[CAN] Looking for advice on a road warrior Linux machine for college (~$1500)

Hey, dudes.

Going to college in September for Computer Systems. I need a laptop that can run 4+ VMs at once with a quad core and 16(+)GB of memory, render like a boss, and not spaghetti my spine.

Ideal size? Around 14", less is better, bigger is okay as long as it isn’t a brick. I don’t need gaming performance on this machine because I have my beasty oh-baby-a-triple-boot OSX/8.1/Ubuntu Gnome machine for that. With my experience, discrete video in an everyday laptop actually sucks, especially for Linux. It’s a batter drainer and driver nightmare, plus the extra cooling unit makes it way heavier and bulkier. The best option I’ve found is Intel Iris Pro graphics. Fairly high performance, but with solid drivers and great battery life compared to a discrete card.

I’ve been looking at a few so far:

  • The ThinkPad T440p seems to fit the bill minus Iris pro, though that’s not a high priority. If it’s anything like the T410 I’m writing this on it’ll knock a hole in a wall. Does have the quad core and a great keyboard, though the screen sucks according to reviews. Again, not a big deal, just might be a little annoying long term.
  • Next is the Sager NP2740. This one seems like a total beast. Iris pro and full on quad core and the cherry on top, an IPS display. Sweet! However, sager/clevo seems like, and correct me if I’m wrong, a bit of a B-brand. I worry about the durability and quality of this machine, especially the keyboard and trackpad.

Another feature I would love to have is either Expresscard or Thunderbolt for a PCIe out link for an eGPU. I have one for my current machine and it’s great fun. Also a driver horror show. :smiley:

Also open to any other good models.

Thanks so much for any insight you folks can give. There’s a lot of choice, but none of them seem to be totally on point.

oh god please stop.

:|
you are overhyped.

just get this... if you have too much cash..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA57X2RG0938

14" i7 Thinkpad with the high res panel + big ssd + 9 cell battery. I'd grab a ex-business one to save cash. Most you find have had a very easy life from my experience.

You can not be overhyped about a laptop. It's the one computer you are basically stuck with.

I have been eyeing the dell M3800.

if you go to the dell website, you can order it with ubuntu which saves you a decent chunk of cash.

You can get 256GB SSD, a 4K scrreen (15 inch), Nvidia quadro K1110, quad core i7, and a larger battery, all in a thin profile for 1850.

I am eyeing that laptop myself. I am trying to hold out for nvidia pascal and a decent skylake processor before I jump on it.

overpriced and overhyped. I'd take laptop with amd apu for 400-500$ if i had to, but thats me...

Yeah, but your the type of person I see going out and building their own laptop somehow.

nah, if it was me i wouldn't want laptop in first place. I'd go with a pc.

and those apu's are very cool, though look down upon. A-10 apu can play most of today games at medium/high detail where as you'd need sh*tload of cash for nv gpu in laptop.

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I agree with CyclonDX here. When you already have a good PC, even the most expensive laptop is going to feel like a POS in comparison and so you'll only use it when you have to. You'll save all your real work for when you get back to your PC anyway and just use the laptop for basic stuff that you can do with any laptop. So keep it cheap unless you're typically going to need to get a lot done in terms of computing power while being away from your PC for days at a time. My laptop mostly just sits around depreciating.

Thing is, I already have a powerful desktop with a pair of 660ti gpus and a 2600k and stuff (mostly from Craigslist lol). My laptop doesn't need to have any real gaming performance to speak of. It just has to be able to handle a shitload of VMs for my classes.

I think APUs are cool too, but the important part, the CPU itself, is just not there with those. Until AMD can come out with an eight threaded mobile monster at ~50W i'll have to stick with Intel sadly.

lol that right there is worth it's weight in chriro appointments...

Now we're talking! Does an OEM like Clevo sell the standalone chassis and parts to play with? You have my interest... :D

Good idea. I was going to get it now and "break it in" before fall, but it might be a better idea to hold out with the T410 until the next gen machines are released...

Thanks, dudes!

You don't want to go this route unless you understand a lot about power transfer. You would somehow have to rig a battery to connect to the 24 pin... and then find a way to charge it. Not to mention powering a display. I'm not saying it's impossible but it's hard. It was a joke considering how much @anon5205053 knows about technology.

May I ask what degree you will be going for?

Computer systems engineering. Gonna build 'clouds' someday! ;)

Oh, you are going about this all wrong.

Here is what you gotta do.

First get a cheap acer chrome book and slap linux on it.

Your first semester or two is going to be eaten up with gen eds and you will be doing a lot of studying and note taking.

You are just gonna want something cheap small and light with stupid long battery life. And the chrome book will serve you well through the whole damn degree.

Once you get settled in, start thinking about something like a mini itx rig. Believe me, a lot of time will be spent at a keyboard. You are gonna want a small pc with a decent screen and a comfortable keyboard.

That's true. I thought about putting together a slick itx rig in a TU200B case with a Xeon and a proper GPU. The only problem is that you still need kvm... Some cases have a monitor attached but they look stupid and most can't accommodate a proper CPU and graphics card.

I think I'll do this: Keep using the T410 refurb I have. It can do 8GB and that should be enough for the first semester or two. Then, when a bunch of losers flunk out and need to flip the $1500 laptop they got, I'll stiff 'em and get a great deal on an almost new machine. What can go wrong, right?

If OP wishes to stick Linux on the laptop, an APU will not be a pleasant experience.