Spec Advice for Laptop

[hbc]

I am looking for a laptop that can handle the processing of 3D laser scanner files which can end up being 120GB+ graphic files once processed. any advice on the below would be greatly received. I don't want to create any bottle necks in the processing either at CPU or GPU.

Cheers in anticipation.

H

Chassis & Display
Octane Series: 17.3" Matte 4K LED 60Hz 72% NTSC Widescreen (3840x2160) (No G-Sync)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 Eight Core Processor i9-9900K (3.6GHz) 16MB Cache
Memory (RAM)
64GB Corsair 2400MHz SODIMM DDR4 (4 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2080 - 8.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1

Get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with select NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs!
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA 2.5" SSD, (upto 560MB/sR | 540MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3300MB/W)

Get Ghost Recon: Breakpoint with select SAMSUNG SSDs!
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 330W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Battery
Octane Series 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (82WH)
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 M.2 GAMING + BLUETOOTH 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
4 x USB 3.0 Ports + 2 x USB 3.1 Type C Ports
Keyboard Language
OCTANE SERIES BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]

 

[Oussebon]

Well.. there's literally nothing higher end you could buy from PCS (possibly at all?) that comes as a laptop, and given your uses, the spec seems appropriate.

Given how large your files are, are you sure the 1TB NVMe SSD is large enough? Or do these things get moved off the main drive as soon as you're done with them?

if you're not averse to fitting your own SSD, you could consider getting your own Crucial MX500 (for example) instead of the Barracuda, as it's a bit faster for the same or a lower price. Though the Barracuda apparently does alright with sustained writes, which I imagine it will be seeing a lot of, so is an okay option if you'd rather not fit your own.

 

[hbc]

I'm reading some concerns in the forums regarding thermal issues with the i9 in this platform and that it would need throttling back to maintain stability. I don't want to invest in a +3k system that i'm then not going to be able to get the best out of. the more posts I read the more concerned I am.

any thoughts?

 

[SpyderTracks]

I'm reading some concerns in the forums regarding thermal issues with the i9 in this platform and that it would need throttling back to maintain stability. I don't want to invest in a +3k system that i'm then not going to be able to get the best out of. the more posts I read the more concerned I am.

any thoughts?

It wouldn’t need throttling back, but undervolting which still functions normally, just decreases the voltage as much as possible for that particular chip.

I don’t know any laptop that can house the i9 without thermal throttling at stock voltages. Imho, the chip isn’t fit for purpose.

 

[Oussebon]

Also, bear in mind that "best" performance is problematic when discussing an i9 9900k:

Intel Core i9-9900K Re-Review

Today we're revisiting our original Core i9-9900K review and updating it with 95 watt TDP limited results, basically results based on the official Intel specification. For better...

www.techspot.com

Desktop motherboards often run it deliberately out of spec - because desktops have giant CPU coolers and can get away with it. The laptop probably respects the 95W TDP by default (i.e. runs the CPU the way you're actually meant to).

As above, most people seem to get on with the CPU fine, with an undervolt going a long way to help.

 

[hbc]

thanks for the reply, that bins that order.

 

[Oussebon]

Ultimately if you're looking for 'full' desktop performance, you need a desktop

 

[SpyderTracks]

If you’re able to hold on (for an unknown time period unfortunately) for a high performance laptop, AMD are set to be releasing some 3000 Ryzen mobile CPU’s which are on 7nm and (complete estimation) I think are going to drastically improve thermal performance - and normal performance - that have plagued the last few gens of intel chips. Manufacturers are being told by intel now that thermal throttling is “by design” which is completely unacceptable imho!

3rd gen Ryzen is going to be worth the wait in the mobile space I think: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ne...bile-cpus-will-reportedly-launch-at-ces-2020/

 

[debiruman665]

Also, bear in mind that "best" performance is problematic when discussing an i9 9900k:

Intel Core i9-9900K Re-Review

Today we're revisiting our original Core i9-9900K review and updating it with 95 watt TDP limited results, basically results based on the official Intel specification. For better...

www.techspot.com

Desktop motherboards often run it deliberately out of spec - because desktops have giant CPU coolers and can get away with it. The laptop probably respects the 95W TDP by default (i.e. runs the CPU the way you're actually meant to).

As above, most people seem to get on with the CPU fine, with an undervolt going a long way to help.

I can confirm it does not respect 95W and instead runs 120W standard and 165W on turbo boost

Ever since you pointed out to me it should be 95W, and me overriding the settings to force it to use 95W when not turbo my laptops fans never turn on at all unless I'm doing something intensive.

With files that big the bottleneck will be the cache to disk which if you got an optane drive which without the special software will just default to regular flash storage and just use that for the paging file could be a good alternative use for it.

 

[hbc]

I can confirm it does not respect 95W and instead runs 120W standard and 165W on turbo boost

Ever since you pointed out to me it should be 95W, and me overriding the settings to force it to use 95W when not turbo my laptops fans never turn on at all unless I'm doing something intensive.

With files that big the bottleneck will be the cache to disk which if you got an optane drive which without the special software will just default to regular flash storage and just use that for the paging file could be a good alternative use for it.

your spec in your signature settings looks similar to my original spec above. what are your thoughts on the laptop and would you change anything? or have second thoughts on this machine?

 

[debiruman665]

your spec in your signature settings looks similar to my original spec above. what are your thoughts on the laptop and would you change anything? or have second thoughts on this machine?

I would say that I had to put a great deal of time into demystifying the overclock settings through trial, error, and experimentation. A lot of the information readily to hand is very misleading, misunderstood or incorrect.

The laptop is overpowered and the default settings give it great benchmarks but you'll have a hairdryer on your desk. I think there's a lot of scaremongering on CPU temps that might be a bit more of a boogieman that the reality.

16 thread full 100% load will have a thermal throttle to around 4.6-7GHz which is still a beast in my opinion. Losing 300Mhz from a potential 5ghz is not a massive drop.

 

[Oussebon]

The CPU doesn't have a potential 5GHz on all-core load. 4.7GHz is the all-core Turbo (which is meant to be fixed duration, before it downclocks to stay within TDP)

 

[hbc]

I originally wanted a high end mobile device that can process my scan files in hotels and on planes. however if I`m going to end up lugging a beast around with me that wont fit a plane seat tray then there's no point.

if you had 3.5K to spend, what desktop spec would you go for?

 

[Oussebon]

How soon do you need it? The AMD R9 3950x is looking attractive, but not out yet.

And the AMD R9 3900x is out of stock (global supply issues)

Also Intel's forthcoming Skylake-X refresh, given the massive price cuts it will bring (forced by competition from AMD I guess) may actually make sense.

 

[debiruman665]

I originally wanted a high end mobile device that can process my scan files in hotels and on planes. however if I`m going to end up lugging a beast around with me that wont fit a plane seat tray then there's no point.

if you had 3.5K to spend, what desktop spec would you go for?

Do you fly business class? I'm not aware of any laptop that can comfortably sit on a plane seat tray.

It's a little heavy but it's not back-breaking if you carry it on your shoulder. I carry the cooling pad inside the laptop satchel and use the laptop directly out of its case by propping up the cooling pad when in use.

 

[Oussebon]

If you need it ASAP then something like:

Case
FRACTAL DEFINE S BLACK GAMING CASE (Window)
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Eight Core CPU (3.6GHz-4.4GHz/36MB CACHE/AM4)

Get 3 Months of XBOX Game Pass for PC w/ select AMD Ryzen CPUs

The Outer Worlds -OR- Borderlands 3 w/ select AMD Ryzen CPUs
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF X570-PLUS GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0, CrossFireX) - RGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
64GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (4 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2080 SUPER - HDMI, 3x DP GeForce - RTX VR Ready!

Get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with select NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs!
1st Storage Drive
2TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA 2.5" SSD, (upto 560MB/sR | 540MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB CORSAIR MP600 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 4950MB/R, 4250MB/W)
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1000W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H115i RGB PLATINUM Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
WIRELESS 802.11N 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 12 to 14 working days
Price: £2,587.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/xzTjUPUtqJ/

Which you can then swap the 16-core R9 3950X in when it's available. The 3700x is not so far off a 9900k anyway.

RTX 2080 ti if you need the extra VRAM.