Help me make the best (in your opinion) PORTABLE workstation

Hello. I am making a powerful portable workstation so I can carry it with me and work in the studio as well as at home and even cafes. I want one that will be able to handle the most powerful applications in architecture, engineering, and design with ease and then some and work in 3d Modeling smoothly “like butter” as people say. I researched a lot before hand and found some websites for a “build it online” type system where I choose the specs. I understand that I am in need of a good processor and graphics card mainly for what I intend to work on. I work heavily in large, heavily detailed 3d models and drawings and I also do photorealistic renders in different apps. I was sold on Quadro graphics cards particularly the M5000M ($1,500.00) USD until I came across a portable workstation that would let me have a desktop graphics card (GeForce 980) in it or Dual (GeForce 980M). Perhaps this would be a better configuration for VRAY renderings in 3ds Max and Rhino as those work better when optimized to render using GPU instead of CPU. Do you guys think that the desktop GeForce 980 would work better for smoother display screens in modeling and have faster renderings than a dual GeForce 980M or even the highly praised and expensive Quadro M5000M? The processors are the newest i7’s tho I know that some older processors run better they are not options for the specs on the websites I am getting them on. I don’t have a budget really so the computers I configured are sort of up there but that’s fine. I need a portable workstation so I don’t want to spend money on a desktop even tho I know I can build a far better setup with dual xeon processors and all that. Thank you in advance and I’m looking for any advice you can give on the specs I set up and which laptop you would choose and why. What graphics card is my best choice? Quadro M5000M, Desktop GeForce 980, or dual Geforce 980M? Look for other processor choices? I use many different apps, lots of Autodesk 3d modeling, rendering, visualization, design, and drawings. Can I get a 4K resolution monitor or keep it FHD? will programs crash or not work in 4K? Can these graphics cards still have “smooth like butter” 3d modeling in 4K when they are very large modelings? You don’t need to answer all my questions I’m just posing them to give insight as to what I’m thinking I need. Thanks again and I hope someone can give me some clarity out there between these machines. Which would you choose not considering price? Thank you again! Sorry for long post I just don’t want to make the same mistake as last time spending almost 3K on a laptop that barely runs rhino.

Computer Specs:

MSI WT72 - 6QL-400US Intel Xeon E3-1505M Mobile Workstation Laptop ($3,750.00) USD

Processor: Intel Xeon E3-1505M Processor (2.8GHz Clock Speed, 3.7GHz Max Turbo)
Hard Drives: 1TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive
Memory: 32GB (2x 16G) DDR4-2133 ECC Memory
Video: NVIDIA Quadro M4000M w/ 4GB GDDR5 Video Memory
Chipset: Intel CM236
Display: 17.3" Full HD 16:9 (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare IPS Wide View Angle Display
Hard Drives: 1TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive + 128GB Solid State Drive
Optical Storage: Integrated DVD±RW Drive
Audio: Nahimic Sound Audio CODEC w/ 2x 3W Dynaudio Tech Speakers and 1x Subwoofer
Connectivity: Killer E2400 Gaming Networking LAN; Intel 8260 Wireless-AC Combo (2x2) LAN; Bluetooth 4.1
Interface: 6x USB 3.0 Ports, 1x HDMI Port, 1x Mini DisPlayPort, 1x Super Port, Headset AMP + Gold Flash jacks
Card Reader: SD (XC/HC) Card Reader
Camera: Integrated 1080P FHD Webcam
Battery Pack: 9-Cell Battery
AC Power Adaptor: 230W
Color: Aluminum Black
Dimensions: 16.85 x 11.57 x 1.89 inch
Weight: 8.4 lbs
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
SteelSeries Full Color Backlitght Keyboard w/ Anti-Ghost keys + Silver Lining Print

Titan M151 - Intel i7 Skylake Series multi GPU capable laptop workstation ($3,290.00) USD

Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K Skylake Quad-Core 4.0 (4.2GHz Turbo) 8MB Cache
Hard Drives: 1TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive
Memory: 32GB (4x8GB) DDR4-2133 ECC Memory
deo: 2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M w/8GB GDDR5 (total of 16GB if SLI enabled) OR**
NVDIA GeForce GTX 980 w 8GB GDDR5 (Full Desktop Performance Graphic)
Chipset: Intel CM236
Display: 17.3" Full HD 16:9 (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare IPS Wide View Angle Display
Hard Drives: 1TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive + 128GB Solid State Drive
Optical Storage: Integrated DVD±RW Drive
Audio: Nahimic Sound Audio CODEC w/ 2x 3W Dynaudio Tech Speakers and 1x Subwoofer
Connectivity: Killer E2400 Gaming Networking LAN; Intel 8260 Wireless-AC Combo (2x2) LAN; Bluetooth 4.1
Interface: 6x USB 3.0 Ports, 1x HDMI Port, 1x Mini DisPlayPort, 1x Super Port, Headset AMP + Gold Flash jacks
Card Reader: SD (XC/HC) Card Reader
Camera: Integrated 1080P FHD Webcam
Battery Pack: 9-Cell Battery
AC Power Adaptor: 230W
Color: Aluminum Black
Dimensions: 16.85 x 11.57 x 1.89 inch
Weight: 8.4 lbs
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
SteelSeries Full Color Backlitght Keyboard w/ Anti-Ghost keys + Silver Lining Print

Titan X4K - Intel i7 Skylake Series Mobile Workstation Laptop PC ($3,920.00)

Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K Skylake Quad-Core 4.0 (4.2GHz Turbo) 8MB Cache
Hard Drives: 1TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive
Memory: 32GB (4x8GB) DDR4-2133 ECC Memory
Video: NVIDIA Quadro M5000M 3D Graphic w/8GB GDDR5 ($1,500.00)
Chipset: Intel CM236
splay: 17.3" Full HD 16:9 (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare IPS Wide View Angle Display or
15.6" (3840x2160) 4K Samsung PLS (60Hz) Display
Hard Drives: 1TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive + 128GB Solid State Drive
Optical Storage: Integrated DVD±RW Drive
Audio: Nahimic Sound Audio CODEC w/ 2x 3W Dynaudio Tech Speakers and 1x Subwoofer
Connectivity: Killer E2400 Gaming Networking LAN; Intel 8260 Wireless-AC Combo (2x2) LAN; Bluetooth 4.1
Interface: 6x USB 3.0 Ports, 1x HDMI Port, 1x Mini DisPlayPort, 1x Super Port, Headset AMP + Gold Flash jacks
Card Reader: SD (XC/HC) Card Reader
Camera: Integrated 1080P FHD Webcam
Battery Pack: 9-Cell Battery
AC Power Adaptor: 230W
Color: Aluminum Black
Dimensions: 16.85 x 11.57 x 1.89 inch
Weight: 8.4 lbs
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
SteelSeries Full Color Backlitght Keyboard w/ Anti-Ghost keys + Silver Lining Print

ProMagix M17SLI ($3,950.00) USD

Processor: Intel Core i7-6700K Quad-Core 4.0 (4.2GHz Turbo) 8MB Cache
Hard Drives: 1TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive
Memory: 32GB (4x8GB) DDR4-2133 ECC Memory
deo: 2x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M w/8GB GDDR5 (total of 16GB if SLI enabled) OR**
NVDIA GeForce GTX 980 w 8GB GDDR5 (Full Desktop Performance Graphic)
Chipset: Intel CM236
display: 17.3" Full HD 16:9 (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare IPS Wide View Angle Display or
15.6" (3840x2160) 4K Samsung PLS (60Hz) Display
Hard Drives: 1TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive + 128GB Solid State Drive
Optical Storage: Integrated DVD±RW Drive
Audio: Nahimic Sound Audio CODEC w/ 2x 3W Dynaudio Tech Speakers and 1x Subwoofer
Connectivity: Killer E2400 Gaming Networking LAN; Intel 8260 Wireless-AC Combo (2x2) LAN; Bluetooth 4.1
Interface: 6x USB 3.0 Ports, 1x HDMI Port, 1x Mini DisPlayPort, 1x Super Port, Headset AMP + Gold Flash jacks
Card Reader: SD (XC/HC) Card Reader
Camera: Integrated 1080P FHD Webcam
Battery Pack: 9-Cell Battery
AC Power Adaptor: 230W
Color: Aluminum Black
Dimensions: 16.85 x 11.57 x 1.89 inch
Weight: 8.4 lbs
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
SteelSeries Full Color Backlitght Keyboard w/ Anti-Ghost keys + Silver Lining Print

MSI - WorkStation 17.3" Laptop - (~$2,500.00) USD
Intel Xeon E3-1505 Processor - 32GB RAM - 1TB Hard Drive + Dual 128GB Solid State Drives - Aluminum Black NVidia Quadro M5000M Graphics

by portable do you mean you intend to carry this with you everyday/often… or just sometimes? or barely?


walk? skateboard? car? bicycle?

Portable as in laptop everyday. Gonna lug it in me man-purse. my Murse.

are you sure you don’t want something smaller/lighter then?

These are laptops, not workstations with a tower, I won’t have trouble carrying them.

ok… just checking.


(i realize you’re wanting a laptop… was just making sure you don’t forget to think about all the things besides specs that may need equal consideration :wink: )

I don’t think being able to skateboard around with a laptop is quite as important as the specs but if you say so! :wink:

maybe maybe not… depends on where you live and how you get around i suppose.

idk, i don’t think my opinion on a good portable computer is going to go over so well in this thread so i’ll bow out now… srry for the interruption.