Laptop vs Desktop

[Lewis107]

Hi

I was looking to get a new desktop as my main machine but as I’ve done more research I’ve noticed there are some really powerful laptops out there.
I mainly use 3DS Max/Vray/PS for interior stills, nothing too crazy.

My spec for a desktop was going to be 96GB Ram, Ryzen 9950X, RTX 5070 Ti (£4000).

I’m currently looking at the Lenovo Legion Pro 7 which has 64GB Ram, Ryzen 9955HX3D, RTX 5080 (£3000).

I know the GPU on the desktop will always be faster, but looking at Vray benchmark the two CPUs have very similar scores.

Does anybody else use a laptop these days for their main machine…and the Legion Pro 7 in particular?
It would be great to get some opinions to see if it’s really worth spending the extra money for a desktop.

Thanks!

[glorybound]

I am 100% laptop.

[Lewis107]

@glorybound

I am 100% laptop.

Cool, good to hear.

I looked at the Dell/Alienware, but they don’t do the Ryzen 9955HX3D, plus they are very expensive.
How are you finding the Intel 275HX? Are you using any laptop stand or one with cooling whilst rendering?

Don’t you use your desktop as a render node at all?

[glorybound]

@Lewis107

Cool, good to hear.

I looked at the Dell/Alienware, but they don’t do the Ryzen 9955HX3D, plus they are very expensive.
How are you finding the Intel 275HX? Are you using any laptop stand or one with cooling whilst rendering?

Don’t you use your desktop as a render node at all?

It keeps cool, so nothing extra needed. Everything I render takes an hour or less, so no complaints.

[dlparisi]

@glorybound

I am 100% laptop.

Your signature says otherwise… :lol:

[glorybound]

@dlparisi

Your signature says otherwise… :lol:

Old signature

[Lewis107]

Thanks for the replies.

Is anybody else just rendering using a laptop?

[JuhaHo]

@Lewis107

Thanks for the replies.

Is anybody else just rendering using a laptop?

When in 0ffice 100% desktop (HP Z6 G5) when out of office 100% Laptop (HP Zbook 17 G5). Currently my desktop (2025) renders 21x faster than laptop (2019). I might upgrade my laptop maybe next year. This year I will have a new GPU for my desktop to replace 10 year old HP-NVidia P5000.

[suzanne_doherty]

@JuhaHo

When in 0ffice 100% desktop (HP Z6 G5) when out of office 100% Laptop (HP Zbook 17 G5). Currently my desktop (2025) renders 21x faster than laptop (2019). I might upgrade my laptop maybe next year. This year I will have a new GPU for my desktop to replace 10 year old HP-NVidia P5000.

or you could remote connect to your PC when out and not worry about the laptop spec?

[glorybound]

@suzanne_doherty

or you could remote connect to your PC when out and not worry about the laptop spec?

This works well with good internet on both sides. I once had a 16" MacBook Pro that I could easly work this way remotely.

[suzanne_doherty]

@glorybound

This works well with good internet on both sides. I once had a 16" MacBook Pro that I could easly work this way remotely.

I do it all the time, workstation in the office, £500 laptop goes with me. You don’t need superfast broadband, especially when using something like Parsec.