Workstation - fixed desktop or portable?

[ncdave5]

Hi all.

We do some fairly-intensive engineering work on our laptops, which are typically Dell M6800s with 32 GB of ram, dual SSDs, Quadro 4100 graphics, etc.

We need to buy some new machines, and honestly one of them will likely stay in the office permanently. We would buy a desktop workstation (Dell Precision) but is there any benefit over just buying the laptop? Would it cost less to get the same performance? Are there any other benefits other than general expandability or max ram?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Cheaper to buy

Cheaper to maintain (if parts fail or if you just want to upgrade at a later date)

Less subject to heat issues

Lower cooling requirements

Easier to work on due to more spacious case

Typically larger monitor and superior keyboard.

Less subject to theft or damage due to dropping

That's off the top of my head. I'm hard pressed to think of any laptop advantage other than portability itself. You can rebuild/repair/upgrade a desktop pretty much indefinitely, replacing one part at a time, relatively inexpensively, as needed

 

[Torn Mind]

CPU Performance-wise, mobile i5s are approximately desktop i3s.

Quad-core mobile i7s are, at best, an i7 "S" chip. Thatmeans that the cooling system determines how the chip will turbo.

Dual-core mobile i7s are similar to the i3s as well, just with more cache than their mobile i5 counterparts.

 

[mfenn]

Cheaper to buy

Cheaper to maintain (if parts fail or if you just want to upgrade at a later date)

Less subject to heat issues

Lower cooling requirements

Easier to work on due to more spacious case

Typically larger monitor and superior keyboard.

Less subject to theft or damage due to dropping

That's off the top of my head. I'm hard pressed to think of any laptop advantage other than portability itself. You can rebuild/repair/upgrade a desktop pretty much indefinitely, replacing one part at a time, relatively inexpensively, as needed

If you only have a single desktop and a dozen laptops, it might make sense to buy another laptop in order to avoid introducing a new model to support.

/me takes off sysadmin hat

But yeah, the desktop will be superior in every way (except portability!) to the laptop for the same or less money.

 

[melloyellow]

If you want some portability, consider a mini itx sff desktop, like for example:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...ision-t1700-workstation&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04

It probably doesn't support 32gb ram and quadro graphics, though. Do the laptops actually support 32gb? Do you really need quadro graphics?

edit: hmm, ok, yeah it does look like those mobile workstation laptops support 32gb (4x8gb) of ram. And I'm guessing you didn't add $600 quadro graphics for no reason. You'd probably need at least a mATX system for that. I bet you could price out a desktop for considerably less than those pricey laptops though. Or you could go socket 2011 for more cores (6+) and more ram (8x16gb). Personally, I just prefer desktop screens, keyboards, and mice.

 

[mvbighead]

Honestly, you can simply pack a LOT more punch into a desktop. It'd almost make sense to shift towards having 'loaner' laptops for remote work, and powerful desktop for work in the office. Likely keeping 'old' laptops once someone is upgraded to a more powerful desktop, and simply keeping a few handy for remote work.

Me personally, I seldom use my laptop away from my work desk. I either use my home PC or personal laptop. However, none of my gear is an enterprise workstation, but I do find myself less productive without dual 1080 monitors and a full keyboard and mouse.

 

[Gunbuster]

Not to mention the precision desktops are built like tanks. Might stop a bullet it you need it to...