I was considering 2 HP laptops for 3d work, specifically for maya use. It seems that out of the name brands, HP has the best prices. I use a HP xw8400 at work and like it well enough. I have listed all the specs and price points below. The main thing I am trying to wrap my head around is why Hp's workstation and their 18inch entertainment computer have such wildly different price points, when the specs are pretty much the same. Other than the graphics card, are there any other major differences I am missing? Is the workstation really worth an extra $1800
Also I was recommended a company called Sager which i had never heard of. I have listed my choice specs for this below. The price point falls between the two HPs but It has a 2nd HD and a better graphics card than both. Also the chipset is different but I dont know if it is better or worse. Is this the way to go?
Any other recommendations are welcome.
Thanks to anyone for taking the time to review this. It's much appreciated as a laptop is a necessary buy for me right now.
HP EliteBook 8730w Mobile Workstation - 4,808.00
Genuine Windows Vista® Business 64
Intel® Quad Extreme Processor QX9300* (2.53 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB, 12 MB L2 cache)
Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset ICH9M-Enhanced
17-inch diagonal WUXGA (1920x1200)
Integrated Camera
NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M 48-core CUDA parallel computing processor 512MB (dedicated)
8192MB (800-MHz, DDR2, 2DIMM)
250-GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
DVD+/-RW SuperMulti with Double Layer LightScribe Drive
Full- sized keyboard with numeric keypad and dual pointing devices (touchpad and pointstick) with scroll zone
Intel 802.11a/b/g/draft n I3 (non IAMT/vPro) wireless
HP Integrated Module with Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
56K v.92 high speed modem
HW Kit 150W
Integrated Fingerprint Reader
HDX18t series - $3029
Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad Processor QX9300 (2.53Hz)
Mobile Intel® PM45 Express chipset
8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 130M - For DDR3 Memory
18.4" diagonal High Definition HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1920x1080p)
Lightscribe Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
Webcam + Fingerprint Reader with HP Imprint Finish (Fluid)
Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth
Full Size Backlit Keyboard
Sager NP9262 - $3724
17" Wide Viewing Angles WUXGA LCD with Super Glossy Surface (1920 x 1200)
- Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Processor Q9650 / 12MB L2 Cache, 3.0GHz, 1333MHz FSB
Intel® P965 Chipset + ICH8M
- Graphics Card: Nvidia Quadro FX 3700M Graphics with 1GB DDR3 Video Memory
- Genuine MS Windows® VISTA Home Premium 32/64-Bit Edition
- Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 X 4096MB
- Primary Hard Disk Drive: 250GB 5400rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive
- 2nd Hard Disk Drive: 250GB 5400rpm SATA 300 Secondary Hard Disk Drive
- Optical Drive: 8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
- Wireless Card: Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300AGN - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
- Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth Module
- Primary Battery: Smart Li-ION Battery Pack
Also I was recommended a company called Sager which i had never heard of. I have listed my choice specs for this below. The price point falls between the two HPs but It has a 2nd HD and a better graphics card than both. Also the chipset is different but I dont know if it is better or worse. Is this the way to go?
Any other recommendations are welcome.
Thanks to anyone for taking the time to review this. It's much appreciated as a laptop is a necessary buy for me right now.
HP EliteBook 8730w Mobile Workstation - 4,808.00
Genuine Windows Vista® Business 64
Intel® Quad Extreme Processor QX9300* (2.53 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB, 12 MB L2 cache)
Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset ICH9M-Enhanced
17-inch diagonal WUXGA (1920x1200)
Integrated Camera
NVIDIA Quadro FX 2700M 48-core CUDA parallel computing processor 512MB (dedicated)
8192MB (800-MHz, DDR2, 2DIMM)
250-GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
DVD+/-RW SuperMulti with Double Layer LightScribe Drive
Full- sized keyboard with numeric keypad and dual pointing devices (touchpad and pointstick) with scroll zone
Intel 802.11a/b/g/draft n I3 (non IAMT/vPro) wireless
HP Integrated Module with Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
56K v.92 high speed modem
HW Kit 150W
Integrated Fingerprint Reader
HDX18t series - $3029
Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad Processor QX9300 (2.53Hz)
Mobile Intel® PM45 Express chipset
8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 130M - For DDR3 Memory
18.4" diagonal High Definition HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1920x1080p)
Lightscribe Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
Webcam + Fingerprint Reader with HP Imprint Finish (Fluid)
Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card with Bluetooth
Full Size Backlit Keyboard
Sager NP9262 - $3724
17" Wide Viewing Angles WUXGA LCD with Super Glossy Surface (1920 x 1200)
- Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Processor Q9650 / 12MB L2 Cache, 3.0GHz, 1333MHz FSB
Intel® P965 Chipset + ICH8M
- Graphics Card: Nvidia Quadro FX 3700M Graphics with 1GB DDR3 Video Memory
- Genuine MS Windows® VISTA Home Premium 32/64-Bit Edition
- Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz - 2 X 4096MB
- Primary Hard Disk Drive: 250GB 5400rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive
- 2nd Hard Disk Drive: 250GB 5400rpm SATA 300 Secondary Hard Disk Drive
- Optical Drive: 8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
- Wireless Card: Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300AGN - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
- Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth Module
- Primary Battery: Smart Li-ION Battery Pack