Laptop for heavy usage

Redriddick · 26-11-2019 12:45pm #1

Hi guys,
I am looking for a new laptop with a three screen setup. I was on dell chat and they recommended the precision 3541.
Any recommendations??

cherryghost · 26-11-2019 12:51pm

Are the 3 screens primarily for office work, or more heavy workload such as 3D design, video editing etc?

Redriddick · 26-11-2019 1:04pm

cherryghost wrote: »

Are the 3 screens primarily for office work, or more heavy workload such as 3D design, video editing etc?

Hi Cherryghost.
Mostly used for ber assessments etc, so fairly heavy.

cherryghost · 26-11-2019 5:16pm

Not sure what BER assessments entail to be honest. Is it heavy processing usage interface, or is there 3D elements to it also? Asking because you could either need a laptop with a beefy CPU and not care much about the graphics side, or vice versa... or both! So price swings.

Redriddick · 26-11-2019 7:36pm

cherryghost wrote: »

Not sure what BER assessments entail to be honest. Is it heavy processing usage interface, or is there 3D elements to it also? Asking because you could either need a laptop with a beefy CPU and not care much about the graphics side, or vice versa... or both! So price swings.

2d rendering only. The BER site are is all cloud based now. Currently have an i5-3340 with 4gig of ram and it's so slooooww. Would have excel,word,cad etc all open at once.

26-11-2019 10:20pm

Redriddick wrote: »

2d rendering only. The BER site are is all cloud based now. Currently have an i5-3340 with 4gig of ram and it's so slooooww. Would have excel,word,cad etc all open at once.

you could try adding more ram - bring it up to 16gb even and an ssd if you don't have one.

would transform the laptop.

Redriddick · 27-11-2019 9:47am

glasso wrote: »

you could try adding more ram - bring it up to 16gb even and an ssd if you don't have one.

would transform the laptop.

To be honest, the laptop I have has broken my heart and I need something new.

27-11-2019 3:15pm

Redriddick wrote: »

To be honest, the laptop I have has broken my heart and I need something new.

Because you don't have an ssd in it .

Hdd's slow down to nothing

The cpu will still run ok

You won't believe the difference

For 60 euro (ssd and just 4gb ram) or would be like a totally new laptop

27-11-2019 4:54pm

SSD 240 GB (pick 480 if you want bigger)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073WH5Z46/ref=twister_B078MGV62V?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

RAM
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT51264BF160BJ-PC3L-12800-Single-204-Pin/dp/B009RBN6I6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=17ZLUZ2QZIV64&keywords=4gb+ddr3+sodimm&qid=1574869914&sprefix=4gb+ddr3+sod%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-4

total cost < 40 sterling. free delivery

easiest way is to save off files you need and reinstall windows from a usb stick after you swap the new ssd in for the existing HDD

Redriddick · 28-11-2019 11:41am

glasso wrote: »

SSD 240 GB (pick 480 if you want bigger)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B073WH5Z46/ref=twister_B078MGV62V?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

RAM
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT51264BF160BJ-PC3L-12800-Single-204-Pin/dp/B009RBN6I6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=17ZLUZ2QZIV64&keywords=4gb+ddr3+sodimm&qid=1574869914&sprefix=4gb+ddr3+sod%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-4

total cost < 40 sterling. free delivery

easiest way is to save off files you need and reinstall windows from a usb stick after you swap the new ssd in for the existing HDD

Probably will do that with the old one but I still want to get a new one.

28-11-2019 12:47pm

Any of the 4 core i5 or Ryzen chips should do the job for you

16gb ram may be preferable

Often cheaper to buy the 8gb option and then upgrade yourself

Most laptops have only 1 ram slot these days outside gaming laptops and desktop replacements

What is your max budget?

28-11-2019 1:03pm

Any modern Intel or AMD CPU can drive 3 screens

1 through hdmi and 2 using an adaptor/hub on usb c ( prob giving hdmi and VGA connections)

The 2 from the hub will only work in extend mode tho. IE extending the same content

The content on the non hub hdmi can be different

Redriddick · 28-11-2019 2:28pm

glasso wrote: »

Any of the 4 core i5 or Ryzen chips should do the job for you

16gb ram may be preferable

Often cheaper to buy the 8gb option and then upgrade yourself

Most laptops have only 1 ram slot these days outside gaming laptops and desktop replacements

What is your max budget?

Max budget 1100 to 1400

28-11-2019 2:34pm

tbh this for €659 has only 8gb ram but has enough power to do the job for you

4-core ryzen cpu (your old cpu was only 2-core) and powerful integrated graphics (leagues ahead of your old cpu) with great metal build quality, light and stylish with a fast ssd

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-zenbook-14-um431da-14-amd-ryzen-5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-blue-10194537-pdt.html

buy a usb-c to hdmi adaptor and vga on amazon for less than 15£ and you're good to go. 1 off the laptop, 2 off the adpator (max 1080p when running 2 off the adaptor) - that's 3 screens plus the laptop screen.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-Hdmi-Adapter-Type-Converter/dp/B074CYJ9P8/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=usb+c+to+hdmi+vga&qid=1574947939&sr=8-4

what are the most intensive programs that you run?

"Would have excel,word,cad etc all open at once."

AutoCAD (including Mental Ray rendering) is actually fairly light on RAM requirements and Autodesk only recommends 8GB of RAM.
https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-Autodesk-AutoCAD-134/Hardware-Recommendations

with your old laptop, the 4gb ram and slow (and gets super slow over time) HDD vs SSD was what was killing you.

Redriddick · 28-11-2019 3:23pm

glasso wrote: »

tbh this for €659 has only 8gb ram but has enough power to do the job for you

4-core ryzen cpu (your old cpu was only 2-core) and powerful integrated graphics (leagues ahead of your old cpu) with great metal build quality, light and stylish with a fast ssd

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-zenbook-14-um431da-14-amd-ryzen-5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-blue-10194537-pdt.html

buy a usb-c to hdmi adaptor and vga on amazon for less than 15£ and you're good to go. 1 off the laptop, 2 off the adpator (max 1080p when running 2 off the adaptor) - that's 3 screens plus the laptop screen.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-Hdmi-Adapter-Type-Converter/dp/B074CYJ9P8/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=usb+c+to+hdmi+vga&qid=1574947939&sr=8-4

what are the most intensive programs that you run?

"Would have excel,word,cad etc all open at once."

AutoCAD (including Mental Ray rendering) is actually fairly light on RAM requirements and Autodesk only recommends 8GB of RAM.
https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-Autodesk-AutoCAD-134/Hardware-Recommendations

with your old laptop, the 4gb ram and slow (and gets super slow over time) HDD vs SSD was what was killing you.

Being fussy now but would like a 15" screen.

28-11-2019 3:42pm

well then you can get what you need cheaper

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-5-a515-15-6-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-256-gb-ssd-silver-10198290-pdt.html

ips LCD screen 15.6 inch

you can also upgrade the ram in this down the line if you need to 16gb

you could spend more but you don't really need to...

if you are inclined to spend more I'd go for the Dell 7000 range in the 15 size

it's all metal premium build, has a more powerful i5 h series cpu and a dedicated graphics card. all the same it's pretty light (decent bit lighter than the Acer). lovely machine really.

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/inspiron-15-7000-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-7590-laptop

the base dell model currently just under 1k is sweet in it's own right and no need to go beyond that. I'd see if they give a discount - they should be doing so over the next few days (friday to Monday)

the dell would run your Autocad faster for sure.

28-11-2019 3:48pm

if you go with the Acer you need this multi-display adapter

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jiqu-Adapter-Adaptor-Converter-Windows7-Grey/dp/B07PWDM1FM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=16E2XH8JJDGM8&keywords=usb+3+to+hdmi+vga&qid=1574952454&sprefix=usb+3+to+hd%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-3

28-11-2019 3:49pm

the dell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsIZk7goZHQ

Laptop for heavy usage

Comments