PC Tech Thread

I don't really understand what you said, but thank you.

It might be easier if i just said "will something like this one do?" as it's about the absolute limit of what I can afford. Ideally, I'd spend half as much on something similar second hand.

http://www.europc.co.uk/dell-precision-m6800-116980.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=CKCLnLfCoM4CFUg8GwodvToMlg

Why a laptop?

Need to travel to and from school innit? No workstations there...

Laptop-wise.... you'll be lucky to get a recent entry level setup for under £1000. Basically take the equivalent PC workstation spec, add 40% cost take 25% of the performance away.

https://www.scan.co.uk/3xs/configurator/15in-workstation-laptop-quadro-k1100m

https://www.amazon.com/MSI-WS60-6QJ-430-WORKSTATION-i7-6700HQ/dp/B01D0F81A2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1466483997&sr=1-9&keywords=msi+workstation&refinements=p_6:ATVPDKIKX0DER&linkCode=sl1&tag=triobest-20&linkId=4686ae90a518308a9f57267536a24c93

https://www.amazon.com/P50-Workstation-i7-6700HQ-Professional-Computer/dp/B00VETK42A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1468896877&sr=1-5&keywords=lenovo+p50&linkCode=sl1&tag=triobest-20&linkId=8b032e4b951636dbbcd2927441d55da8

http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro?afid=p238%7CsIuNqkIGk-dc_mtid_187079nc38483_pcrid_64626336601_&cid=aos-uk-kwgo-pla-mac-slid--product-MJLT2B/A-UK

£1,599 for the cheapest one up to the task though...

Dual core just won't cut it

You can boot camp a Mac and run Windows natively so no loss of power. However, 3D stuff requires a decent gpu, something apple always avoids putting in its machines for some reason.

You could give it a go on your current machine though?

Hey, thanks for this-it's something I already tried before with zero success-the late 2012 model I've got apparently won't support it which is something I wish I'd known before spunking on Microsoft and upgrading the RAM. My screen is also tiny so it would be better to get a 17".

With my budget I'll just have to look into desktops and do the inevitable thrice daily bike sprints across town unless I find something really good second hand.

Autodesk definitely favours PC and saving versions between Mac and PC platforms is glitchy as fuck, as with Unity 3D and Maya so I'd rather just have a 'work' machine that I know won't cause the same headaches I've had before. And before we get there the Mac price scale is more prohibitive!

If you've got a decent internet connection then a remote desktop on the windows desktop could be an option. Or if it's shorter term skip the computer altogether and go with AWS or MS Azure.

I was just thinking about AWS, esp. given the new CUDA set up they have.
That said, could be expensive long term unless you need something generated NOW!

Avoid all MacBooks.

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Mac

They're all due a refresh in the coming months / end of year, and as such all of the specs are way out of date and you won't be getting decent value for money.

But for a real workstation load... afraid that you do need a workstation. The Lenovo P50 is really nice, but I appreciate it's not for everyone. Workstations are large, heavy, produce a lot of noise and heat.

When I purchased my HP Z800 desktop with dual-Xeons and at the time 24GB RAM, that was due to the simple question, "Which is cheaper?":

1. Cloud Computing for the next 3 months over n AWS nodes
   
2. Many small commodity computers at home and the associated power cost
   
3. A single large/expensive workstation at home and the associated power cost
   
   

AWS was the most expensive by far, then the many small computers, finally the workstation which was actually the highest cost item worked out the cheapest overall for the given scenario of 3 month intensive use.

It was cheaper to heavily spec a HP Z800 than to rent time on AWS.

Workstations provide really good bang for buck so long as one really needs that much bang.

Also... such calculations only work if you know that the workload is really there. No point dropping the money for a workstation just to noodle around.

@CYOA did your Clevo go in the end? Probably powerful enough for Autodesk

My Dell XPS 15 is lovely, but I have to keep an eyeglass-cleaning cloth in the case to make the most of the glossy 4k touchscreen.

Unfortunately I tried to turn it on with no success. Have planned to open it up and tinker to see what the problem is but have been busy with kitchen / business etc. Ive used Autodesk on it in the past without probs but as others have mentioned I'd want something a bit fresher with better fans/heat dispersion for long term use.

Any recommendations for a 4k monitor?

I want it for large spreadsheet use and having multiple windows open at the same time so I'm not fussed about gaming performance.

We tried a load of 4k monitors at work, mostly for coding, email, web browsing, chat and web cam use. Probably similar usage to you... dark text on light background, no gaming.

We pretty much concluded the best value were Dell: http://www.dell.com/learn/uk/en/ukdhs1/campaigns/4k2k-monitors-dhs

The 27" is what we have and Amazon is £200 cheaper than the Dell site:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-P2715Q-27-Inch-Ultra-Monitor/dp/B00R420U8O/

Oh, reasons why it's good:

• Wide viewing angles
  
• Consistent backlight
  
• Good contrast
  
• No distortion at the edges
  
• Colours consistent with our expectations (some of us care about the colour of small text in the corner of our screens)
  
• Good enough inputs
  
• Nice built-in USB hub
  
• Stand is decent enough and it's nice to have swivel as well as height and angle
  

Stand is decent enough and it's nice to have swivel as well as height and angle

Until you knock it and are never quite sure if its horizontal ever again ... :p

I've got one of the lower res Ultra Sharp versions and it is a lovely piece of kit. Only wish they would do the same matt screen on their XPS laptops!!!

"Only wish they would do the same matt screen"

Can be achieved with a Dremel buffing wheel ;)

#Truestory

Am not sure that's a great idea. A typical 4k monitor simply crams more pixels into the same space as a normal one. While it may be able to display the equivalent of four regular windows at once, the text and UI will be so small it could be difficult to use.

Generally when using a 4k monitor the OS is set to scale everything back up to a more normal size which means you don't gain anything in terms of screen space. I reckon multiple monitors makes more sense if you've got space for them.

@Stonehedge this.

Or get one of these: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=210-AFLN

Windows 10 Anniversary is now downloading.

See you on the other side...

Well...

You don't have to hit Num Lock to use the number pad for the PIN any more.

Other than that, not much seems to of changed.