Great Laptop for 3D modelling (Maya)?

[leigh]

Please don't post threads like this in General Discussions; I am moving it to the Technical forum for you. Next time, please make sure you read the rules thread posted in General Discussions to ensure you don't post something which isn't allowed there. Thanks.

[JasonA]

If its to be used for modeling polygonal stuff, just about any laptop will do just be sure its got an upper end video card and a decent processor. This should be no problem for less than $2000.

But before you go drop the cash you really got to ask yourself, is modeling all you ever intend to do with it? If you want to light/shade/render too, then the other system specs become alot more important

[Terun]

If its to be used for modeling polygonal stuff, just about any laptop will do just be sure its got an upper end video card and a decent processor. This should be no problem for less than $2000.

But before you go drop the cash you really got to ask yourself, is modeling all you ever intend to do with it? If you want to light/shade/render too, then the other system specs become alot more important

Yeah, sry when i said modelling 3d i meant more like generally making 3d in maya, that includes rendering, modelling, mental ray, animating and so on...

[The4thAggie]

You'll want to look into a Dell Precision 15" laptop. They start sub-$2k, but there are many options to get an awesome workstation laptop.

[olson]

FGS why would you want a laptop for working with Maya and rendering. Build or buy a respectable desktop if you take it seriously.

[The4thAggie]

He wanted advice on a good 3D workstation laptop that is reasonably priced. I prefer desktop workstations...

[tfortier]

Dell studio 15

[Baltasound]

The cheapest MacBook Pro (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro?mco=MTI4MDI), wich costs $1999 :cool:

http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/2041/1529/store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/macbookpro/img/product-front-15.jpg

[Szos]

The original poster's question is way too open-ended to be answered correctly.

How heavy/complicated are the models that you work on now? If you are just a student, then chances are you really don't need anything super fast and in that case I think spending $2k on a laptop is ridiculous.

Whatever laptop you look at, make sure it has a decent GPU - and NOT some integrated graphics card, which would suck. Screen size is important, but I think screen resolution is even more so - 3D apps tend to have many menus and icons so having as much screen real estate as possible is vitally important. For my money, I wouldn't look at anything other than a Core2Duo-based machine - best compromise in terms of battery versus power versus heat.

[Saurus]

Here's a list of refurbished Dell Precision workstation lappy with Quadro cards for under 2K.

LINK (http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/topics/global.aspx/arb/online/en/InventorySearch?c=us&cs=28&l=en&lob=PREC&MODEL_DESC=M6300%20Laptop&s=dfb)