Desktop PC or Laptop - Are These Good and Can You Please Recommend Better? (Budget $1500)

TheBilly on 24/06/2020 - 10:59
Last edited 24/06/2020 - 11:18 by 1 other user

Hi All

I'm after either a (desktop PC and mobile tablet combo) or (laptop with a docking station) for my home office.

Laptop is preferred as I will go on the road to work, but there are so many options I'm a little overwhelmed. My wife has a Lenovo E470 with Intel i7 and Nvidia Geforce graphics and her laptop currently handles home office and business use very well. I will be using it for CAD / Revit and also using it for images and video in the future. A guy at the store advised me to get a gaming laptop, I like the idea I just don't like the bulkiness and utilitarian looks.

My requirements are:

Good Wifi - I want to go as wireless as possible (i.e. my internet, printer, future home server so I can access everything remotely when on the road).
Multiple Display - if PC (I need 3 HDMI outlets for 3 screens) if Laptop (I will buy a docking station with 2 outlets and my laptop will be the 3rd screen)
Multiple USB - (PC needs multiple USB as I have wireless keyboard and external hard drives (Laptop) I will have docking station to cover this
Preferably in stock and I can pickup now.
Maximum budget - (PC - $1,500) (Laptop and Docking - $1,500)
Doesn't need to be top of the line - but good for CAD / Revit and Light Gaming and images and video editing
Comes with Windows and I don't have to pay extra
The case is decent and doesn't look utilitarian like the Lenovo as I have to go to sales meetings sometimes

Are the items listed below any good?

Laptop

Thank you

Computing

Comments

FireRunner on 24/06/2020 - 11:21

Dell Inspiron 15 7590 might be a suitable laptop. It doesn't have the gamer look but still packs a punch with an intel i7 and GTX1650. Much more lightweight than most gaming laptops too
- TheBilly on 24/06/2020 - 13:04
  
  +1
  
  Thanks right on the limit of my budget. But I'll see how I go. This looks very promising.
s1Lence on 24/06/2020 - 11:32

+1

If you are up to it you can get a cheap second hand pc for like $300 with an i7-4790 and 16gb ram then pop in a gpu if needed, shouldnt cost more than 600 total for a pretty beefy pc
scrimshaw on 24/06/2020 - 12:19

For the PC you might want to consider this deal

https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/547051
- klaw81 on 24/06/2020 - 14:32
  
  My experience is that CAD workloads (specifically AutoDesk applications like Revit) don't work nicely on AMD gaming cards - the drivers don't seem to handle it. AMD workstation-grade cards and Nvidia GTX/RTX work just fine.
beeze on 25/06/2020 - 21:23

1500 is not enough for a good laptop, but you don't need an expensive dock.

Rtx2060 should be a good mobile GPU, although I don't know how taxing your Cad or Revit workloads are.

I have a Dell XPS, my monitor is connected via usb-c and charges my laptop. No Dock, dual monitor and 21:9 34".

No need for a separate PC.

I expect my laptop cost my company over 2500, dell refurbs can be much cheaper.

Get a better feel for what GPU is required for the models you work on.
KangarooOz on 26/06/2020 - 00:56

https://www.apple.com/au/mac-mini/specs/

You can run Windows 10 in native mode (by dual boot) or with VM (Virtual box, for example)
$1299

Support for the following combinations of maximum concurrent display setups:
Up to three displays:
Two displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt 3 plus one display with 4096-by-2160 resolution at 60Hz connected via HDMI 2.0
Or
Up to two displays:
One display with 5120-by-2880 resolution at 60Hz connected via Thunderbolt 3 plus one display with 4096-by-2160 resolution at 60Hz connected via HDMI 2.0

Desktop PC or Laptop - Are These Good and Can You Please Recommend Better? (Budget $1500)

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