{"id":17673,"date":"2022-05-30T18:49:13","date_gmt":"2022-05-30T16:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=17673"},"modified":"2023-01-05T14:35:58","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T13:35:58","slug":"laptop-vs-desktop-workstations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/","title":{"rendered":"Laptop vs. Desktop PC for Work - Which should you choose? [UPDATED 2024]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66844d8c40f79\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66844d8c40f79\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66844d8c40f79\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/#Do_Laptops_Make_Sense_for_High-End_Computing\" title=\"Do Laptops Make Sense for High-End Computing?\">Do Laptops Make Sense for High-End Computing?<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/#Hybrid_Work_in_2023_for_Creative_Professionals\" title=\"Hybrid Work in 2023 for Creative Professionals\">Hybrid Work in 2023 for Creative Professionals<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/#Laptops_vs_Desktops_Head-to-Head_Performance\" title=\"Laptops vs. Desktops Head-to-Head Performance\">Laptops vs. Desktops Head-to-Head Performance<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/#A_2000_Laptop_vs_2000_Desktop_in_2023_Who_Would_Win\" title=\"A $2000 Laptop vs. $2000 Desktop in 2023: Who Would Win?\">A $2000 Laptop vs. $2000 Desktop in 2023: Who Would Win?<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/#Cinebench_Single_and_Multi-core_Scores_AMD_Ryzen_9_5950X_vs_Intel_Core_i9_11800H_vs_AMD_Ryzen_9_5900HS\" title=\"Cinebench Single and Multi-core Scores: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X vs. Intel Core i9 11800H (vs. AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS)\">Cinebench Single and Multi-core Scores: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X vs. Intel Core i9 11800H (vs. AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/#Octanebench_Scores_Nvidia_RTX_3060_Ti_vs_Nvidia_RTX_3080_Laptop\" title=\"Octanebench Scores: Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti vs. Nvidia RTX 3080 (Laptop)\">Octanebench Scores: Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti vs. Nvidia RTX 3080 (Laptop)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/#Laptops_vs_Desktops_Head-to-Head_Professional_Efficiency_Courtesy_-_Alex_Glawion\" title=\"Laptops vs. Desktops Head-to-Head Professional Efficiency (Courtesy \u2013 Alex Glawion)\">Laptops vs. Desktops Head-to-Head Professional Efficiency (Courtesy \u2013 Alex Glawion)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/#Verdict_Should_You_Buy_a_Laptop_or_Build_a_Desktop_Workstation\" title=\"Verdict: Should You Buy a Laptop or Build a Desktop Workstation?\">Verdict: Should You Buy a Laptop or Build a Desktop Workstation?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>The desktops vs. laptops decision is challenging, especially with work on the line.<\/p>\n<p>One wrong pick could mean a ton of money down the drain, or worse, client projects getting delayed.<\/p>\n<p>While the desktop side offers absolute, uncompromising power, the laptop side boasts a certain level of mobility and flexibility.<\/p>\n<p>Honestly, I can see both sides of the argument.<\/p>\n<p>Now that laptop manufacturers claim desktop-class performance with even thin and light laptops, it\u2019s time to revisit the laptops vs. desktops debate.<\/p>\n<p>Is there any merit to their claims?<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s find out!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Laptops_Make_Sense_for_High-End_Computing\"><\/span>Do Laptops Make Sense for High-End Computing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In most cases, the answer is a solid no.<\/p>\n<p>Building a custom desktop workstation is the best way to get your work done faster if you have a fixed workspace.<\/p>\n<p>And no, this isn\u2019t just about performance charts. Efficiency improvements can mean the difference between getting your work done in a day instead of a week.<\/p>\n<p>That said, a fixed workspace might be a luxury that some professionals just don\u2019t have.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hybrid_Work_in_2023_for_Creative_Professionals\"><\/span>Hybrid Work in 2023 for Creative Professionals<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There are several flavors of remote work in the aftermath of the pandemic, and one that poses a bit of a challenge for creative folk is the hybrid working model. You know, half remote, half on-site.<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s not even close to an unpopular choice.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, Accenture found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accenture.com\/us-en\/insights\/consulting\/future-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">that a whopping 83% of workers preferred a hybrid work set up<\/a> \u2013 so it will remain a \u2018thing\u2019 for the foreseeable future. You\u2019ll find similar statistics across several industry verticals as well.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re working exclusively out of your home office, well and good. A proper desktop is still the best option for you.<\/p>\n<p>But what about those who have to flit between remote and on-site work?<\/p>\n<p>Frequently switching from an office workstation to another at home can be jarring. Our readers have also commented on the hassle of moving large files and assets across workspaces. It\u2019s just too inconvenient.<\/p>\n<p>Opting for a desktop, in this case, will only end up wasting your time.<\/p>\n<p>A laptop that acts as a portable workstation is the way to go for a hybrid work setup.<\/p>\n<p>You just plug into your multi-monitor setup with a full keyboard and mouse, wherever you are, and you\u2019re ready to pick up where you left off almost instantly.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Laptops_vs_Desktops_Head-to-Head_Performance\"><\/span>Laptops vs. Desktops Head-to-Head Performance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Laptops have certainly come a long way in raw compute performance. Top-tier options now offer desktop-class performance, even during those extended workloads that can last hours at a stretch.<\/p>\n<h4>Laptop vs. Desktop Processor Comparisons (Cinebench R23)<\/h4>\n<p>Although Cinebench isn\u2019t perfect as a benchmark to compare CPUs, it gives you a broad idea of what to expect with a few types of creative workloads.<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-148\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-148 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">CPU Name<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">CPU Type<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Single Score<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Multi Score<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Intel Core i9 12900K<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">2003<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">27483<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">Intel Core i9 12900H<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">Laptop<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1825<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">16555<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">AMD Ryzen 9 5950X<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1684<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">28782<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">Laptop<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1493<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">13271<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">AMD Ryzen 9 3950X<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1406<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">26375<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">AMD Ryzen 7 3800X<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1346<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">13848<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">AMD Ryzen 9 3900X<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1312<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">18682<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">AMD Threadripper 3970X<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1308<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">46874<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">AMD Threadripper 3960X<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1307<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">34932<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tfoot>\n<tr class=\"row-11 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">CPU Name<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">CPU Type<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Single Score<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Multi Score<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-148 from cache -->\n<p>As you can see from the chart above, The <em>Ryzen 9 5900HX in the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16<\/em> can easily keep up with the single-core scores of its desktop counterparts.<\/p>\n<p>But if you take a quick look at the multi-core numbers, you\u2019ll see that they\u2019re nowhere close.<\/p>\n<p>Even current top-tier laptop chips can barely stand their ground against older desktop CPUs like the Ryzen 7 3800X. For reference, the Ryzen 7 3800X launched way back in July 2019!<\/p>\n<p>If you want top-tier single-core performance, modern laptops will not hold you back. Artists and designers handling active tasks (not rendering) will face absolutely no issues getting work done on laptop hardware.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, if you need to handle core-sensitive work like CPU\/GPU renders, you\u2019re usually better off with a desktop.<\/p>\n<p>Either way, modern laptops offer compelling hardware and impressive performance in a portable form factor to those who value mobility.<\/p>\n<h4>Laptop vs. Desktop GPU Comparisons (Octanebench)<\/h4>\n<p>Like AMD and Intel laptop CPUs, Nvidia\u2019s (and AMD\u2019s) laptop GPUs also offer desktop-class performance without too much struggle.<\/p>\n<p>That said, don\u2019t read too much into their naming. For example, a laptop RTX 3070 performs an entire performance tier lower than a desktop RTX 3070.<\/p>\n<p>Then there are <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/asus-proart-studiobook-16-review\/#:~:text=Those%20reported%20average,an%20RTX%203070.\">other Nvidia shenanigans like the \u2018same\u2019 GPU offering several power envelope options (Max-P and Max-Q)<\/a>, which can completely change the performance on offer.<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-149\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-149 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">GPU Name<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">GPU Type<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">VRAM (GB)<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">OctaneBench Score<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">4x RTX 2080 Ti<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">11<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">1433<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">RTX 3090<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">24<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">661<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">RTX 3080<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">10<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">559<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">RTX 3070<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">403<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">RTX 3080<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">Laptop<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">369<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">RTX 3070<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">Laptop<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">367<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">RTX 2080<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">261<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">RTX 2060 (6GB)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">6<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">188<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tfoot>\n<tr class=\"row-10 even\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">GPU Name<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">GPU Type<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">VRAM (GB)<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Octanebench Score<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-149 from cache -->\n<p>As you can see from the chart above, top-tier desktop GPU performance is on another level. And we haven\u2019t even started to consider the ginormous gulf between multi-GPU setups and single GPUs for render engines.<\/p>\n<p>Still, laptop GPUs deliver impressive performance, especially when you account for their form factor and power draw.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more, a top-tier laptop GPU won\u2019t hold you back if your work isn\u2019t overly reliant on multiple GPUs. You know \u2013 you\u2019re set for any active work within the viewport, 3D modeling, sculpting, etc.<\/p>\n<p>As we covered in our <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/asus-proart-studiobook-16-review\/\">ProArt Studiobook 16 review<\/a>, Alex was able to use the laptop GPU to bolster his render node performance \u2013 granting him a significant speed bump on renders.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_2000_Laptop_vs_2000_Desktop_in_2023_Who_Would_Win\"><\/span>A $2000 Laptop vs. $2000 Desktop in 2023: Who Would Win?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you asked me this question a few years ago, the answer would\u2019ve been an incredulous stare at you with an \u2018obviously the desktop\u2019 expression plastered on my face.<\/p>\n<p>But now, even though the GPU shortage has abated somewhat, graphics card pricing remains dicey.<\/p>\n<p>So if you build a desktop in mid-2023, can it outperform whatever laptop you can buy at the same budget?<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s use the <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/pc-builder\/\">G100 PC Builder<\/a> using the balanced 3D workload to balance viewport and render performance (leaning toward the former) and find out!<\/p>\n<h4>The $2000 Laptop: What Options do we Have?<\/h4>\n<p>The Builder offers two good options.<\/p>\n<p>We could either go with an MSI GP66 Leopard that boasts an Intel Core i9 11800H and an Nvidia RTX 3080 or opt for the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 with an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-17678\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-descr.png\" alt=\"Graphical user interface, text, application Description automatically generated\" width=\"773\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-descr.png 773w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-descr-300x89.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-descr-768x228.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-17678 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20773%20229%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Graphical user interface, text, application Description automatically generated\" width=\"773\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20773%20229%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 773w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-descr.png 773w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-descr-300x89.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-descr-768x228.png 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-descr.png\"><\/p>\n<p>And this one:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-17679\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-email.png\" alt=\"Graphical user interface, text, application, email Description automatically generated\" width=\"779\" height=\"227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-email.png 779w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-email-300x87.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-email-768x224.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 779px) 100vw, 779px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-17679 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20779%20227%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Graphical user interface, text, application, email Description automatically generated\" width=\"779\" height=\"227\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20779%20227%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 779w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 779px) 100vw, 779px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-email.png 779w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-email-300x87.png 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-email-768x224.png 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/graphical-user-interface-text-application-email.png\"><\/p>\n<p>For this comparison, let\u2019s go with the best laptop hardware possible. The MSI GP66 Leopard it is!<\/p>\n<p>(I\u2019ll still compare the CPU performance of both options\u2026for science, you know?)<\/p>\n<h4>The $2000 Custom-Built Desktop<\/h4>\n<p>So, here\u2019s what the PC-Builder spits out:<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-17729 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/2000-dollar-Workstation-PC-Build.jpg\" alt=\"2000 dollar Workstation PC Build\" width=\"932\" height=\"881\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/2000-dollar-Workstation-PC-Build.jpg 932w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/2000-dollar-Workstation-PC-Build-300x284.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/2000-dollar-Workstation-PC-Build-768x726.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 932px) 100vw, 932px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-with-border alignnone wp-image-17729 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20932%20881%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"2000 dollar Workstation PC Build\" width=\"932\" height=\"881\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20932%20881%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 932w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 932px) 100vw, 932px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/2000-dollar-Workstation-PC-Build.jpg 932w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/2000-dollar-Workstation-PC-Build-300x284.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/2000-dollar-Workstation-PC-Build-768x726.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/2000-dollar-Workstation-PC-Build.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>You could technically tweak this a bit more to optimize it for single-core performance, but that\u2019ll drive up the price of a few other things and mess up the budget. So, we\u2019ll stick to the Ryzen 9 5950X build generated here.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cinebench_Single_and_Multi-core_Scores_AMD_Ryzen_9_5950X_vs_Intel_Core_i9_11800H_vs_AMD_Ryzen_9_5900HS\"><\/span>Cinebench Single and Multi-core Scores: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X vs. Intel Core i9 11800H (vs. AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-150\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-150 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">CPU Name<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">CPU Type<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Single Score<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Multi Score<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">AMD Ryzen 9 5950X<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1684<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">28782<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">Intel Core i9 11800H<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">Laptop<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1522<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">12563<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">Laptop<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1457<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">13158<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tfoot>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">CPU Name<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">CPU Type<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Single Score<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Multi Score<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-150 from cache -->\n<p>As you can see, the single-core score for laptops and desktops isn\u2019t that far off. But when it comes to multi-core performance, the scores are not even remotely close.<\/p>\n<p>If your applications <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/cpu-cores-vs-logical-processors-threads\/\">can leverage multiple CPU cores well<\/a>, a desktop is just hands-down better.<\/p>\n<p>However, active tasks like working within a viewport in Cinema 4D, sculpting in ZBrush, scrubbing across a timeline in <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/adobe-premiere-pro-system-requirements-pc-recommendations\/\">Premiere Pro<\/a>, or tweaking images in Lightroom\/Photoshop should work just fine on either setup.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Octanebench_Scores_Nvidia_RTX_3060_Ti_vs_Nvidia_RTX_3080_Laptop\"><\/span>Octanebench Scores: Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti vs. Nvidia RTX 3080 (Laptop)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Now that you have some idea of how a laptop CPU would do against a desktop CPU when building within a limited budget, let\u2019s take a closer look at our GPUs.<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-151\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-151 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">GPU Name<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">GPU Type<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">VRAM (GB)<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">OctaneBench Score<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">RTX 3070 Ti<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">454<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">RTX 3070<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">403<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">RTX 3060 Ti<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">376<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">RTX 3080<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">Laptop<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">369<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">RTX 3070<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><span style=\"background: #7f11e0;color: #fff;padding: 4px;\">Laptop<\/span><\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">367<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">RTX 3060<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Desktop<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">12<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">289<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<tfoot>\n<tr class=\"row-8 even\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">GPU Name<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">GPU Type<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">VRAM (GB)<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Octanebench Score<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-151 from cache -->\n<p>Neat, right?<\/p>\n<p>Prices for hardware (GPUs, in particular) have somehow normalized in such a way that you end up getting similar CPU (single-core) and GPU performance, regardless of whether you\u2019re buying a laptop or building a desktop.<\/p>\n<p>At the $2000 budget, the desktop with its RTX 3060 Ti offers just marginally better performance than the MSI GP66 Leopard\u2019s RTX 3080 laptop GPU.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you do manage to cram an RTX 3070 into your $2000 build, you\u2019ll see a noticeable performance uplift compared to the laptop you can buy at that price. This flexibility is just yet another reason why building a custom desktop is the ideal way to go.<\/p>\n<p>That said, do keep in mind that to get peak performance out of a laptop, you\u2019ll have no choice but to rev the fans to max for optimal cooling.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, due to the laptop form factor, its cooling fans are tiny and spin at incredibly high speeds \u2013 making them VERY loud when they\u2019re set to go all out.<\/p>\n<p>So, if noise is a consideration, you can expect a not-so-insignificant performance hit when you switch the laptop fans down to silent or balanced.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Laptops_vs_Desktops_Head-to-Head_Professional_Efficiency_Courtesy_-_Alex_Glawion\"><\/span>Laptops vs. Desktops Head-to-Head Professional Efficiency <em>(Courtesy \u2013 Alex Glawion)<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When working on a 3D Project, there are numerous windows I need open simultaneously.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>My main 3D Software Window showing the viewport and Menus<\/li>\n<li>My 3D Software\u2019s Render Preview Window, which is placed on the second Monitor at 100% Render Resolution<\/li>\n<li>The Client Brief contains things like brand colors and references<\/li>\n<li>My own references in, say, PureRef<\/li>\n<li>More apps open in the background, like a Browser, Email, <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-free-photoshop-alternatives\/\">Various Pipeline Tools like Photoshop<\/a>, Texture Packer, After Effects, Illustrator, Client communication in Slack and other chat software, PC Monitoring RAM Usage CPU Utilization, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With multiple large monitors, every one of these things is a mere glance away.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t have to go looking and switch back and forth between a string of applications, which is a huge time saver.<\/p>\n<p>When I do efficient work, I already know in advance what I am going to do next, pretty much.<\/p>\n<p>Routines take over when modeling, texturing, checking render previews, or setting up render passes for comp. Anytime my PC slows me down in such a preplanned process, it hurts my efficiency.<\/p>\n<p>This can be things like lag in Applications, looking for and switching to other windows, input devices holding me back, and of course, general lack of performance from my PC parts.<\/p>\n<p>My PC is a tool that is most effective when it does not hold me (the human) back through any of the above. It\u2019s supposed to take itself out of the equation as much as possible.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>With a desktop workstation, thanks to high-end performance, I rarely have lag\/slowdowns.<\/li>\n<li>Thanks to multiple monitors, I have everything I need open at the same time.<\/li>\n<li>And thanks to a full-size keyboard and mouse on a large desk, my input devices don\u2019t hold me back.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Sadly, a few of these things don\u2019t hold true when using a laptop.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, if I plug my laptop into multiple monitors, attach a proper mouse and keyboard to it, and have access to a large desk, the scenario is similar to working on a workstation (apart from maybe thermals holding you back during extended loads).<\/p>\n<p>But if I use the laptop as-is, single Screen, Touchpad, small Keyboard, and limited desk space (very likely if I want to use it on the go), my efficiency plummets into oblivion.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, it might have high-end hardware, a fast GPU, lots of RAM, and a bunch of Cores, which are all advertised prominently on the product page, but what\u2019s holding me back are the three factors I mentioned above.<\/p>\n<p>Most importantly, there\u2019s not enough room for my apps, forcing me to switch back and forth between them constantly.<\/p>\n<p>To top it all off, there\u2019s also a touchpad that reduces my speed and precision to a slow crawl.<\/p>\n<p>But to be fair, I can\u2019t be lugging around a full desktop PC if I want to work on the train, plane, on a set, or when visiting friends, so that\u2019s just what I must settle for.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mobility, but at the cost of efficiency.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But if I ever wanted only to retain the option of mobility and use my laptop on a desk with multiple monitors, keyboard, mouse, and all my paraphernalia, it really wouldn\u2019t slow me down much, if at all.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Verdict_Should_You_Buy_a_Laptop_or_Build_a_Desktop_Workstation\"><\/span>Verdict: Should You Buy a Laptop or Build a Desktop Workstation?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Building a custom desktop workstation for most CG professionals is well worth the effort.<\/p>\n<p>Although modern laptops offer similar performance to PCs, they still lose out on features like upgradability, repairability, connectivity, and improved efficiency.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart.jpg\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17694 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart.jpg\" alt=\"Desktop or Laptop Workstation Flowchart\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17694 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Desktop or Laptop Workstation Flowchart\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/05\/Desktop-or-Laptop-Workstation-Flowchart.jpg\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what you should take away from this comparison:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>For those who absolutely need mobility, a laptop is unavoidable:\n<ul>\n<li>If you don\u2019t have a fixed workspace, grab a creator-level laptop with a color-accurate display and desktop-class hardware.<\/li>\n<li>If you have a fixed workspace, get a desktop workstation and a thin-and-light notebook with a powerful CPU. Here, we assume you can bring work back home or to the office, so you can handle any CPU\/GPU-heavy workloads on your desktop without an efficiency hit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>If you don\u2019t need mobility:\n<ul>\n<li>Build a desktop workstation. It\u2019s well worth the effort.<\/li>\n<li>If you still do need a laptop because you might want to head out with it at times, grab the best hardware (CPU\/GPU\/RAM) you can find. Use it plugged into external displays as a miniature desktop \u2013 of sorts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>Do you think a laptop can replace your work setup? Leave a <a href=\"#comments\">comment<\/a> down below and let us know in our <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">forums<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/wp-content\/customScripts\/balkenTabelle.js\">\naddBalken(\"tablepress-148\",\"column-3\",\"column-4\");\naddBalken(\"tablepress-149\",\"column-3\",\"column-4\");\naddBalken(\"tablepress-150\",\"column-3\",\"column-4\");\naddBalken(\"tablepress-151\",\"column-3\",\"column-4\");<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The desktops vs. laptops decision is challenging, especially with work on the line. One wrong pick could mean a ton of money down the drain, or worse, client projects getting delayed. While the desktop side offers absolute, uncompromising power, the laptop side boasts a certain level of mobility and flexibility. Honestly, I can see both...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2334,"featured_media":17686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[173,112],"tags":[147,122],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17673"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2334"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17673"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17673\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17741,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17673\/revisions\/17741"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}