[B_R_Khan]

Hi!

Thanks for this thread!
However I need more help regarding choice of laptop for openfoam after reading about memory channels and some help would mean aloott!. I was initially looking for a desktop but I want to go for a laptop now. My max budget is not great (1300 USD ). My queries are:

1) Which processor do you think is good for openfoam computation? AMD or intel? AMD laptops with 4800H and nvidia GPU are more expensive. However there are some new laptops in very affordable range with intel i7 11800H and NVIDIA RTX 3050Ti.

2) i7 11800H has two memory channels and 4800H has 2 memory channels as well. Both are octa core. Do you think I shouldn't go for both because of their low number of channels? is there any other laptop that you can suggest which is octa core with 4 memory channels?

3) I want to be able to use paraview photorealistic rendering for smaller problems at least. For that, I might need a good GPU. Can you suggest any laptop given the above requirements in the given range? i-e octa core, good CPU (whichever you recommend) and nvidia RTX card. The only affordable laptop with maximum specs that I could find was HP Pavilion 15-ec2052AX but I have heard from many people that it's not good and won't last long

If you are still reading, thanks a lot! Please help this confused soul

[flotus1]

2 memory channels is all you get in regular laptops. Ryzen 4000 mobile CPUs are still based on the older Zen2 architecture. I would highly recommend going with the more recent 5000 series. Whether you choose a laptop with a latest-gen Intel or AMD CPU doesn't matter a whole lot. They are all in the same ballpark in terms of performance.The implementation of e.g. the cooling system of the individual model you pick makes more of a difference to the user experience. At least in my opinion.
Don't pay extra for 8 CPU cores. 6 cores will be hard enough to feed for CFD workloads, and thermal/power restrictions negate the benefit of more cores further.
I assume you are talking about the raytracing feature in ParaView? If so, I can't help you with that. Haven't looked into it further than clicking the button, not getting the result I expected, and turning it off again
But my best guess from skimming through a few blog posts is that Nvidias RTX 3000 series GPUs are your better bet here.

As for which laptop to actually buy... I'm a bit out of the loop on this one.
From my personal experience, current Dell laptops are out of the question. If you want it cheap(ish), you will probably end up with a gaming laptop. Prices and availability vary a lot, so I am really reluctant to go searching for a specific machine.

[B_R_Khan]

Thanks for your reply!

Originally Posted by flotus1

I would highly recommend going with the more recent 5000 series. Whether you choose a laptop with a latest-gen Intel or AMD CPU doesn't matter a whole lot. They are all in the same ballpark in terms of performance.

So should I prefer latest generation i7 11800H over ryzen 5600H in your opinion?

Don't pay extra for 8 CPU cores. 6 cores will be hard enough to feed for CFD workloads, and thermal/power restrictions negate the benefit of more cores further.

All the latest gen processor laptops I am looking for have 8 cores :|

I assume you are talking about the raytracing feature in ParaView?

Yess ray tracing. Paraview crashes in ray/path tracing in absence of a good enough nvidia GPU

If you want it cheap(ish), you will probably end up with a gaming laptop. Prices and availability vary a lot, so I am really reluctant to go searching for a specific machine.

Yes all my searches are directing me towards gaming laptops
I found this one with latest intel gen and RTX 3050Ti (https://us.msi.com/Laptop/Sword-15-A11UX/Specification)
Another one is again HP Pavillion (https://support.hp.com/rs-en/document/c07645164) - It has very high end specs with 5800H processor but again I have heard from gamers that it's not good in usage
Legion 5 is latest gen ryzen with 3050Ti but a little out of budget

If intel processor is comparable with amd ryzen then I think I will be going for msi sword one with RTX 3050Ti

Thanks!

[flotus1]

So should I prefer latest generation i7 11800H over ryzen 5600H in your opinion?

That's probably the AMD fanboy speaking here, but I think the 5000 mobile series AMD CPUs are superior.
BUT: the differences aren't that big that a latest-gen Intel CPU would be a deal-breaker. There is more to laptops than a CPU. If you find a model that ticks all your boxes, but happens to come with an Intel CPU, you can still buy that.

All the latest gen processor laptops I am looking for have 8 cores :|

I'm not saying that 8 cores are a no-go. Just that you shouldn't pay 100-200€ extra for an upgrade to 8 cores.

If I remember correctly, the Lenovo Legion 5 15" offers acceptable value for money. I can find one with a Ryzen 5 5600H, RTX 3060, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD for 1100€.
Not sure if the RTX 3050TI is worth it. I guess that depends on the price of the laptops you find, but it is quite a bit lower in specs than a 3060 mobile.

When you have narrowed down your search to a few models, I recommend searching for a review here: https://www.notebookcheck.net/
They do in-depth reviews that will prevent you from buying an engineering failure.

[B_R_Khan]

Originally Posted by flotus1

That's probably the AMD fanboy speaking here, but I think the 5000 mobile series AMD CPUs are superior.
BUT: the differences aren't that big that a latest-gen Intel CPU would be a deal-breaker. There is more to laptops than a CPU. If you find a model that ticks all your boxes, but happens to come with an Intel CPU, you can still buy that.


I'm not saying that 8 cores are a no-go. Just that you shouldn't pay 100-200€ extra for an upgrade to 8 cores.

If I remember correctly, the Lenovo Legion 5 15" offers acceptable value for money. I can find one with a Ryzen 5 5600H, RTX 3060, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD for 1100€.
Not sure if the RTX 3050TI is worth it. I guess that depends on the price of the laptops you find, but it is quite a bit lower in specs than a 3060 mobile.

When you have narrowed down your search to a few models, I recommend searching for a review here: https://www.notebookcheck.net/
They do in-depth reviews that will prevent you from buying an engineering failure.

Yes I'm a bit biased towards AMD as well. Legion 5 15" with 5600H looks like a great deal! I asked around for this model but it's not available here in local market as far as I could search . I will look into it more. There is another one with almost same specs ( 5600H , RTX 3050) but it's dell (Dell G15 5515).

Anyways thanks alot for your help! You helped clear my mind!