For Maya - high spec PC or Powerbook - Page 2

I think what havocide is trying to say is that most people buy laptops as DTR, and then end up using them just like desktops. I agree in that this is pointless...

Anyways, if you're getting a laptop for workstation use, definitely dump Macs; their hardware wil hurt your performance a lot in Maya, and you'll end up spending a lot more. Here are some pointers...

First off, definitely go with the Turion line of processors. Benchmarks have shown large performance gains over Pentium-M processors in the fields of 2D and 3D creation, including specific tests using Maya. The 64-bit architexture definitely gives the processor an edge, and if you get the MT (25W) version, you'll end up with similar battery life to a Pentium-M.

Secondly, you'll want to pay attention to the graphics card. While they do exist, mobile ATI FireGL and nVidia Quadro cards aren't very common, and finding one with an AMD processor (as mentioned above) might be kind of tough. I myself don't know of any laptops which feature workstation cards except for IBM Thinkpads, but they don't feature the Turion. If at all possible, getting a Pentium-M isn't such a problem if you get a decent workstation card, but an ideal system would include both the AMD and FireGL/Quadro cards. Dell has two laptops that can and will give you some great performance.

Thirdly, I'll tell you the same thing I've told all users looking for mobile workstations: don't try to make it into a desktop. While you can get decent performance out of a laptop in terms of rendering and power, you'll end up sacrificing battery life and performance. If you're looking for something that you plan on using for everything 3D-related, I'd look into a desktop and not worry about a laptop at all. HOWEVER, another thing I always say is, get a laptop that will run Maya fine, but then use the money you save to get a dedicated rendering desktop.

If you're not looking for long-lasting battery life, however, Dell's M270 features a 256MB Quadro FX Go1400 that weighs in at only 6.69lbs, which is definitely carriable. Otherwise, the M20 has a 64mb ATI FireGL, which will have much longer battery life and about the same portability.

That's it... anyways, look into the Dell laptops, as they're one of the few workstation laptops I know of. If anybody knows any others, then I'm sure they'd be happy to post them!

Umm... my powerbook IS my workstation. This includes graphic design, web design, photography work, video work in commerials and short films, and media production work including DVD authoring. I see no point in chaining yourself to a desk if you can get all of that accomplished on a laptop. I might sit at a desk 50% of the time, but the other 50% is conducted on my back porch while watching the sun set, or in coffee shops, or in class, or WHEREVER. I believe those benefits greatly outweigh any negatives that might be associated with the desktop vs laptop debate. Sure, I could render something 10% faster on a desktop, but it'll render 100% faster on my laptop if I'm in a coffee shop doing it while my desktop is sitting alone at the house.

that's where you are a little wrong.. when you are rendering stuff... or rather when your computer is rendering it... itz gonna take time... and depending on the size it is no joke... esp when itz 3d stuff... im currently into terragen... which is a landscape generator... even for a program like this... rendering takes 2 hrs at least... if ure gonna do any RENDERING on a laptop... chances are that it uses alot of cpu resources and memory and that simply means a drain to battery... itz pretty stupid to be rendering stuff while you're on the road... unless ure saying u got a dozen of battery packs... and do take note that you don't always have to be with your comp while it is rendering... so simply juz leave ur desktop to render... turn off ur monitor and take a nap...

for me... my belief is to have both a laptop and a desktop... since they each have their own advantages... so in order to maximize their potential and to get the best of both worlds... having both systems is gonna be way more beneficial... if you're just a basic computer user... having a laptop as a main system is fine... but not if ure gonna do intensive work with your computer... there is a reason why desktops still exist up till today...

10% faster on your desktop? UNless you're using a 3-4 year old card, there's no way it'd be that slow. What sounds faster, a full-fledged, heat-producing, number-crunching SLI system (or even a workstation) or a slower, limited mobile graphics card? And since you use a Powerbook, the video card is even older... Macs are still using the AGP 4x standard.

What I was trying to suggest was, try not to make the laptop into a full fledged render station; for the money you'll pay to try and turn your laptop into a desktop replacement, you could buy a much cheaper (and more portable) laptop for work, and then buy a much sturdier and more powerful desktop that you could dedicate to rendering. I'm not sure if you noticed, but desktops are always more powerful than laptops... and they're also much cheaper.

I think you missed the point... if you have the ability to work on projects while on the road, no matter what you're doing, it's working 100% faster than your desktop because your desktop is USELESS at your home/office during this time.

WEll, for one, he's a student, so he's not going to be traveling across the country. Secondly, if he goes full out on a laptop, its not going to even be worth lugging anywhere. Thirdly, even if he was traveling, you can get a decent workstation laptop for under $2000 and around 6lbs, which would satisfy the need for on-the-fly renders while not destroying his portability. Plus, he could use the money he saves to buy a desktop--which he could use when he's home. Nobody in their right mind wants to turn a laptop into a render server...

for 2d video work i use both. i hook up via my KVM switch and bounce between my systems for converting & editing DV content. i then move the content via ethernet to my ibook to do most of the editing. very nice to have 2 systems to multitask.

you were talking about rendering... unless you don't understand what is meant by rendering... and what you said isn't practical at all... of my 8 years in the design business... i can seriously vouch that it is NOT productive to work on the road... putting it on ur lap... u gotta crane ur neck and stuff... isn't that the reason why laptop stands are invented? also... your use of a computer mouse is also hindered... and using your touchpad to do any serious work is HELL... as a designer... the only time i find a true use for a laptop would be to show clients my work and to make alterations on the spot if they request to do so... that of course beats a desktop as they can see the changes that they want to make immediately and it sure saves alot of time... other than that... i think a laptop is not practical for working on the road if you want to do serious work... nothing beats a comfy chair working on a nice big lcd screen with lots of horsepower

Well... in fact, I do know what rendering is, I DO work as a designer with my "office" being anything from my office, to the passenger seat of a car, to a couch in a coffee shop, to my back porch, to anywhere else I feel like working.

It's not hard at all to design with the trackpad. In fact, I know a designer who doesn't even own a mouse! To say that you need all of the requirements you listed above is a little silly. I know a LOT of people who work strictly by laptop. Yes, I also know some who use the laptop mainly for transportation of projects from their desktop to clients. But that doesn't dismiss that there's a whole legion of those tool is just their laptop.

what about you own BOTH a desktop and a laptop... do wad u need on ur desktop and leave it to render... when ure out u work on a laptop... (=

That'd work fine, too. Just wanted to point out that there are professionals who just use a laptop to get all of their work done.

Okay, guys, I don't think anybody's arguing that laptops are useless... the point that I was saying is, as far as hardware quality itself goes, you're going to get far more powerful rendering tools on a desktop than a laptop, and they'll be cheaper to boot. And while I think we can all agree that using a trackpoint or touchpad isn't always the most comfortable means of doing things, they're still pretty useful and comfortable. Heck, some people even prefer them... who can argue with that?

The fact remains, though, for doing intense renders both in render programs and media encoding, trying to get a laptop that can handle them all will be much harder than a desktop. What's the point of trying to carry around a server under your arm?