Hardware help
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Hello everyone! I’m a beginner to everything here but definitely want to try my hand at modeling; mainly terrain and architecture. Also, I’d like to do programming. Does anyone know a very good computer that will run the programs with ease and is affordable? Thank you!
Replies
https://www.logicalincrements.com/ is a very good site to check too.
Generally speaking, if you're willing to build your own desktop PC, you can get a good system for $1000-1500. Both of the links above detail systems up to $3500 or so but these are extreme overkill for most people.
If you're looking to buy a desktop PC, you'll probably spend a little more for a comparable system. A laptop will cost you yet more for comparable specs and come with some notable drawbacks (poor heat management, poor battery life) if you want a beefy one with a good GPU suitable for 3D work. So laptops are only recommended for 3D work if you travel daily and need to be mobile.
I know a few people who have some version of the Razer Blade and they're generally happy with those laptops. Again the build quality is a few steps down from something like a Macbook though, so I'm not sure how long I would expect it to last.
Is there a specific reason you're looking for a laptop rather than a desktop for 3D work?
It won't be long before you're missing larger / multiple monitors or the ability easily replace / upgrade components. A desktop also forces you to carve out a dedicated workspace at home. It's nice to have a space that shifts you into gear for learning and working on stuff. Also nice to be able to leave that space when it's time to relax or focus on other things.
There are times when lifestyle makes a laptop the better choice. Does your living situation afford little to no space to setup a desk / work area? Are you spending a lot of time commuting on a train everyday? Do you plan on moving a lot over the next few years? If not, I'd definitely recommend getting more bang for your buck with a desktop.
Anyway, yeah as others have said, the dream of working on a laptop and the reality rarely line up. In addition to what has been mentioned, working on a laptop for an extended amount of time is an ergonomic nightmare, and to make it suck less, you basically have to put together a standard workstation environment anyway. In my mind the cost aspect is secondary, once you buy a PC and the required components, the cost will probably be about the same, maybe a little more expensive with the PC system, but there are major advantages if you're doing the majority of use at your home, and again, it's likely to last longer, so it tends to be a better long term investment even if the upfront cost is similar or a little more, as many components will stick around with you through multiple PC builds (case, power supply, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc, assuming you buy quality ones to start with).
So I would say, unless you plan to use the machine at least 50% while commuting, or physically can not put together a workstation space where you live, save yourself the heartache and get a good desktop pc, desk, comfortable chair, good mouse and keyboard, and 2 monitors (or one ultrawide if space is limited) - then, when your budget allows, get a basic laptop or even a tablet for when you need to be mobile.
Getting a laptop for the rare occasion that you need to work on the go, or show someone something in person is what I would call optimizing for edge cases, in other words prioritizing the rare cases over common, everyday use.
These all have similar specs, for an ultrawide, I would probably go with curved but you'll pay a little more for a more recognized brand like LG or Samsung vs something from Monoprice. I haven't used a Monoprice monitor but I know others on Polycount have - generally speaking they use the same panels as other brands (only a few companies make monitor panels, LG and Samsung being two of the biggest), so with something like Monoprice you're generally just getting a very barebones design/stand, not necessarily an inferior panel.
For the PC build itself, you can save a good deal of money by making sure you're not buying excessively high-end components, ie:
Here's an example build: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/M7kXp2 - $1349 total. GPU prices are insane right now (if you can get a 3060 Ti at the normal price, drop $220 off the total). So I would wait for that to calm down before buying one if you can. You might be able to buy a pre-built system for similar or even less money if you shop around, simply because of how hard it is to buy GPUs at retail pricing.
Here's a similarly spec'd pre-built system if you don't want to build it yourself: https://www.amazon.com/Skytech-Shadow-3-0-Gaming-Desktop/dp/B08R45ZC6Q/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=rtx+3060&qid=1613168461&s=electronics&sr=1-4 - though this likely has components from less reputable brands in it (in my example build, I tried to pick part from well-known, reliable brands).
So all in you're looking at the $1800 range for PC + monitor. You can cut that down further by getting a lower-end GPU (or waiting for GPU prices to stabilize), or a less expensive monitor (add a second screen later?). By doing one or both you may be able to cut a couple hundred or more.
There's not much else that you would want to cut significantly, though you could go with a 500GB rather than 1TB SSD, a slightly less expensive CPU (probably not worth it, $200 is a great price for the Ryzen 3600), slightly cheaper PSU, all in all, that might add up to a savings of $100-150. These are the last things I would try to skimp on though.
Then don't forget (if you don't already have them): mouse, keyboard, speakers/headphones, surge protector, and maybe a drawing tablet if you plan to do a lot of 2D work or sculpting. Wacom makes some inexpensive small tablets, ($100 or less) and Huion makes some even cheaper ones ($50-ish).