Workstation question [laptop] [3D Max]

Android 3D

Hello,

I want to upgrade my laptop, I will use it for 3D Max , Zbrush and 3D printing. Also the posibility to play high end games (like F1) will be welcome (I cant with current laptop).
The first I consireded is Lenovo Thinkpad P50/P51 but now I'm also thinking on an Alienware 15, and a little on Lenovo Y720.
The prices ranges are similar, Alienware offer a graphic accelerator device but the Lenovo P50/51 are workstations with certification, so what to choose?

PolyHertz

Just get something with a Geforce 1060 6GB or better GPU, and a minimum of 16GB of RAM (32GB is preferable). For the CPU, right now is a bad time to buy because Intels 8000 series of CPUs (aka. Coffee Lake) are just starting to come out, but the higher end chips (8700HQ) don't have an ETA yet.

Android 3D

So the Quadro M1200 are not as good as the Geforce 1060?
About CPU yes usually when buying a new computer we are on the edge of the release of a new CPU or GPU, choosing one with 7700HQ will became obsolete soon?
A P51 model comes with a Xeon CPU but the price go up a lot, also comes with a Quadro M2200

PolyHertz

Both the Quadro M1200 and M2200 are slower then a Geforce 1060. But the Xeon E3-1535v6 that comes with the P51 is actually a really good CPU, even slightly better then a 7920HQ.

Android 3D

Ok, now I have an idea on what should consider before buy, thanks for the info  

EarthQuake

Take a look at the Razer Blade, 14", slim design and about a pound lighter than a P51, plus it has a 1060.

Justo

@PolyHertz If I could pick your brain a bit more...How fast do you think laptop manufacturers will start adding the 8000 series cpus to laptops after they release in October 5th?
 

PolyHertz

You mean the high end ones? No idea. There have been no leaks for the high end 8000 series for laptops yet, and Intel has been rather unpredictable as of late. Your guess is as good as mine on that one.

EarthQuake

I wouldn't worry so much about the next generation of CPUs, this is a game you can always play, oh but if I wait there will be something newer! How long do you wait? That's a never ending game. Performance differences between generations tend to be incremental rather than something you would really notice.

Something like a 7700HQ is absolutely stellar in a laptop for basically any reasonable purpose. For the vast majority of computer use these days you're not CPU limited. You can go with an even lower end CPU than this and not even notice it for most practical purposes.

It's only if you're planning on spending a significant amount of time doing CPU heavy tasks like baking, offline rendering, video encoding, etc, that you'll notice the difference between a very good and an exceptional CPU. And if that is the case, you should be looking for a proper server level workstation with multiple CPUs (which will pay for itself in short order if you actually need it), not a laptop.

Justo

Thanks @EarthQuake , I guess you have a point there.