the MSI lappy. Given what you're doing, I'd invest more in the GPU than the CPU.

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I admit, I do like the SSD drive on the Toshiba, would mean killer start up times. The complaints about the Toshiba is the size and weight, so that is something to consider too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DrPop

Hi Denim,
If you're mainly focused on CPU projects, I wouldn't base the decision off whether you can run one as a "pseudo 8 core" or not. If other factors point toward that model, that's great and *may* be a slight gain in some projects. However, I know during the long 13 day PG Challenge we had with PG, many of the high end German rigs were turning OFF their HT, because it was running more than twice as long with it on.

For example, if it took 1 hr. for the i7 to spit out 4 WUs with HT off, it took more than 2 hr.s to chew through 8, so it was actually less credits per hr. with the HT on. They were all telling each other to turn HT off once they figured that out.

Just something to consider and of course, might not hold true for every project.

I would be real tempted to get which ever model has a better graphics card. And not just for crunching, but for actual use - sometimes graphics in a lappy can be a real dog! ;)

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Thanks, I did not know about the HT issue.

My wife has a nice Core2Duo Lappy with the 6MB cache cpu, SSD drive, 4GB DDR2 and a 8400M GS in it. She wanted a "super thin" one, and that was the best GPU we could find at the time in a "super thin" type laptop. It does usual Win7 stuff / web/ office great, Photoshop "good", and AutoCAD "OK", and that would be subjective comparisons to my desktop rig.
I use hers at least once a week for something, and with that fresh in my mind, I would definitely be looking to get the best GPU you can get your hands on in what ever form factor of laptop you're looking at, because if you're going to have it for 3+ years, the first thing that will feel "slow" or outdated to you, or hold you back from running future programs, is the graphics card.
Best of luck, please keep showing us the choices you've narrowed it down to! :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by denim

Thank you for all the feedback guys. I am hesitant with HP, I have had bad luck with more then a number of HP machines. Never owned an ACER or MSI. The Lenovo's CS history is a turn off. I was checking out the MSI's last go round.

For the Lenovo, would it be able to run as a pseudo 8-core with the i7? Was able to do that for a little while on a friends i7 920 for a little while. I tend to focus on CPU based projects, hence the question in terms of the MSI's i5 in comparison.

Now, would the feature set on this Toshiba be worth the few extra dollars?: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...scrollFullInfo

---

I really like that Qosimo. Sweet setup and it is AutoCAD certified. Overall It has good user reviews on NewEgg. The one bad review was from an owner who was too brain dead to realize he/she had a faulty power brick. All of his/her complaints are related to it. It is generating a ton of EMI.

Anyhow check out the user Qosimo user manual here. That should help with the decision process.

In terms of bloatware, there is no way to avoid it on mass market systems. The only way to get around it (assuming of course this does not void your warranty) is to delete all the partitions with a partition manager like gparted and install the OS from retail media. You will have to grab the system drivers from the manufacture's website. Just skip anything that is labeled "Value Added", "Recovery", "Assistance" and the like. Those are the things loaded with bloatware/spyware. Dell is one of the worst in this respect.

Sounds good, I think I am really liking the MSI's. I guess I can budget a few more if need be. Here are a few more comparable ones to the first MSI that Maxwell posted:

Maxwell's suggestion:
MSI GX640-260US: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152207

Very similar MSI ~ larger screen, 5870 GPU, smaller HD:
MSI GX740-235US: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152206

Different MSI ~ slightly faster CPU, 5870GPU, 2x USB 3.0, best speakers, lower res, more $$:
MSI GX660-260US: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152231

Very similar to first MSI ~ better GPU, lower res, more $$$:
MSI GX660-053US: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152205

Similar to 2nd listed MSI ~ i7 CPU, better GPU, more $$$, but rebate:
MSI GX740-079US: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152192

Thanks guys, I have just hit my limit and I need to get a trusty laptop soon. I am curious about MSI's, but I have yet to read much of anything negative about them, well yet to read much about them at all outside of Newegg reviews.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DrPop

Dude! Mark this date on the calendar: Maxwell and I are in agreement on something! Just had to razz Mr. MM himself a little. :p<:-P%-(

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Great minds think alike. And when they don't, I'm right and the other minds are wrong. This simple rule has gotten me far in life... ;)

And I'm not seeing where that Toshiba has a SSD - I saw one dude put one in there, but not that it comes pre-installed...

I'm still siding with the MSI - seems to go really well with graphics-intensive stuff.

EDIT:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by denim

Very similar MSI ~ larger screen, 5870 GPU, smaller HD:
MSI GX740-235US: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152206

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I would go with this one, if it were me. Even better GPU for the same $$. The others don't strike me as being worth the extra money for what it sounds like you need.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fire$torm

I really like that Qosimo. Sweet setup and it is AutoCAD certified. Overall It has good user reviews on NewEgg. The one bad review was from an owner who was too brain dead to realize he/she had a faulty power brick. All of his/her complaints are related to it. It is generating a ton of EMI.

Anyhow check out the user Qosimo user manual here. That should help with the decision process.

In terms of bloatware, there is no way to avoid it on mass market systems. The only way to get around it (assuming of course this does not void your warranty) is to delete all the partitions with a partition manager like gparted and install the OS from retail media. You will have to grab the system drivers from the manufacture's website. Just skip anything that is labeled "Value Added", "Recovery", "Assistance" and the like. Those are the things loaded with bloatware/spyware. Dell is one of the worst in this respect.

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Toshiba is my first preference, and that one I linked is the closest one to a desk top in laptop form. I am not that worried about bloatware, just wanted to avoid what I could. Thanks for the link. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maxwell

Great minds think alike. And when they don't, I'm right and the other minds are wrong. This simple rule has gotten me far in life... ;)

And I'm not seeing where that Toshiba has a SSD - I saw one dude put one in there, but not that it comes pre-installed...

I'm still siding with the MSI - seems to go really well with graphics-intensive stuff.

EDIT:

I would go with this one, if it were me. Even better GPU for the same $$. The others don't strike me as being worth the extra money for what it sounds like you need.

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Crap, did I mis-read that? :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by denim

Crap, did I mis-read that? :(

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I think so - the specs of it only indicate a 7200RPM Sata drive...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maxwell

I think so - the specs of it only indicate a 7200RPM Sata drive...

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Me thinks the SSD is an UPGRADE option.

Hi again,
My vote with the current budget is for this one:
Very similar MSI ~ larger screen, 5870 GPU, smaller HD:
MSI GX740-235US: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152206

You can always add a bigger HDD or more likely, a high speed SSD later, when you have the funds and they drop in price.
You can't change the screen easily or cheaply, so for AutoCAD, I'd definitely go with the bigger screen. And for a laptop, I can't see where an i7 would be any better than an i5, especially considering the i5 is clocked quite a bit higher than the i7 in your price range. You will love that 5870, no question there! :cool:

Thanks for the response. So we have two votes for the same MSI and one for the Toshiba so far.

Hum...hard one. The Toshiba does spec pretty good and looks nice. But, unless they have some secret sauce, the MSI one is just going to be faster, both CPU and GPU. Which, depending on how much Photoshop and AutoCAD you run simultaneously, you might notice a difference. Then again, you might not notice a difference at all - depends what kind of rig you're coming from (all in the perspective!) :D

One other thing to think about is that $200 you save by purchasing the MSI could buy you a really nice SSD down the road when you want one.

This boils down to the GPU for me - BOINC will be better for the MSI (secondary concern), and will do just as well if not better with any graphics intensive program. I can't imagine spending +$200 for a GPU that's not as good.

Plus, like DrPop said, that extra $$ can be spent on upgrades later on.

Sounds like we have a winner with the 2nd MSI.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by denim

Sounds like we have a winner with the 2nd MSI.

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Yay! You'll enjoy it...

Man, you are going to love it. One sweet lappy - that would put probably 3/4 of the desktop rigs out there right now to shame! :D
Enjoy your new toy er, I mean work tool, of course! :cool: