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Work vs Play, lets' talk numbers...

post #1 of 7
1/28/11 at 2:50am
Thread Starter 
So I just read this thread
http://www.notebookforums.com/thread114968.html
that gave a nice overview about the guts of a notebook, but it left me a bit puzzled about a few things...

First, a little about my situation:

The (3 year) warranty on my Thinkpad T61p has just run out, and almost instantly my once trusty laptop has decided to turn into a useless heavy piece of... anyway, it was time to get a new laptop, my Thinkpad was hardly keeping up with my needs.

I've decided I would like to get a HP brand notebook, due to good things I have heard about their service in Australia and the fact that I can access some sweet student discounts through my university.

BUT (and here is where I need help)

I am not quite understanding why I would spend $3000 on a "professional" mobile work station over a "home" notebook, like something from their Pavilion range.

I understand that the mobile work stations are built better, built to last (and I really will need my laptop to last a full 3 years) and a mobile work station from the elitebook range is built to handle the demands on the 3D CAD programs I use (Rhino, Archicad, Revit, etc etc)

I kind of understand that the hardest things to upgrade in a computer are the processor and graphics cards, so I should invest in the best ones I can and worry about RAM later(?)...

But what I'm not understanding is when I look at the numbers attached to processors HOW MUCH of a difference the higher numbers make... I mean for example when I look online the HP 8740w 17" Mobile Work Station (a giant serious looking machine) has a Intel® Core™ i7-740QM Processor (1.73 GHz, 6 MB L3 cache) processor, but the quaint light "entertainment" notebook the HP Pavilion dv6-4000 says it has a Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM 2.0 GHz processor...

Um, to a complete n00b like myself 2.0GHz sounds better than 1.73 GHz, so I realise there must be a massive gap in my understanding.

Both computers have dedicated graphics cards, but one looks fun, and one looks so very serious.

In the end I don't want a "pretty" computer, I use my computer everyday and really need one that is a desktop replacement (but portable), something that won't repeatedly crash on me when I try to run demanding cad programs, I don't care about the speakers, or if it has a built in web cam.

But I don't want to spend $1000 extra if I'm unsure if I will notice the difference, and I have no way of knowing as I admit there is a lot I just don't understand.

So what I would really appreciate is some guidance about the kinds if things I really should look for and consider. In trying to google "how computers work" I've just overwhelmed my self, if anyone could point me in the right direction or to some good websites that explain such things that would be fantastic!

I'm just looking to understand what I am looking for, as I'm a bit sick of using a computer every day and not really knowing how it works and what's important.

Thank you in advance for your time and help.
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post #2 of 7
1/28/11 at 11:23am
A major factor adding to your confusion is that you're looking for a computer in the middle of a refresh cycle. Intel just revealed their new mobile processors (the i7 CPUs with 4 digit numbers instead of 3) and systems with the new and more powerful processors are being introduced. However, each company determines which models will be the first with the new components and when each series will be updated.

It seems like the dv6 has been updated and the 8740w has not. This means that currently, the dv6 has a more powerful processor. However, the new CPU does not affect build quality, and the 8740w is still likely to be a better built and longer lasting machine.

Eventually, HP will update their entire product line with the new processors. So my advice if you want a powerful HP business machine is to wait until they refresh their business workstations with the new processors.
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post #3 of 7
1/30/11 at 3:22am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the info Djembe.

I may wait for the new processors to be put into the 8510w.

BUT is what you're saying that currently the little pavilion will do what I need as good as, if not better than the 8510w?

I guess this is the question at the crux of what I'm really trying to ask - how much do these "numbers" truly impact performance?
It makes me wonder if I can hop onto my brothers Vaio and do everything I need to. It would be so much more convenient to have a 1kg lap top to cart around rather than putting my back out with a 3kg+ mammoth.

I don't quite understand if the cost of better specs is worth it. I don't want to spend over $1000 for just build quality, I can be gentle, but I would spend $1000 if it means I can run simultaneous 3D CAD programs... or maybe I just need a desktop proper.
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post #4 of 7
1/30/11 at 3:51am
What it sounds like you need most is a powerful graphics card, and due to cooling restrictions, you're only going to find a high-end graphics card on bigger systems. Ideally, for your needs you're looking for something with the most recent and most powerful Nvidia Quadro FX or AMD/ATI FirePro that you can find, since those are professional cards aimed at graphic designers, etc. However, a powerful regular or gaming graphics card would also work well, just without some of the extra optimizations of the pro cards.

For instance, something like the Asus G73SW would be able to do everything you're looking for, even though it's marketed as a gaming system.

The newer processors are significantly more powerful than the previous generation, but graphics capabilities are going to be even more important for you. It's true that no notebook has the graphics power of a high-end desktop graphics card, but high end mobile cards should still allow you to do what you'd like.
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post #5 of 7
1/30/11 at 3:58am
Thread Starter 
Processor, card + cooling. K.

hmm, I never really considered an Asus, but I did wonder if a gaming notebook would suit my needs, I figured they had to be damn powerful...

Cheers, I may steer my search in a new direction.
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post #6 of 7
1/30/11 at 4:22am
If you want the perfect system that will handle whatever you throw at it and the perfect screen to go along with it, you can stick with the HP 8740w, since it can be ordered with one of the best screens and one of the best professional mobile graphics cards out there, but adding those options will also bring the price sky high ($4000+) and if you're not independently wealthy, a small compromise such as the Asus notebook I mentioned with slightly less powerful graphics and a glossy screen can be an excellent value, since it costs under $2000.
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post #7 of 7
2/2/11 at 7:34pm
Just to throw a general tip at you, what cpu you get isn't as important as it once was. Unless you regularly are re-encoding video files (and it's not GPU accelerated), you'll hardly ever need full cpu power.

Regarding the whole Firepro / Quadro vs regular, it's hard to say which you'll want. The professional grade stuff with optimized drivers will murder consumer counterparts in supported programs. BUT you have to ask yourself, are you really doing anything *that* complex that it would mean 10 minutes vs 30 seconds?

Finally just to keep you confused (), do you really need to do much creative on the go, or can you get away with a much more inexpensive desktop (relative to laptop) that can do all the heavy lifting and then have a more moderate laptop for presentations and the like? Building your own desktop isn't particularly hard, with component selection taking way more time than actual installation, and you'd learn a ton about "how computers work" in the process. Laptops are the same ideas just compacted and with a built in screen.

Anyways, I'm a fan of Dell Precision laptops. They aren't cheap but they have absolutely gorgeous screens (1920x1200 in a 17" laptop!) and are rock solid build quality.
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