help me to choose ! PC or Laptop

PC or Laptop

  • PC

    Votes: 11 91.7%

  • Laptop

    Votes: 1 8.3%
  • Total voters
    12
  • This poll will close: .
GlitchyDot

GlitchyDot

HELP !
Busting my nuts and brains with options ...
Main goal for acquiring yet another computer is mainly work.
I have WS which is Linux for AI , server etc. nothing for daily work duties.
Laptop FrankenPad but its not for my workload its tooooo weeeak.
Options:
Option #1 ThinkPad P15 - Xeon,ECC 64GB, 2x M.2
Option#2 Custom built PC. AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650G , 32GB ECC , GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX AM4 DDR4 2xM.2

Lets start from Option#2: With Ryzen Pro and G model and particulary this motherboard and gpu i can have up to 7 monitors connected which is really benefitial for my workloads and ECC memory. GPU would be P4000, 450-550 sfx psu, 2x nvme and sff/mff case. Without nvme`s pricing would be around 750-800 Euros and issue is it would only be 32GB max of memory as its ECC. Without ECC requirements and differnt case i might save between 50-150 euros.

Option#1 for 500-650$ and a bit of waiting time ( buddy would by me a laptop in the states and brings to me ) i can have ThinkPad with 64GB ECC Xeon and 4 external monitor connections. so it totals to 5 monitors which is also very very good !
With my current 1 monitor plus laptop screen im not productive,cant multitask and my work is showing it and i can not connect another smonitor to my thinkpad.

Portability is not a question as it purely for work, programing, dont care about gaming and it would be used stationary. OS would be FreeBSD hence ECC and 2x M.2. I know, ECC is not a requirement but i want it.
I know in the future i can utilise my m-itx build for something else as i have dual motherboard case so future would a long one, laptop on another hand - dont know, would be collecting dusk within year or two or ill be selling it. ( im a thinkpad hoarder and if finances allows i buy them just to try them and then collecting dust with them or selling when hard times hits me ).
Due to current situation in finance i dont want to buy AM5 if i would, i would just build xeon build and be done with it.
Thank you ! :D
 
cracauer@ said:
What kind of graphics does the thinkpad have?
Click to expand...
Looks like T1000 but its on daughter board so if time comes i can get even RTX 5000 but i dont need such a power , as long as it can run 1440p 100Hz monitors.
Probably p4000 is overkill for my needs on pc but i can get it for around 100$ and my buddy can bring it with him.
 
cracauer@ said:
Does the Thinkpad have the ability to switch between Intel graphics and the NVidia chip?
Click to expand...
I have no idea, but documentation states this:
Monitor Support
Supports up to 5 independent displays (native display and 4 external monitors via HDMI®, USB-C® and Thunderbolt™)
• HDMI supports up to 4K@60Hz
• USB-C supports up to 4K@60Hz
• Thunderbolt supports up to 4K@60Hz / 5K@60Hz
 
Another good thing for ThinkPad it can have Touch 4K and i want to have at least one touch screen in the future as it comes very handy for my needs and to buy touch screen - they cost a fortune as of now.
 
Damn ... how i never thought about it.
But did you where able to do anything with external screens or no ? What issues you had ?
 
This maybe a key element to remember and understand.
P.s. Lets say dGPU trough thunderbolt - would it work like optimus or no ? If laptop does not have nvidia gpu, intel only.
P.s. P15 does have ability to switch in bios between gpu`s , does P50 has same ability ?
 
GlitchyDot said:
Main goal for acquiring yet another computer is mainly work.
Click to expand...
Thing to remember: What you *want* may be a lot more than what you *need* :) Nothing wrong with wanting more; just that being clear about it may help you make your decision!

Why not base your decision on the actual work you're likely to do in the next 5 years or so? You might want to consider questions such as: What are your daily "work duties"? Are you going to run lots of jails? VMs? Are you going to compile lots of rust programs? Use fancy IDEs? How many displays do you really need 95% of the time?
 
GlitchyDot said:
This maybe a key element to remember and understand.
P.s. Lets say dGPU trough thunderbolt - would it work like optimus or no ? If laptop does not have nvidia gpu, intel only.
P.s. P15 does have ability to switch in bios between gpu`s , does P50 has same ability ?
Click to expand...
The P50 has some BIOS options around that. Details escape me right now.

I doubt the binary NVidia drivers support a Thunderbolt-connected GPU at all under FreeBSD, but I never tried.
 
bakul said:
Why not base your decision on the actual work you're likely to do in the next 5 years or so? You might want to consider questions such as: What are your daily "work duties"? Are you going to run lots of jails? VMs? Are you going to compile lots of rust programs? Use fancy IDEs? How many displays do you really need 95% of the time?
Click to expand...
My work is mainly looking at monitor and make calls,send emails, calculate miles , paperwork including excel sheets. Programing is a side part to make app for company( using neovim, vscode, postgresql, python, nginx) im working for and when im not working - watch tv show or spend time in forum. Nothing to compile, no jails ( i have server for things like this ). Computer basically for office work - hardcore office work hence i need at least 4 -5 screens an im using them 100% when im working ( intense, fast pace work , while im o nthe phone i have to check many things, while im dialing - im checking thing ) if i had more - i would use them more as to move head is quicker than pres few keys, get back etc. . No gaming. And some of my requirements build for "just in case my hard drive is gone" hence dual M.2 ( yes i can use ssd`s but prices almost same, plus motherboard is worth due to having nice bennefits and saves me from getting another gpu) .
When i check my pc usage mid work i tend to see 20GB + of memory usage with all the apps , tabs running. I need my excel sheet to be responsive when i have thousands of rows and almost 50 columns filled to the brim - my current hardware is strugling.

bakul said:
Thing to remember: What you *want* may be a lot more than what you *need* :) Nothing wrong with wanting more; just that being clear about it may help you make your decision!
Click to expand...

I want Xeon build ... ! but this build is what "i need!" .
Laptop - xeon or 10 gen intel could help me with what i need as well - now Laptop is more like "i want" as im TP enthusias and hoarder but right ThinkPad can also be the thing i need ! :)
 
I'm more inclined to go for a desktop. Not A brands but the generic ATX/ITX sized cases. The reason for this is that they are expendable and changeable. So you can swap out the graphics card for example after a number of years. Or add a ton of additional memory and/or disks. Or replace the mainboard/cpu for something faster. It's more flexible and can grow/change with my own needs or wishes.

The downside of a desktop is of course mobility. I'm not going to lug around a big/medium tower case to a job site.
 
I have been using the mini-ITX form factor for home and work for a long time. I have not used any laptops since 2012. I am tired of buying batteries, spending a lot of time on disassembling and assembling, so that I can replace the thermal paste in 10 minutes, etc. The laptop is very expensive in terms of upgrading, replacing suitable and compatible components. Lots of disadvantages.
 
GlitchyDot said:
...Computer basically for office work - hardcore office work hence i need at least 4 -5 screens an im using them 100% when im working ( intense, fast pace work , while im o nthe phone i have to check many things, while im dialing - im checking thing ) if i had more - i would use them more as to move head is quicker than pres few keys, get back etc...
Click to expand...
Hooking up 4 - 5 screens to a laptop is going to be a challenge... heck it's going to be a challenge with a desktop too. You usually get more hardware for the money when you go desktop.
 
Not only more equipment. Replacing a laptop keyboard is very expensive. And how long do you have to wait until they find it in a special catalog at the end of the world. I also remember how the impeller of the processor cooler broke (one blade broke off) at the deputy director's DELL. We searched for and delivered a new cooler for more than a month. With a PC, everything is much simpler in terms of hardware.
Previously, batteries could be unfastened in 15 seconds.
Today, everything is deeply hidden and soldered (on screws and cables). If liquid gets in, you can't quickly remove the battery. As a result, the motherboard burns out in the most unnecessary places. And you get a lot of money for repairs. The same thing about the matrix: broken or loose hinges are annoying. And if the fastener tears off the screws with a piece of the board or pad inside the case, then this is money for repairs again.
Power supply: the power cable of the adapter quickly becomes unusable from bending and movement. Often the adapter itself dies from overheating...and how can I quickly power it up? A laboratory power supply?
 
If you don't need mobility - e.g. working at hotels or on a train, then I can only echo USerID's advice to avoid laptops for all the reasons stated.

It's also a bit of a lottery with laptops, as to what devices will actually work, when the OS isn't MS Windows. In the past I have had issues with the built in wifi adapter (along with not being able to replace mini PCI-e card due to restrictions imposed in the BIOS/UEFI - and having to use a USB dongle instead) and also hotkeys such as those to control the brightness, etc not working (and in one or two cases no other method to control the backlight working either)). Then you can have power management / cooling problems, etc.
 
I'd have both, but a good laptop works just as-well as a desktop with a keyboard/mouse/display connected to it!

With my experience with an Intel laptop and Ryzen motherboard; I've had USB issues with X470 with PCVR (Rift + 4 sensors; built-in Ryzen USBs could handle 1 sensor and HMD, not all 4 sensors no HMD, and I only had like 4 free rear ports; luckily my board had 2 separate ASRock USB 3.2 ports to offload to), and still heard of issues on 500-series. Same set-up worked perfect on a Intel/NV laptop with sensors on a $10 eBay hub :p

I've seen reports of oddities specific to Ryzen Windows and Linux that don't have me more-confident in buying one over Intel Xeon (never had Xeon, but Intel's been reliable to me, and Xeon sounds like Intel wouldn't mess-around there :p). I know I heard something incredibly sketchy with GIGABYTE, possibly-related to UEFI, and Ryzen a while back; Lenovo's more-reputable as a brand.

I'd go for option 1 Thinkpad!
 
Espionage724 said:
I'd have both, but a good laptop works just as-well as a desktop with a keyboard/mouse/display connected to it!
Click to expand...

I agree with that, and go even further: A REALLY GOOD laptop works better than a desktop, but only if either (a) you like the built-in keyboard (and keyboards are a very personal choice), or (b) you use it with an external keyboard. A modern good laptop can easily drive two large displays. It has more than enough storage for everyday work, if you keep big data sets either in the cloud or on an external server (where they should be kept for durability and availability reasons). And even if you work at the same desk 90% of the time, you can take your whole work environment with you for the other 10%.

For example, at home I either work in a comfortable chair in the living room with just the laptop, or on a large desk in a spare room with a big display; and I take the same or a similar laptop to day $ job and work there in whatever fashion job requires. With one exception I haven't used a desktop machine in about 15 years.

And a REALLY GOOD laptop will easily last 5 to 7 years. That won't happen with a cheap model, but the high-end brand name laptops (Apple, Dell, HP) will survive that. Other than $ job forcing me to replace the laptop they own, I'm on my third MacBook Pro since 2008, and it's now 2024.

The one exception: I still have one very small desktop machine, which is installed in the home office. It is a dedicated MacMini machine that's connected to two scanners, and has software for them installed. I could replace it with my laptop and a USB hub, just haven't felt like it.
 
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