Sonar618

As it pertains to my objective with photography, I am trying to get to the final answer to assure I am leaning to an optimal setup. Discussions with Adobe (Lightroom/Photoshop), X-Rite Color calibration, and NVIDIA on the Pascal Series dGPU, I have concluded [AND I HOPE YOU WILL POINT OUT IF ANYWHERE I AM WRONG] I will be starting with a laptop but realize to have the full color calibration and control, I will have to get an external monitor (X-Rite software, by design, set the limitation and X-Rite explains why). With that said, to maximize my color depth and gamut, I am trying to assure my laptop to be purchased has the right monitors (internal and eventual external), the right connector on the GPU, the right DisplayPorts, and externally connecting the right wire. I have targeted using an NVIDIA Quadro P2000 (an Adobe for LR/PS tested dGPU). The Quadro Pascal (P) generation GPU and generations after, have DisplayPort 1.4 support.

I am starting with a 14 bit RAW file for photography. From NVIDIA I have read 8-10-12 bit per channel RGB can be carried but I want to be sure I thoroughly understand what else I need to optimize the bit carried internally and externally to the monitors that are calling for it.
QUESTIONS:
What should I be using for connections, DisplayPort, and wire to assure I am getting the optimal in color depth and gamut?
What should I be specifying in both monitors to assure I am getting the optimal in color depth and gamut?
Does DisplayPort 1.4A fit into the picture? What does the connector look like? How do I know if the laptop has it?
Does DisplayPort over USB-C (aka DisplayPort Alt Mode for USB Type-C Standard) fit into the picture? What does the connector look like? How do I know if the laptop has it?
Is there a reason to look for a laptop with BOTH DisplayPort 1.4A and USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode?
Can the data be carried to an external monitor over a Wi-Fi network? to and external Printer?

There are a few more questions below:

DA-07089-001_v07 NVIDIA QUADRO AND NVS DISPLAY RESOLUTION SUPPORT https://www.pny.com/File%20Library/Support/PNY%20Products/User%20Guides%20and%20Tutorials/Quadro/Quadro-and-NVS-Display-Resolution-Support.pdf
In the referenced document, why is there no mention of HDR? Does the P2000 support HDR?
Pg 8 There is no single maximum resolution for a given connector type. The maximum resolution is defined by a couple of constraints which are different for each connector type
• The maximum number of pixels per second that can be carried across the link: It doesn’t matter to the graphics processing unit (GPU) if those pixels are allocated onto a single large desktop refreshing slowly or a small desktop refreshing quickly. The maximum desktop size allowed by the GPU is 16 k × 16 k pixels – the different operating systems may have different limitations.
• The maximum bandwidth available on the link: This is most important to DisplayPort connections.
Pg 9 Is Create Custom Resolution available when using a laptop with an iGPU on board? If not, how about when I get an external monitor, does that offer any workaround?
Pg 10 Is Change Resolution available when using a laptop with an iGPU on board? If not, how about when I get an external monitor, does that offer any workaround?
Pg 9 DISPLAY COLOR DEPTH
Along with the frame-rate and resolution, displays and connectors can also vary the bit depth of the color information for each pixel. Standards like DVI define that each pixel must be made of a Red, Green and Blue component 8 bits each or 24 bits per pixel.
Pg 10 HDMI and DisplayPort offer 8, 10 or 12-bit per component as well. The display device defines the bit depth that it wants to receive, and the GPU will honor it if it can. What could constrain the bit depth?
Pg 16 Common Supported Maximum Resolutions (at CVT Reduced Blank Timings)

NVIDIA Pascal GPUs
― 5120 × 2880 at 60 Hz 24 bpp
― 4096 × 2160 at 60 Hz 36 bpp
― 2560 × 1600 at 120 Hz 36 bpp
Do I need Multi Steaming if I just want to watch a movie or work on a 4k video?
Pg 18 Single Connector 4K (From the table and its note, there appears to be a lot of capability with Pascal)
Notes: Pascal generation and generations after, the GPUs have Display Port 1.4 support.

Thank you.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I will be surprised if you get any answer on this - it requires too large and technical an answer.
Here are a few points you need to be aware of -

1. I would guess that any laptop you want will be a very expensive one. Either a high end gaming or one designed for high end graphics. Did I mention expensive ?
2. If you want to find out what a DisplayPort plug looks like do a google search.
3. Any laptop you buy will come with whatever graphics card it was designed with, and the same with external ports. I would guess that it would more likely have DisplayPort. Don't bother with HDMI or DVI as they are older standards.
4. Personally I would steer clear of using the USB-C port for anything to do with video. This is a personal view only and in my case I have found that by the time you have used the USB-C for other things it gets messy to also add video to it. This is made worse because a lot of laptop manfs have found that by providing a USB-C port they can drop others and still claim compatibility. Makes it cheaper for them and they can make the laptop smaller because they don't have to provide a myriad of different ports. Or am I being cynical ? Hence try looking for specialist manfs.
5. Pick your monitor physical screen size then go hunting for one that supports Adobe RGB 100% and probably a 4k one. Dell comes to mind. There won't be many. Then check its specs to see what ports it has.
6. From the laptop specs and the monitor specs you can then work out what cable you will need.

Either you have very particular needs or you are over thinking the whole project. If over thinking might I respectfully suggest that you stop it. If you have very special needs then either you might get lucky and somebody here might help you or I would do some research to find somebody who sells laptops in your special area (and even then you would be lucky they can answer some of your questions).

Sonar618

Sound advice that may help me get past this point. I hope others weigh in. I also posted my questions at DisplayPort. It's the consortium that set the standards for DP and Type-C (DP Alt Mode). Hopefully they are capability driven only and not as you suggested. That part of your position was hard to grasp as it was emotional. Still thank you for the reply. Emotions may be needed to get me out of the loop!

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

This may sound naive but you might try giving B&H a call. They sell a wide range of computers and their sales/service people on the phone are extremely knowledgable. Talk to someone in their computer area, obviously. Aside from technical expertise, they are interested most in helping you buy what you want and need. Not once have they ever tried to up sell or blow smoke up my shirt.

Sonar618

Thank you B&H is involved and got a copy of the questions.

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

With this many questions, I would recommend you get a desktop system instead of a laptop unless you just have to have one. Laptops are minimally up-gradable, so if you don't get exactly what you need hardware wise, you're out of luck (except memory and hard drive). Graphics capability is and continues to be a driving force in post processing software. Graphics is one item that cannot typically be upgraded on a laptop, where as, a desktop can be upgraded without much expense or difficulty.

You also can often get a lot more computer for the money with a desktop. So, just some thoughts for you.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

WOW! I never knew buying a computer (laptop or desktop) was such an ordeal. Solution: MacBook Pro and/or iMac Pro. ALL problems solved! Best of luck.

Sonar618

Thank you. I need to have the mobility of a laptop. The graphics card is not the issue as Adobe takes care of that by providing the tested card list. It's assuring I go for the right ports.

Sonar618

Why does a MBP solve all this?

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Because, when you purchase an Apple product, everything you need is already included and everything works together well with no fussing. Must be a reason photographers and graphics folks, including me, prefer these products. Best of luck.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Here is my suggestion. After picking your laptop (which was the subject of your last post and I assume you have made your choice), purchase a high quality monitor (some were also recommended in the last post) with a port that matches your chosen laptop - HDMI or display port. Simple.

Btw, I do understand that shopping and comparing specs is a fun part of the process and that, in so doing, you learn lots about current technology (I am guilty of this myself, but to a somewhat lesser degree), but with respect, I believe you may be over thinking this just a bit 🧐.

Cheers

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

Unless you are going to be gaming, most of this is, AFAIK, unimportant. Video is another question, but since you are asking about PS and not Premiere, you aren't worried about data stream rates or bit depth capacity, which is only a concern for video. There is no bandwidth issue either, since, again you are not dealing with large amounts of data at high frame rates. HDR, again, is not an issue, except for the monitor and what it can do with the data you feed it. I am always working with 32 bit .HDR files-- they just can't be viewed well on a normal monitor. Getting a full gamut monitor is really the only thing you need to worry about, and that is basically impossible on a laptop. Pretty much all laptop monitors are crap, with very limited color depth. As long as your graphics card is Adobe approved you should get all the GPU acceleration features offered in PS.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Keep in mind that DisplayPort is the "computer" equivalent of HDMI, which is considered an audiovisual format, despite the fact that many computers have HDMI ports. I know that my original Microsoft Surface Pro has a DisplayPort connector as its only means of connection to an external monitor. HDMI is also a proprietary protocol. Every port, connector, and cable requires payment to the HDMI 'cartel,' and those royalties are fairly significant. Unless the situation has changed, DisplayPort devices do not require payment of royalties, unless there have been changes of which I am not aware. Performance of DisplayPort versions has developed pretty much in parallel with HDMI, but the systems use completely different transpor protocols. DisplayPort 1.4 is the first to specifically support HDR video.

I don't usually refer folks to Wikipedia for anything other than the Bibliography/References, but they have a reasonably good writeup for this medium. It will at least get you started and provide some context for further research. And keep in mind...the way that video communication works, extremely high bandwidth is only really important if there is motion in the video...static images do not require high data rates. And note that the transmission is for 8 bit color depth...that's the practical display limit.

dragonlady9947

Get a Mac.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

Mac does not offer the options for hardware that PCs have. And PCs are cheaper for the performance offered.