High-Performance Laptop, Don't Care About GPU

[CycloWizard]

I'm an engineering grad student entering my ninth (and hopefully final ) year of college, so money is a little tight. Fortunately, I haven't had to do anything to my current computer since I put it together back in 2003, so I've saved up about $1500 that I could spend on a computer (or two). I'm looking to upgrade now because my loaner laptop has been taken back by its owner and now I'm missing the utility. I use my computer for three tasks:
1. Editing many large digital images (using PhotoShop, up to 350 9 MP images at a time)
2. Analyzing said images using MATLAB and performing numerical simulations using these results (using a variety of finite element software packages, MATLAB, and FORTRAN)
3. Writing papers

From #1, RAM is probably the most important thing, as the PS action that I use is pretty quick even on older computers. From #2, CPU and RAM are both important. #3 is limited by the keyboard on a laptop, so the bigger the keyboard, the better.

Based on this, I have two trains of thought:
A. Buy an expensive, fast laptop that will do all of the above, though the performance might not be as great as I would like based on my limited money
B. Buy an el cheapo laptop and use it to access a very fast desktop remotely

I've been researching laptops for a few weeks and I'm just not sure I can get the kind of performance that I would like within my budget, so I was looking for any feedback. Has anyone tried option B, or do you think I'd be better off just sticking with the laptop?

 

[JustaGeek]

Another copy from another thread (and no, I do not work for HP, nor am I paid to advertise their products). You can lower the price if you decide to get a different Video Card:


I am still going to recommend the HP - dv9500t with 17" screen, 2GB of RAM, Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB), 511MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS comes to ~1,524.99. And I strongly believe in HP quality and great support database.

Pick your components:
http://www.shopping.hp.com/ser...ation/browse1/home_SDP

Support:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfr...bmit.x=9&lang=en&cc=us

This is the config I came up with (you can get faster HD's too)

? Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
? Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7500 (2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
? 17.0" WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
? $50 Off upgrade from 1GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) to 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
? 511MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
? HP Imprint (Radiance) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone
? Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
? 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
? FREE Upgrade to LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support!!
? No TV Tuner w/remote control
? High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
? Microsoft(R) Works 8.0
? HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Notebook instant rebate ?$150.00
Order subtotal $1,528.99
E-financing price/month? $46/month
Free shipping
Your order qualifies for free Standard 5-7 Business Days shipping.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

$1500 can get you a very nice laptop these days. And since your not demanding a high end GPU that allocates even more money to your more important components.

Right off the bat you should look for the fastest CPU you can afford, and at least 2GB of RAM. One other important factors you forgot is screen size/resolution, which would seem critical since your working with such large images in Photoshop. However do you want the screen real-estate of a 17'' laptop, or the portability of a 15.4'' or smaller laptop? Another factor is hard-drive space/speed. The largest HDD you can afford should be priority over speed in my opinion, since your storing large images, yet unlike most general users you may see increased performance from a faster HDD from such large files as well (Don't quote me on that, maybe someone else can shed light on laptop hard drives.).

As for brands? Dell's business line of Lattitudes and Precisions are good values. Most people swear by Lenovo Laptops as well for usage like yours.



And sorry, but I haven't any experience with option B. I'm just trying to say that you can get a very powerful laptop in your price-range.

 

[CycloWizard]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I've spent the last hour or so parting out the exact laptops that I would probably buy from Lenovo and HP (after JG's suggestion).

Lenovo: $1204 + S&H, tax
ThinkPad T61 with Integrated Graphics - 1 Year Depot Warranty
Processor: Intel® Core? 2 Duo T7300 (2.0GHz 800MHz 4MBL2)
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Operating System Language: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium - US English
Display type: 14.1 WXGA TFT, w/o Camera
System graphics: Intel GMA X3100 GM965 w/ 1394
Total memory: 2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Keyboard: Keyboard US English
Pointing device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Hard drive: 160GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
Optical device: CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo 24X/24X/24X/8X Max, Ultrabay Slim
System expansion slots: PC Card Slot & Express Card Slot
Wireless card: ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN
Battery: 7 cell Li-Ion Battery

HP: $1,214
Operating system Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor T7300 (2.00 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Display 17.0" WXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900)
Memory $50 Off upgrade from 1GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) to 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Graphics Card Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Personalization FREE Upgrade to HP Imprint Finish (Radiance) + Webcam + Microphone
Networking Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection
Hard Drive 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
Primary CD/DVD Drive FREE Upgrade to LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support!!
TV & Entertainment Experience No TV Tuner w/remote control
Primary Battery High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

I would think that the performance on these would be pretty similar, but from everything I've read, it's difficult to know for sure with laptops. A bigger screen would of course be nice, but isn't really necessary. In fact, I might prefer less weight to a bigger screen, especially since the smaller screen would help the battery life quite a bit. Since I do a lot of writing, the keyboard is somewhat important, and I've heard good things about the Thinkpad's keyboard layout. I have very large hands, so I tend to cramp up using normal laptop keyboards.

 

[Ichigo]

You can't really have a large keyboard without a large screen. I'd recommend a 17" laptop, because portability is user-limited, while keyboard size and resolution are not. You'll thank yourself for the greater resolution. Though I disagreed with JG in said different thread, in your case it will be a good choice. Make sure to get the T7300, at least 2GB of RAM, the highest resolution you can (1920x1200 will definitely be helpful with PS, but the 1680x1050 will do if the former is not available), and maybe an extra battery if you work unplugged that often. Maybe even get a 7200RPM hard drive, as that may be another bottleneck, though I am not familiar with your programs. As long as PS doesn't have hardware acceleration from video cards, the Intel one is fine and will save you battery life.

 

[slugg]

If you have any questions about the Lenovo Thinkpad T61, let me know. I own one and will be happy to assist you

If you end up getting one, I'd suggest the ultrabay slim battery as well as the large, 7 cell battery.

 

[CycloWizard]

It looks like the weight between the two isn't much different, which surprises me. Does anyone have an idea of how long the "high-capacity" 8 cell battery from HP will last with a 17" monitor relative to the 7 cell battery on the ThinkPad with the 14.1"? I guess I'm leaning towards the HP at this point because I would like the bigger monitor and keyboard, and everything else seems to be more or less the same.

 

[slugg]

With my T61 with the Quadro NVS 140m video card, I get about 6.5 to 7 hours of battery life in windows XP, 6 to 6.5 in Vista. This is with the 7 cell main battery and the slim ultrabay battery (dual battery). Since you don't need a good GPU, you could go with the Intel integrated graphics and get even better battery life.

I can't comment on the HP, unfortunately. I do know that my battery lasts a lot longer than my room mate's Macbook Pro

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: slugg
With my T61 with the Quadro NVS 140m video card, I get about 6.5 to 7 hours of battery life in windows XP, 6 to 6.5 in Vista. This is with the 7 cell main battery and the slim ultrabay battery (dual battery). Since you don't need a good GPU, you could go with the Intel integrated graphics and get even better battery life.

I can't comment on the HP, unfortunately. I do know that my battery lasts a lot longer than my room mate's Macbook Pro

Oh yea, no lie there, the MBP gets decent battery life for whats in it, but it is by no means the best battery life out there. I just wish that they or someone else would release a higher capacity battery for it, or the MacBook. That would make my day since I only get about 2.5-3 hours of life out of my battery (1 year old) in Tiger, maybe 2-2.5 hours under Leopard.

One really weird thing is that when i first installed Leopard, i got maybe an hour of life, now that I have had it installed for a while (a little over a week), I get around 2 hours of life on average... I am really confused. Sorry, sort of threadjacked there.

 

[CycloWizard]

I decided to go to each manufacturer's site and give them all a fair shake. After wasting hours of my time, I've come to hate the way that they force you to shop for a laptop. It's almost to the point where I would rather go to BB and let an idiot tell me all about them for a couple hours. Why would anyone shop by the color of the laptop case as opposed to what's inside? Apparently women are buying more laptops than men nowadays.

 

[CycloWizard]

Well, I ordered the HP that I spec'd out above. Found a 20% coupon code (NB2749) that brought the price down to $1,091.19, which I think is an error in my favor since it quoted me a price of $1,174 after I entered it. Thanks for the input everyone! It looks like I won't have it in-hand until around the beginning of September, but I suppose that will have to do.