Looking for a laptop. Some ideas please.

[Mellon Head]

For reasons that I simply cannot fathom, my employer has decreed that the entire office is going to laptops. In my situation, a laptop is fine for portable requirements where I have to be somewhere in the building and need access to my computer, or for traveling. For any real computing work, I consider a laptop useless.

However, I have no choice in the matter, and I'm wondering if someone out there is able to recommend a good lappy for me based on the following requirements:

Quad core
At least 8 GB RAM
SSD preferred (500 GB or larger)
Can drive two external monitors or has a docking port available that will
Must not be an HP (I have had zero luck with HP anything).

Any suggestions gratefully recieved.

 

[fireberd]

I recently bought a Dell Inspiron 15 5577 model for my recording studio, for on-site recording. It is marketed as a gaming laptop by Dell. It is a 7th gen i5 and 8GB RAM. Comes with a 256GB M.2 2280 SSD. I too am not a laptop fan but this one impresses me. It boots up and loads programs, visually, as fast as my i7 6700K desktop (with SSD). I upgraded the M.2 SSD to a 500GB Samsung as I need more storage for recording files. There is space (and cables) for a conventional (laptop) hard drive or full size SSD.

I haven't checked but I'm sure Dell has a docking port for it.

I've had older laptops that I used for on-site and they were dodgy or never really worked well. They were also used by my wife for her Embroidery machine. They were an early i5 Lenovo and a touch screen Toshiba. Based on those two, Lenovo and Toshiba are on my "do not buy" list.

 

[fireberd]

After thinking about your application, I withdraw using a Dell Inspiron. You are better off using one designed for business which generally are better built. The Dell Latitude line is their "business" line. The XPS line could also be considered.

 

[sobranie]

Suggest PC Specialist where you can configure to your own requirements.
PCSPECIALIST - Top Spec Custom PCs & Laptops Built to Order

 

[Megahertz07]

Main problem with performance laptops is cooling. I've seen laptops that CPU runs above 80ºC and GPU at 95ºC. And they fail easily.
I would look for one that has a i5, if you don't need high speed graphics, one that use internal graphics (on CPU), a M.2 SSD and with HDD dock (internally or ODD replace).

 

[sobranie]

Suggest you mail your requirements to PCSpecialist, they are most obliging when it comes to special builds.

 

[Mellon Head]

After thinking about your application, I withdraw using a Dell Inspiron. You are better off using one designed for business which generally are better built. The Dell Latitude line is their "business" line. The XPS line could also be considered.

Thanks for the update. I'll look into that.

Main problem with performance laptops is cooling. I've seen laptops that CPU runs above 80ºC and GPU at 95ºC. And they fail easily.
I would look for one that has a i5, if you don't need high speed graphics, one that use internal graphics (on CPU), a M.2 SSD and with HDD dock (internally or ODD replace).

I was looking at the i7 for the multithreading, but I guess an i5 might do if heat and price were an issue. Internal graphics are fine as long as it can run two external monitors at the same time.

Suggest you mail your requirements to PCSpecialist, they are most obliging when it comes to special builds.

That would be great, except that they do not service Canada. I guess I'm out of luck in that respect.

 

[Lance1]

Go Big or Go Home! You don't.. As you know.. Have to use this as a gaming Laptop. Ya... That gave My Link away... Look at it this way..... You will be the envy at the office... Besides.. If the powers to be decree that Laptops are to be! Why not Kick Some ASS!! Click Customize Now and make it even more Badass... And make it multi purpose for you! This is a $$$$ Alert... Don't go cheap! You will regret it in the long run..

 

[mrjimphelps]

For any real computing work, I consider a laptop useless.

Get a docking station with an external keyboard and mouse, as well as a big external monitor or two to go along with the internal monitor. You'll soon forget that you are using a laptop.

 

[Mellon Head]

Get a docking station with an external keyboard and mouse, as well as a big external monitor or two to go along with the internal monitor. You'll soon forget that you are using a laptop.

A docking station is a must for me as I have to run two monitors, and preferably they are both externals, not the laptop screen and one monitor. I need at least 1080p on both monitors for the software that I use.

 

[FerchogtX]

Probably give a look in here:
a12-9700p, Laptops / Notebooks, Laptops / Notebooks, Computer Systems - Newegg.com

Personally, I have one Acer, the processor is nice, and the GPU is quite decent. The thing is that the Procesor in this one has the GPU integrated (APU they call it) and in the case of the Acer I have and they have listed, I got 16 GB or RAM, it works wonders.

 

[Iain]

I recently bought a Dell Inspiron 15 5577 model for my recording studio, for on-site recording. It is marketed as a gaming laptop by Dell. It is a 7th gen i5 and 8GB RAM. Comes with a 256GB M.2 2280 SSD. I too am not a laptop fan but this one impresses me. It boots up and loads programs, visually, as fast as my i7 6700K desktop (with SSD). I upgraded the M.2 SSD to a 500GB Samsung as I need more storage for recording files. There is space (and cables) for a conventional (laptop) hard drive or full size SSD.

I haven't checked but I'm sure Dell has a docking port for it.

I've had older laptops that I used for on-site and they were dodgy or never really worked well. They were also used by my wife for her Embroidery machine. They were an early i5 Lenovo and a touch screen Toshiba. Based on those two, Lenovo and Toshiba are on my "do not buy" list.

I agree with your concerns of early Toshiba Laptops, as I had a Satellite from 2008 that ran quite warm. In fact the motherboard failed in 2010 for that very reason.

The recent Tecra machines are at another level of dependability, however. I've had mine since 2015 and it never gets warm, even on the hottest days. Very fast and cool running machine. Have a go of A50 and Z50 machines.
Toshiba

 

[jc836]

Best bang for many $$$ is Dell Precision series. Has everything you will need for a long time. I have a friend who uses his for business 24/7 without failures. Has lots of expansion possibilities. He has no heat issues either. It is a 17" and also connects to a TV monitor.

 

[RolandJS]

If the docking station includes a cooling assembly, either one giant fan or twin fans, that will certainly help keep temperature down from very hot to very warm after heavy use.