dandev Loc: Enumclaw, WA

I'm back to searching for a Laptop PC (not Mac) for photo use. I ordered a MSI Creator series from XOTIC PC - and the mousepad was dead on arrival. The fan was also very loud. It is being returned.

Any recommendations? I'm running Capture One and Affinity Photo with large (40M) files, and my existing (old) Lenovo Think Pad gets bogged down.

I've looked at the Dell XPS 15, but concerned that the graphics card is not powerful enough.

Thanks...

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I have a Dell Inspiron 15 with an Intel i7 processor and 24gb ram. It has worked well for me for a couple of years now. I only use it when I travel on a photo journey and need to edit photos on the road. I have a large desktop Dell at home for everyday use. It has two 27" monitors that I love. I would not recommend using a 15" laptop for everyday use to edit photos. It's simply too small to view and edit photos all the time.

jgangjr

I bought an HP Omen 15" with an I7, Nvidia 2070 Super, 32 GB ram, 2TB NVMe SSD because I do a lot of video work and the Dell XPS15 just did not have enough oomph.

The 4k touch screen on the Dell is much better than the 1080p HP screen, but the HP is much faster. Depending on how complex your use of photoshop is, the Dell would work fine.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Which one did you get? How is it configured?

I've been recommending XoticPC for about 10 years - and other than the occasional hiccup they have been a solid company to deal with. However, I rarely suggest the MSI brand. ASUS, Sager or their house brand seem to be a better value and what I normally recommend. Your's is the first of over 30 laptops that I have heard of from my circle that was not operating correctly on delivery. At least XoticPC stands behind their products and is working with you to resolve this.

I don't like to spend $$ so I got their "house brand" laptop almost a year ago - https://xoticpc.com/collections/advanced-series-gaming-laptops/products/xotic-g58dd-nh58ddw - with 32 gb ram, (2) 2 TB XoticPC NVMe, PCIe, m.2 drives, Grizzly thermal cooling upgrade and GPU overclocking for a little over $2000. The comparable MSI did not support dual external displays and it was $500 more expensive at the base configuration.

Since the cpu uses a dynamic throttle for clock speed, there are times that the fan can be loud, like on startup, but most of the time it is undetectable. These computers can get a little hot, but it is within design specs. I am going to go out on a limb and say that you may have gotten a lemon.

Unless you are doing video editing and playback, 3D design and/or need to drive multiple 4K displays, the graphics on the XPS 15 is more than adequate. Remember, Capture One barely uses graphics processing, and as long as you have enough vram to run your displays, there is little benefit to getting more graphics processing power. The graphics card on my desktop has 1 gb vram and drives two HD displays (1920x1200) with no issues at all. I am not familiar with Affinity so I can't be helpful there.

I routinely edit D800 and D810 files and often they are stitched panoramas as big as 200 mp, and my laptop has no issues. But neither did my 12 yr old desktop.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

This is the current version of what I've been using for about 2 years. At $1000, it works very well for me using Photoshop, the Lightrooms, even Premiere Pro and After Effects.

https://www.costco.com/lenovo-legion-5-15.6%22-gaming-laptop---10th-gen-intel-core-i7-10750h---geforce-gtx-1660ti---144hz-1080p-display---moss-green.product.100568543.html

dandev Loc: Enumclaw, WA

It was the MSI Creator Series - XOTIC recommended it. Glad you had good luck with them.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

There is nothing wrong with the XPS15's onboard graphics. My system is 5 years old and is perfect. Make sure you get the 32 Gb RAM option.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Ive been using a Dell Precision M4800 for a few years. Best desktop/laptop Ive ever had. Downside is heavy if you want to be mobile often. Had mine built for me and spent a lot more than you would in the US but worth it I think. Once set up it just does everything right.

Have a look at what you can get here https://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/04/business~smb~merchandizing~en/documents~dell_precision_m4800_spec_sheet.pdf

I got the NVIDIA Quadro K2100M with 2GB GDDR5 memory and the 512Gb SSD and the 15.6" QHD+ (3200x1800): Dell UltraSharp™screen. I went for the slower (I guess) 32 GB option but seems pretty quick to me. Better than any desktop Ive had.

Downside is the weight and the screen adjustments for PSE. Spent a lot of time on the phone with the so called expert getting PSE to appear in a size of font that is large enough for my aging eyes to read. Strangely its the only programme I run that has the problem. But the on screen graphics are excellent in my opinion.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I've had nothing but good luck over the past 10 yrs. I am sorry you didn't have the best experience. But frankly, DOA issues can happen anywhere and with any mfgr. The most important thing is to purchase from a vendor that will not walk away from helping you when you have an issue.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Good deal. Ports/usb-c or sd card slot?

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Why not Mac? I have the new M1 MacBook Pro 13" and it is so much faster than my Intel processor computer. I use Affinity photo and there's no issue with my raw files from my D850 and over a dozen layers. And the battery lasts much longer than my previous laptop.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Dan, you may wish to check out "tigerdirect.com"
I've purchased several computers from them (refurbished) and have had excellent luck. Good items for reasonable prices.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

My two year old version ("Legion Y545) has no SD card slot. That bothered me. To get over it, I bought a couple Anker USB 3.0 card readers. There are two USB 3.1 ports and one USB-C port on mine.

Turns out to be a good idea to have the card reader. My newest camera uses the little SD cards and the Anker reader takes both sizes.

gwcole

What you are looking for would be a Gaming laptop. Alienware is a great brand. Games stretch the abilities of computers and are the leading edge of computers.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

"What you are looking for would be a Gaming laptop."

That's why I put up the Lenevo Legion at $1000 from Costco. It is a "gamer". As such, it seems that there is enough of a market to keep the price down. There are "laptop graphics work stations" that are better but they cost more.

This is my second "gamer". First was a ASUS "Republic of Gamers". When I bought that one, an Apple with equivalent specs was twice as much money.