Believe it or not: Non-gaming laptop!
- Thread starter DraxDomax
- Start date
Hi, I need a workstation. I need to compile stuff really fast and also host the occasional VM. Problem is, I need that system to carry with me and cloud is no option.
Machine will spend 99% of the time on my desk with lid closed and hooked to full-size peripherals
Also, need to keep this affordable.
* What I KNOW I need:
CPU - i7 H 7'th-gen
RAM - 16GB 2400mhz, one stick (I will upgrade to 32GB in the future)
GPU - GTX 1060
HDD_2 - 1 TB cheap bulk storage
Cooling - something that will prevent throttling but not overly audible
OS - NO OS! Save me the money...
* What I need advice about:
HDD_1 - fast boot storage, 256gb but: do I want m.2? SSD? PCIe? (I am currently confused by those terms)
* What I don't care about (just get me the cheapest!)
Size - Ideally under 17" but I don't care, just best price. If prices are the same, than the most optimal chassis from other factors such as cooling/battery/features...
Screen - the built in monitor will be down 99% of the time, no need for IPS or something like that...
Battery - Don't care, as long as there's some battery in there to cover for small power outages
Please suggest a spec and price
Machine will spend 99% of the time on my desk with lid closed and hooked to full-size peripherals
Also, need to keep this affordable.
* What I KNOW I need:
CPU - i7 H 7'th-gen
RAM - 16GB 2400mhz, one stick (I will upgrade to 32GB in the future)
GPU - GTX 1060
HDD_2 - 1 TB cheap bulk storage
Cooling - something that will prevent throttling but not overly audible
OS - NO OS! Save me the money...
* What I need advice about:
HDD_1 - fast boot storage, 256gb but: do I want m.2? SSD? PCIe? (I am currently confused by those terms)
* What I don't care about (just get me the cheapest!)
Size - Ideally under 17" but I don't care, just best price. If prices are the same, than the most optimal chassis from other factors such as cooling/battery/features...
Screen - the built in monitor will be down 99% of the time, no need for IPS or something like that...
Battery - Don't care, as long as there's some battery in there to cover for small power outages
Please suggest a spec and price
Oussebon
Multiverse Poster
It can be hard to tell at a glance - but there is already the option to compare chassis: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/comp...10632]=on&compare[11010]=on&compare[11042]=on
Oussebon
Multiverse Poster
Get a 256gb PM961 or SM961 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD. You can look up the various acronyms if you like but in real terms they're just SSDs that are a lot faster than other models while being not very much more expensive at all, especially at the 256gb level.
Will you be using any software that benefits from a dGPU? photo/video editing, 3d rendering?
ubuysa
The BSOD Doctor
@DraxDomax, I've merged your two threads because they are for the same laptop. It's always best to stick to one thread so that you get all the replies in one place.
The laptop differences can be seen by looking through the detailed specs for each laptop chassis. Some feature higher resolution screens than others or better quality screens than others. Some can have high end graphics cards installed, others lower quality graphics cards and some can take no external graphics cards at all (in which case you use the CPU graphics card). Different laptops have different dimensions and different weights, they can have different USB port types; some have a USB3.1 port or two, others only USB3.0 and USB2.0, different laptops also feature different numbers of USB ports. The associated photographs show you where the ports are located on each chassis so that you can ensure that everything you want to plug in will fit. The battery capacity varies between laptops and the power of the charging unit varies between laptops.
Basically you have to list those features that are MUST haves, those that are SHOULD haves and those that are MUST NOT haves, and you've already made a good start on that. It's then a case (for you) of working your way up the range of laptops in price order checking the detailed specs of each until you find the first one that has all of your MUST haves, most of your SHOULD haves and none of your MUST NOT haves.
The laptop differences can be seen by looking through the detailed specs for each laptop chassis. Some feature higher resolution screens than others or better quality screens than others. Some can have high end graphics cards installed, others lower quality graphics cards and some can take no external graphics cards at all (in which case you use the CPU graphics card). Different laptops have different dimensions and different weights, they can have different USB port types; some have a USB3.1 port or two, others only USB3.0 and USB2.0, different laptops also feature different numbers of USB ports. The associated photographs show you where the ports are located on each chassis so that you can ensure that everything you want to plug in will fit. The battery capacity varies between laptops and the power of the charging unit varies between laptops.
Basically you have to list those features that are MUST haves, those that are SHOULD haves and those that are MUST NOT haves, and you've already made a good start on that. It's then a case (for you) of working your way up the range of laptops in price order checking the detailed specs of each until you find the first one that has all of your MUST haves, most of your SHOULD haves and none of your MUST NOT haves.
Yeah, the top post was from a benevolent user point of view.
I am a QA guy, so you actually got some professional help for free
On a serious note, I threw in a decent graphics card because... Heck, if I am building an i7/16GB machine, I'd sooner or later want to turn a game on it. It's actually cheaper to use that machine than to build another one just for gaming.
Let's say I go for 256gb M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (PM961 or SM961, whichever's cheaper)... What is the total spec and price you would offer to me?
I am a QA guy, so you actually got some professional help for free
On a serious note, I threw in a decent graphics card because... Heck, if I am building an i7/16GB machine, I'd sooner or later want to turn a game on it. It's actually cheaper to use that machine than to build another one just for gaming.
Let's say I go for 256gb M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (PM961 or SM961, whichever's cheaper)... What is the total spec and price you would offer to me?
Oussebon
Multiverse Poster
Bear in mind we don't work for PCS, so it's not exactly an offer from PCS, just an opinion from another client
Something like:
Chassis & Display
Proteus Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD IPS LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Quad Core Processor 7700HQ (2.8GHz, 3.8GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 - 6.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Hard Disk
1TB SERIAL ATA III 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 32MB CACHE (7,200rpm)
1[SUP]st[/SUP] M.2 SSD Drive
256GB SAMSUNG PM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 2800MB/R, 1100MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x Proteus Series 200W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Thermal Paste
EK-TIM ECTOTHERM THERMAL COMPOUND
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-8265 M.2 (867Mbps, 802.11AC) +BT 4.0
USB Options
3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 3.1 Type C PORT AS STANDARD
Battery
Proteus V Series Lithium Ion Battery (7180mAh)
Keyboard Language
PROTEUS SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
NO RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 720P 30 FPS HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 4 to 6 working days
Quantity
1
Price £1,181.00 including VAT and delivery
Unique URL to re-configure : https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/proteusv-15/MxRVmtAvEv/
You said no need for IPS, but these models tend to just have IPS screens as standard anyway.
If the dGPU was just for the odd, casual bit of gaming you could go for the 1050 ti in the Optimus VIII. A similar specced Optimus VIII with a 1050 ti would be £1026: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/optimusviii-15/X2QhU!AWmT/
In terms of gaming performance per £ the Proteus wins by a country mile, but the 1050 ti is still about equivalent to a desktop GTX 960 and will be capable of running new releases at some level for a long while to come, so is an option if you want to save £160.
Something like:
Chassis & Display
Proteus Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD IPS LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Quad Core Processor 7700HQ (2.8GHz, 3.8GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 - 6.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Hard Disk
1TB SERIAL ATA III 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 32MB CACHE (7,200rpm)
1[SUP]st[/SUP] M.2 SSD Drive
256GB SAMSUNG PM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 2800MB/R, 1100MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x Proteus Series 200W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Thermal Paste
EK-TIM ECTOTHERM THERMAL COMPOUND
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-8265 M.2 (867Mbps, 802.11AC) +BT 4.0
USB Options
3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 3.1 Type C PORT AS STANDARD
Battery
Proteus V Series Lithium Ion Battery (7180mAh)
Keyboard Language
PROTEUS SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
NO RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 720P 30 FPS HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 4 to 6 working days
Quantity
1
Price £1,181.00 including VAT and delivery
Unique URL to re-configure : https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/proteusv-15/MxRVmtAvEv/
You said no need for IPS, but these models tend to just have IPS screens as standard anyway.
If the dGPU was just for the odd, casual bit of gaming you could go for the 1050 ti in the Optimus VIII. A similar specced Optimus VIII with a 1050 ti would be £1026: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/optimusviii-15/X2QhU!AWmT/
In terms of gaming performance per £ the Proteus wins by a country mile, but the 1050 ti is still about equivalent to a desktop GTX 960 and will be capable of running new releases at some level for a long while to come, so is an option if you want to save £160.
I am just wondering, since this laptop supports only up to 2133, does that mean the mobo is older? What other implication there may be for going with this seemingly older chassis/mobo?
Also, the difference from Proteus V to Octane IV is 300 quid, plus the Octane doesn't have Aluminium finish and is 400 grams heavier. So, why is the Octane so much more expensive?
Also, the difference from Proteus V to Octane IV is 300 quid, plus the Octane doesn't have Aluminium finish and is 400 grams heavier. So, why is the Octane so much more expensive?
I don't care about 3 or 4 usb ports... The fact that Octane is a desktop (in a small case) is clearly a major difference and I am shocked that it's not immediately obvious in the configurator!!!
Now, Proteus V vs Defiance XS?
The defiance is 200 quid extra but seems like a more modern base (supports newer components, sound, 120hz screen...).
Also, the Proteus V power supply at 200 watts looks extremely suspicious, compared to Defiance 150 watts (which is suspicious in itself!)
On the other hand, the Proteus has a bigger case, and bigger is better for cooling/noise?
Oussebon
Multiverse Poster
It is, they say on the main laptops menu page - if you know that S-Series means Desktop CPU and H-Series means mobile CPU
(not many people will in fairness...)What newer components? I think you're reading far, far, far too much into the RAM frequency thing if it's that...
Didn't you say you were going to use the laptop screen down 99% of the time? Hardly seems worth £200 for a 120hz screen that's only getting used 1% of the time.
Why?
With the CPU being 45W TDP iirc those numbers sound fine, bearing in mind that RAM and storage uses hardly any juice. Note the Defiance XS has the Max-Q version of the GPU, which is a bit slower.
Bigger isn't always better for cooling, but the Proteus does seem to do very well with CPU temps (which seem to often run hotter than the GPUs) whereas the Defiance XS's cooling seems a bit more prone to being pushed to its limits, gonig by some reports on the forums.
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