Help With Laptop for Scarlet and 3D

[Steven Blye]

I have to get a Laptop to allow me to do field work and due to funds it will have to serve as my only computer.

The below configured Laptop is the Lonovo W530 at $1,784.25.

If there is a truly better machine to get please let me know, why and what configuration.

My main purpose is to do narrative work in 3D. BTW: Apple Care confirmed for me the Macbook Pro Retina will not pass through a 3D signal from the Nvidia card, so it can't be used for 3D. It would be interesting if someone with the laptop knows differently.

I've had limited discussion with those I've reached out to for advice on this forum, but it stopped well short of helping me know what to buy. For that reason and because a sale that would save me an extra $600.00 at Lenovo ends in 3 days I need advice now not only on whether or not this is the way to go, but in configuring, which options to use.

I'm not going to be on a pressure crunch for production, but I of course don't want to spend weeks rendering. My funds are limited, but this laptop as currently configured is doable.

So, I'm posting below the options I need advice on. I'm especially in need of advice on:

A) the Processor,
B) System graphics,
C) Total memory and
D) Hard Drive


1) Please remember my goal is 3D and I expect to use the Laptop to drive a monitor. A 3D PC monitor or if possible a 3D Plasma and a monitor for editing.

2) Please let me know how this Graphics card and Processor will handle 3D.

Unfortunately I don't have in front of me info on the ports, but I'll add that tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for sorely needed advice.

An (x) next to an option indicates this is how this is presently configured, although not through any great belief in the build of the system.

Lonovo ThinkPad W530 Laptop

As configured: Cost $1784.25

I did not go for the Color Sensor ($200) as I assumed the laptop monitor would not wisely be used for this.


Processor
(x) - Intel Core i7-3720QM Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.60 GHz)
Intel Core i7-3820QM Processor (8M Cache, up to 3.70 GHz) (add $200.00)
Intel Core i7-3920XM Processor (2.90GHz, 8MB L3, 1600MHZ) (add $750.00)

System graphics
NVIDIA Quadro K1000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory
(x) NVIDIA Quadro K2000M Graphics with 2GB DDR3 Memory

Total Memory
4 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (1 DIMM) (subtract $480.00)
6 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (2 DIMM) (subtract $400.00)
8GB PC3 12800 DDR3 (4 DIMM) (subtract $320.00)
8 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (2 DIMM) (subtract $320.00)
8 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (1 DIMM) (subtract $30.00)
(x) – 16 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (4 DIMM)
16 GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (2 DIMM) – (add $580.00)
32 GB PC34-12800 DDR3 (4DIMM) - (add $640.00)

Storage subsystem
(x) – Internal RAID – Not Enabled
Internal RAID – Configured by Lenovo

Hard Drive
(x)- 320GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200 rpm
500GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400 rpm (add $10.00)
1 TB Hard Disk Drive, 5400 rpm (add $170.00)
128 GB Solid State Drive, SATA3 (add $280.00)
180 GB Solid State Drive, SATA3 (add $480.00)

Optical Device
(x) – DVD Recordable
1 TB Hard Disk Drive, 5400 rpm with Bay Adapter (add $370.00)

Bluetooth
(x) – None
Bluetooth 4.0 with Antenna

Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters
(x) – ThinkPad 1x1 b/g/n
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 AGN (add $20.00)
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN (add $40.00)

Integrated mobile broadband
(WWAN is not compatible with Micro hard drive (mSATA)
(x) – Mobile Broadband upgradable
Qualcomm Gobi 3000 (add $125.00)

[Jarek Zabczynski]

Well, I'm not the one to answer all your questions, but I can say this. You'll probably be better off using a monitoring solution like Blackmagic's UltraStudio 3D rather than anything coming out your video card. It's also Thunderbolt so if you were first looking at a Mac, this would be your best bet.

http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/ultrastudio3d/

[Steven Blye]

Well, I'm not the one to answer all your questions, but I can say this. You'll probably be better off using a monitoring solution like Blackmagic's UltraStudio 3D rather than anything coming out your video card. It's also Thunderbolt so if you were first looking at a Mac, this would be your best bet.

http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/ultrastudio3d/

Hey Jarek,

That's really interesting. I'm going to have to look into that. Maybe the MBP Retina is an option after all. Just everything is usually more expensive on a Mac, but it was very attractve.

[Jarek Zabczynski]

No secret that I'm a Mac guy. Though I won't lie and say I'm not nervous about the future of the MacPro. If they don't pull a hefty rabbit out of their hat come 2013 I may be forced to switch to an HP system. Though the pro offerings on the laptop side have been pretty powerful from what I hear, minus the cut of the 17", Which I do believe will be added to the retina line at some point.

[Steven Blye]

I wish the Apple reps were more knowledgeable about doing 3D on the Macs. This would have been very helpful when I was talking to them.

I'd still like to hear comments on the above system.

[Subhadip Sen]

I don't really do 3D except for gaming, but from what I know, NVIDIA's 3D Vision Pro is the best solution, by far. The Quadro KM GPU is capable of outputting zero-latency 10-bit 3D straight from the GPU. The consumer 3D Vision 2 works nearly as well, though uses IR communication instead of RF for 3D Vision Pro. Sony Vegas Pro and Premiere Pro are both compatible with 3D Vision Pro (Vegas works with 3D Vision 2 as well) and Cineform 3D which really helps if you are short of processing power. It is a superb solution which makes 3D post-production as easy as 2D. Avoid capture cards if you are sensitive to latency lag (like I am).

Dell's new Precision line is very impressive as well and enables options for higher-end Quadro GPUs which can be invaluable for 3D work. The Quadro K5000M is immense, faster than the desktop Quadro 6000! There are obviously many options, but I am a bit out of touch for now. I love the Thinkpad W520 - arguably the finest workstation laptop I have used - but the new W530 is a bit disappointing in terms of pure graphics performance, which 3D work can certainly do with.

I recommend looking further into the Premiere Pro CS6 + 3D Vision Pro + Cineform 3D solution, get in touch with the Adobe team.

You would certainly need internal RAID - even with Cineform 3D material a single hard drive will be a bottleneck.

PS: I found a video from over a year ago: http://tv.adobe.com/watch/short-and-...-premiere-pro/. No doubt all involved have enhanced the solution even further. Pretty much a no-brainer.

PPS: For 4K x 3D work, you should be looking at about 4GB of GPU frame buffer, minimum, working with Premiere Pro CS6, which makes K2000M on the W530 a possible bottleneck. We know 1.5 GB can be a bottleneck for a single 4K stream. I would also consider 32 GB RAM.

[Steven Blye]

This is really helpful information Subhadip. Thank you. The video is a great resource.

I'm anxious to explore the route you've outlined. I'd love to find there is a prebuilt solution with the aspects you're speaking of in a workable price range.

[Steven Blye]

In case its of use to anyone, Dell has a 40% off coupon right now on Workstation Laptops. The 6700 for instance. The sales rep wasn't sure how long it would last.