Laptop Choosing - Light CAD + Video Editing

[Relativenewbyseb]

Hi guys,

 

So in the market for a new laptop after my current one is just not quick enough any more plus I thought why not treat myself since I got it back in 2016.

 

Currently have a HP ENVY 15-ah151sa (AMD Quad-Core A10-8700P APU with Radeon R6 Graphics (1.8 GHz, 2 MB cache). So not quick by any means but has done the job.

 

Having got a 3D printer recently I'm now using Fusion 360 on it and it just about copes when modelling but can completely freeze at some points only solved by an end task.  Also greatly struggles with any footage above 1080p really so editing Session 5 videos from my quadcopter is rather laborious and often the same freezing issue.

 

So  I have done plenty of looking around and come to a budget of around 1k so a big upgrade on the price of currently but I know they go ridiculously beyond this point too.

 

Shortlist is:

 

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/dell-inspiron-15-5509-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i7-512-gb-ssd-black-10217070-pdt.html   (separate graphics card better?)

 

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/laptops/inspiron-15-7000/spd/inspiron-15-7501-laptop/cn50110#features_section  (can potentially get 15% off so brings it down, but is the higher price wort it actually)

 

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-vivobook-s14-s435ea-14-laptop-intel-core-i7-512-gb-ssd-deep-green-10219113-pdt.html    (looks good to me, lower price a plus)

 

https://www.very.co.uk/asus-zenbook-14nbspux434fq-ai082t-laptop-14in-fhdnbspintel-core-i7nbsp16gb-ramnbsp512gb-ssdnbspmx350-graphicsnbspoptional-microsoftnbsp365-family-15-months-blue/1600567697.prd?sku=sku23331810&cm_mmc=google-_-PLA+-+Generic-_-All-_-PRODUCT_GROUP_p42046757430_&utm_campaign=Generic_Electricals+-+Generic+-+Laptops&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=PRODUCT_GROUP&campaigntype=shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw6fCCBhBNEiwAem5SOybZW4GSeDRce2MIZfMNIqxl37mO7co1k2V05k9xddmr7EzhzZjnShoCV4wQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds    (like the design etc although touch not essential, but not thunderbolt?)

 

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/huawei-matebook-14-laptop-amd-ryzen-7-512-gb-ssd-grey-10215083-pdt.html  (have a huawei phone, seems good but no separate graphics, rogue screen of 3:2 would take getting used to)

 

So basically long post but are there any to get rid of straight away, any similar to add?

 

Fancy a fairly sleek design, gotta be relatively future proof and to be able to cope with the tasks I'm doing at the moment and slim chance maybe a slight progression CAD wise from basic 3D printed models.

 

Thanks for any help guys 😀

[Alex97]

i'm no expert when it comes to PC and laptops however pretty much everyone suggest build rather than buy. Pc specialist do make custom laptops that is well below your budget. My concen is that CAD can be rather heavy in terms of power consuption so i'm not sure how long the battery will last, personlly id rather have a PC but each to their own.  All i'll suggest is that you get a big screen (2 is even better). 

 

 

[Bajadre]

all gonna come down to processor speed and gfx vram for editing and cad buddy the ryzen chips seem to be pick of the bunch atm those igp chips are for light gaming i would think your better off with a seperate g.card for cad design etc 

do like that asus one you posted though great brand and always great parts too

[DAL3D]

Trouble with laptops is they tend to have CPU / GPU chip (i7 etc) so you're paying for a video processor in the chip you're not using if you have an separate video player rather than just "all the power" for the maths.
if it's only light CAD work then I guess it doesn't matter.

 

Desktop computers invariable have better power supplies and more room for cooling etc if you need the power. A bigger screen than 15" is always better - and preferably x2 monitors.

Saying that, I can run full fat Solid Edge on my i7 / 8GB ram laptop OK as long as I don't push it too hard.

 

EDIT: You also have to take into account what CAD / editing software needs. Some CAD / VFX software uses multithread processing, some don't. Aligh your processor and graphic power accordingly.

Edited March 26, 2021 by DAL3D

[Relativenewbyseb]

Ok cheers all

 

So yeah I'm going for a laptop just as I'd prefer the portability and being able to use for other things. Screen wise I didn't really want to dip below 15 but if a 14 is a good bet then why not, when doing anything requiring a big screen I have a 24 inch monitor here and docking station etc with work

 

Both the CAD and video editing are only very light compared to say a CAD with hundreds of parts of a complex structure, but wouldn't want to be on the limit straight away.

 

I looked at PC Specialist but then just wasn't sure on availability etc and maybe best to stick to something already combined?

 

So Ryzen generally a better bet by itself over the Intels with included or basic graphics cards? I mean you can go down a serious rabbit hole comparing processors etc and test ratings for all sorts which I'm not too sure on.

The only Ryzen was partly down to it being Huawei to combine with my phone with regards to infrastructure and screen looks to be best?

 

Thanks for all the help so far guys appreciate it!

[Relativenewbyseb]

Looking at PC specialist I'd add in maybe these 2 but they're very much pushing it!?

 

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/fusion-studio-15/ (very high end of budget ie over original plan)

 

https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/ionico-15/ (and this just seems too much personally but if its good spec wise with 16gb ram and 3060)