17.3″ 4K laptop suggestions? - Preference for open-source

[AlecTaylor]

I have a 4½ year old MacBook Pro 15″ and before then I had a 5 year [now 9½ year] old System76 17.3″.

Keen to buy a new laptop now, for machine-learning and other tasks. So I'm thinking:

• 17.3″ 4K monitor
• 32GB of RAM [DDR5 @ 4800 MHz];
• decent CPU (Intel i7-12700H?); and a
• 1TB SSD (PCIe Gen4 Up to Seq Read: 7,000 MB/s, Seq Write: 5,000 MB/s)

Was going to buy from System76 but their screen is only full HD, and if I'm going to have my next laptop for roughly 5 years it should be reasonably future-proofed…

I've had a Dell before and their Alienware x17 R2 looks decent… though I would prefer to go with a non-proprietary company like System76.

Any suggestions on who to go with?

Thanks

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

If you are into Linux, System76 is a no-brainer. But, seriously, any laptop of the last age can do what you want.

I would look at Lenovo and HP. They have some nice setups.

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

There's the ThinkPad P16 Gen 1, but it has a 16" screen and not a 17.3" one.  It replaces the ThinkPad P17 Gen 2, which does have a 4K screen option, but uses an 11th Gen CPU and DDR4 RAM.  I have the 15" version (P15 Gen 2) and am very happy with it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

[AlecTaylor]

Took a look at HP, ThinkPad, and Lenovo but they didn't have the right size + 4K screen, current shortlist:

- Dell Alienware m17 R5

Bigger screens are much more efficient for having code on one screen and rendered output on the other side (for example).

I'll finalise purchase within the next 12 hours, but feel free to reply after so this thread will be useful to others. Otherwise I'll keep refreshing for next 12 hours! & Thanks

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

On 14/11/2022 at 23:03, AlecTaylor said:

Took a look at HP, ThinkPad, and Lenovo but they didn't have the right size + 4K screen, current shortlist:

- Dell Alienware m17 R5

Bigger screens are much more efficient for having code on one screen and rendered output on the other side (for example).

I'll finalise purchase within the next 12 hours, but feel free to reply after so this thread will be useful to others. Otherwise I'll keep refreshing for next 12 hours! & Thanks

Can't just do it on an external screen? VGA/HDMI?

 

edit: Why did you ask us if you had a set idea in your head?

[hellowalkman Reporter]

On 15/11/2022 at 12:46, Mindovermaster said:

edit: Why did you ask us if you had a set idea in your head?

Probably coz they are just weighing all possible options.

[Ixion]

Although not strictly a 17,3" screen have you considered the Macbook Pro 16? They have fantastic displays and will run rings around most windows laptops in terms of performance and battery life.

[AlecTaylor]

@lxion Yeah I was looking at those last night. They look decent but with the M2 due to come out any minute I would feel annoyed buying the previous generation.

@Mindovermaster I prefer a laptop. Means I can work in a café or wherever. Also I am not completely sold on Alienware I'm just looking for a decent 4k 17.3″ laptop and no others have been recommend yet on this thread. I would prefer open-source branding, like System76…

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

On 15/11/2022 at 11:18, AlecTaylor said:

@Mindovermaster I prefer a laptop. Means I can work in a café or wherever. Also I am not completely sold on Alienware I'm just looking for a decent 4k 17.3″ laptop and no others have been recommend yet on this thread. I would prefer open-source branding, like System76…

Again, System76 is a no-brainer. Not many laptops these days come in a 17" form factor.

You can always get a secondary monitor. And it doesn't have to be a full fledged monitor. Like: https://www.newegg.com/aoc-e1659fwu-15-6/p/N82E16824160174?Description=external monitor&cm_re=external_monitor-_-24-160-174-_-Product&quicklink=true

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

Just to add to what @Ixion and @Mindovermaster said, 17.3" 16:9 LCD screen panels are being dropped by laptop manufacturers in favor of 16" 16:10 LCD screen panels.  If you are looking at higher-end laptops with 13th gen Intel CPUs, DDR5, etc., you may have to forego the 17.3" screen in favor of a slightly smaller 16" one.  Here's a website that does a good job of showing the difference (about 12.8 square inches):  http://www.displaywars.com/17,3-inch-16x9-vs-16-inch-16x10

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky