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Mobile workstations
for CAD: a buyer’s guide
» From ultrabook to desktop replacement, there’s a mobile workstation for every
designer and engineer. DEVELOP3D.COM delves deep into the CAD-class laptop
T
ry and run 3D CAD software on a
consumer laptop and you’ll most likely
have a disappointing experience.
Mobile workstations, on the other
hand, are purpose built for 3D CAD.
They offer the same workstation-class technologies
you’d expect to find in desktop counterparts and
many are tested and certified to run a whole
range of CAD applications. Whether you’re looking
for a workstation-class ultrabook or a desktop
replacement here are some of the most important
things to consider for CAD on the go.
Mobility
Mobile workstations, by their definition, should
be mobile, but finding the right balance between
performance, screen size and portability can be hard.
Machines typically come in two sizes, governed
by the size of the display. 15-inch models weigh
anywhere between 2.5kg and 3.0kg, while 17-inch
models range from 3.5kg to 4.0kg.
The laptop itself is one thing but you also need
to take the power adapter into account. These are
much larger for mobile workstations than they are
for standard laptops due to the power hungry GPUs.
Complete with cables, adapters typically weigh 0.7kg
for a 15-inch machine and 1kg for a 17-inch machine.
This not only adds to the overall weight, but can also
make it hard to pack everything into a laptop bag.
17-inch models, often called desktop replacements,
might be fine for the back seat of the car, but can be
hernia-inducing if you take one on an overseas trip.
15-inch machines offer slightly better portability, but
are still not much fun to carry around for the day.
For those who like to travel light there’s a new
class of ultra portable mobile workstations. Thin
and light, weighing between 1.6kg and 1.9kg, they
are available with 14-inch and 15-inch screens.
Display
HD (1,920 x 1,080 resolution) used to be a luxury
but is now becoming quite common on 14-inch,
15-inch and 17-inch mobile workstations. 1,600 x
900 resolution is also available, as is 1,366 x 768 on
some 14-inch and 15-inch models.
Of course, there’s also a growing trend in ultra
high-resolution displays, typically found on 15-inch
models. The two common resolutions here are
QHD+ (3,200 x 1,880) and 2,880 x 1,620.
Higher resolution displays are stunning and
deliver exceptionally fine line detail, which is great
for CAD. However, there are downsides.
Icons, menus, dialogue boxes and general text can
be hard to read, even with Windows settings ramped
up. 3D performance can also take a significant hit.
At a resolution of 3,200 x 1,880 there are three
times as many pixels to push around compared
to standard HD (1,920 x 1,080). This puts a much
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 FREEGUIDE
MOBILE WORKSTATION BUYER’S
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bigger load on the GPU. The drop in performance
will depend on the application, dataset and viewing
mode but can be as much as 30%.
In terms of image quality, there can be a lot
of difference. IPS displays generally offer better
colour reproduction and better viewing angles than
standard TN displays. You may also have a personal
preference for a glossy or matte finish.
Screens with a higher colour gamut are able
to display more colours from a specified range.
This can be very useful for colour-critical design,
but you will need to calibrate your screen with a
separate piece of hardware. The Lenovo ThinkPad
W540 is the exception as it has an X-Rite colour
calibrator built in.
Processor
Mobile workstations come with dedicated mobile
Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processors. Two or four
CPU cores are standard, with four more suited
to accelerating multi-threaded simulation and
rendering applications. Clock speeds are essential
for CAD and range from 2.1GHz (with 3.3GHz Turbo
Boost) to 2.9GHz (with 3.9GHz Turbo Boost).
Intel Turbo Boost works by increasing the
processor’s frequency whenever you need it, as
long as there is thermal and power headroom.
Power saving is also important and when
running off the mobile workstation’s battery Intel
SpeedStep technology switches both voltage and
frequency down to conserve power.
The level by which the processor slows down
varies between different mobile workstation
manufacturers. It can be as little as 5% or as much
as 75%! Throttling the processor is great if you
want to prolong battery power but not so good if
you want to run your CAD program at full speed.
Some mobile workstation manufacturers,
including Dell and Lenovo, allow you to switch off
Intel SpeedStep so the CPU is not throttled when
running on battery power. However, this can only
be done in the BIOS and not inside Windows, so
it’s a bit of a pain. Other manufacturers, including
Scan, Workstation Specialists and Schenker, don’t
give you this option so your processor is always
throttled when your machine is not plugged in.
Graphics
For professional 3D CAD there are only really two
serious graphics options - Nvidia Quadro or AMD
FirePro. Mobile workstations also include Intel
graphics and can automatically switch between the
two to extend battery life when not using 3D CAD
applications that demand 3D performance.
To conserve battery life GPUs can be automatically
throttled or GPU cores switched off. The amount by
which the GPU slows down varies between mobile
workstation manufacturers. GPUs run at full power
when the machine is plugged into the mains.
Nvidia has the lion’s share of the mobile
workstation market and offers a massive choice
– seven options in total ranging from the Quadro
K510M (1GB GDDR5) for 2D and entry-level 3D CAD
right up to the high-end Quadro K5100M (8GB
GDDR5) for high-end 3D visualisation.
With 3D performance approaching that of the
desktop cards power comes into play. The low-end
Quadro GPUs consume up to 30W while the high-end
Quadro GPUs can eat through up to 100W, more than
twice as much as a typical mobile Intel Core i7 CPU.
AMD concentrates on the entry-level to mid-range
with the FirePro M4100, M5100 and M6100, all
featuring up to 2GB GDDR5 memory. AMD does not
quote max power consumption.
If you have an ultra high-res screen, such as 3,200
x 1,880 or 2,880 x 1,620, you may need to consider
investing in a high-end GPU to get the right level
of 3D performance. Having to render significantly
more pixels puts a greater load on the GPU so it may
become harder to manipulate 3D models smoothly.
This is dependent on application and datasets.
Memory
For CAD/CAM/CAE and design visualisation,
memory is king, but with a maximum of four DIMM
slots you can’t get the same capacities as you can
with a desktop workstation.
32GB (4 x 8GB) is the maximum for most 15-inch
and 17-inch models, with 16GB (2 x 8GB) all you can
squeeze into an ultra mobile workstation, still a
whole lot more than you’ll find in a standard laptop.
Storage
Solid State Drives (SSDs) are perfect for mobile
workstations. They’re fast, responsive and, because
there are no moving parts, use less energy and will
not break when dropped.
What’s not to like? Well, the price per GB is high
and capacities peak at 500GB – 1TB so traditional
mechanical drives still have an important role to
play in storing CAD datasets.
The good news is most mobile workstations can
accommodate multiple drives, so you can mix
and match technologies: a lower capacity SSD for
operating system and applications and a high-
capacity mechanical drive for data.
There are two main storage form factors in a
mobile workstation: traditional 2.5-inch (for SSD and
mechanical drives) and the smaller mSATA (51 x 30
x 0.8mm), which is just for SSDs. Some machines
support the M.2 form factor, which is even smaller.
Ultra mobile workstations typically support two
drives (1 x 2.5-inch + 1 x mSATA); 15-inch machines
three drives (2.5-inch + 2 x mSATA) and 17-inch
four drives (2 x 2.5-inch + 2 x mSATA).
It’s also possible to create RAID arrays so you
can optimise your drive for speed or redundancy.
For ultimate performance consider striping two
drives in a RAID 0 array. However, if you’re on
the road a lot and there’s a long time between
backups, keep your data safe by mirroring two
drives in a RAID 1 array. Should one drive fail then
you can continue to work uninterrupted.
DVD or Blu-ray drives are common, but omitted
on the ultra mobile workstations to keep down
size and weight. This could be an issue if you back
up data or like to watch films. But with software
increasingly downloaded or even coming on USB
sticks, it’s less of an issue – instead, buy a USB DVD
drive or map to another drive over the network.
Keyboard and mouse
Mobile workstations typically have two types of
keyboards: ‘standard’ and ‘chiclet’. Standard keys
have slanted edges and sit close to each other while
‘chiclet’ or ‘island’ are flat and have clear space
between them. Everyone has a personal preference.
Numeric keypads, which sit to the right of the
main keyboard, are extremely useful for precise
input for design and engineering. They are standard
on 17-inch models and most 15-inch models.
TrackPad’s vary greatly in size and surface
texture. Everyone has a personal preference but
we like a large TrackPad with a smooth finish
and buttons with a small but definite click. Some
machines also have a Pointstick that sits in the
middle of the keyboard. Many users find these hard
to use, but there are definitely some fans out there.
Of course, whenever possible, we recommend you
use an external mouse – wired or BlueTooth.
Battery
With big screens and high performance CPUs
and GPUs, mobile workstations can eat power,
which is bad news for transatlantic flights or long
commutes. If you’re on the road a lot consider
buying a spare battery.
Some machines offer a choice of batteries –
typically 6, 8 or 9 cells. Generally speaking the more
cells, the longer the battery life, but batteries are
also rated by Watt Hours (Wh). Other machines, like
the HP ZBook 14, support a battery slice, a slimline
secondary battery that clips underneath the base.
Battery life is obviously governed by what you
do with your mobile workstation. Hammering both
CPU and GPU when modelling in a 3D CAD package
is always going to drain power more quickly than
writing a Word doc. When processors heat up you
also get the double whammy on battery life as fans
kick in to cool everything down. Keeping fans and
grilles free from fluff can help improve cooling
efficiency and save power.
To help maximise battery life (and because it’s

Choosing a Currently, two of

the most popular
Edition (3.0GHz up
to 3.9GHz) are also
in most other mobile
processors.
not always possible for the battery to deliver the
same amount of power that it can when plugged
Mobile Processor processors for mobile
workstations are the
available in some
machines though
Keep an eye out for
the new Intel Core
into the mains) the CPU and GPU are often
Intel Core i7-4700MQ expect to pay a hefty i7 4610M (3.0GHz throttled automatically.
(2.40GHz up to premium. to 3.7GHz) (2 cores, The way this throttling is done varies by
3.40GHz) and the Ultra mobile 4 threads), Core i7 manufacturer. For example, in the Lenovo ThinkPad
Intel Core i7-4800MQ workstations use low 4810MQ (2.80GHz to
W540 the CPU automatically runs at 25% speed
(2.70GHz up to powered processors, 3.80GHz) (4 cores, 8
3.70GHz) both with 4 such as the Intel Core threads) and Core i7 when on battery power, though this throttling can
cores and 8 threads. i7 4600U (2.10GHz up 4910MQ (2.90GHz to be turned off in the BIOS.
The Intel Core to 3.30GHz) (2 cores, 3.90GHz) (4 cores, With the Schenker W503, Scan 3XS MGW-10
i7-4900MQ (2.80GHz 4 threads), which 8 threads). These
and Workstation Specialists, the CPU always
up to 3.80GHz) and draws a maximum of should be making
Intel Core i7-4930MX 15W compared to the their way into mobile runs at 50% when running on battery. In the Dell
Processor Extreme 37W or 47W common workstations soon. Precision M6800 it’s 95%, but the GPU is clocked

2 DEVELOP3D.COM
 MOBILE WORKSTATION BUYER’S GUIDE

down much more dramatically. physical obstacles, we’d always recommend a

The quality of batteries can vary greatly and,
over time, some lose their ability to hold charge
physical connection.
For CAD on the go, some manufacturers offer an Gimme five Palm Vein
faster than others. Some manufacturers exclude optional mobile broadband module. You slip in a Authentication
batteries from their warranties or reduce the term SIM card and then you can connect to the Internet Fingerprint sensors veins in the palm.
so read the small print. wherever you can get a 3G or 4G signal. This is a nice might be a standard Fujitsu claims it is more
Battery charge times vary which can be feature to have but you can achieve similar results feature on mobile reliable and more secure
frustrating if you’re about to embark on a long by tethering to your SmartPhone. However, built in workstations but Fujitsu than fingerprint sensors –
takes security up a notch and blood has to be flowing
haul flight. Dell Precision mobile workstations mobile broadband can have the added benefit of offering palm vein pattern in the hand so there’s no
support ExpressCharge, which allows a completely being able to track your machine in case of theft. recognition technology scope for a gruesome
discharged battery to charge to 80% in about 1 Bluetooth is standard and useful for connecting on its new Celsius H730 Tarantino plotline ending
hour, though using this feature regularly could peripherals such as keyboards, SmartPhones mobile workstation. in the loss of your firm’s
Simply hovver your valuable IP.
have a negative impact on long-term battery life. and mice. However, if you choose a SpaceMouse hand over the sensor and Look out for a full review
HP offers something similar and its Fast Charge Wireless 3D mouse, which features 3Dconnexion’s it authenticates it due to of the Celsius H730 in the
technology recharges batteries up to 90% within own optimised 2.4GHz wireless technology, you’ll the unique pattern of the April edition of DEVELOP3D
90 minutes when the system is off. need a spare USB port to plug in the receiver.

Ports
Three to five USB ports are typical, which should
be plenty for most users. Some machines offer
a mix of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 so learn which are
which. This is particularly important when reading
/ writing CAD datasets to external drives where
high-bandwidth USB 3.0 is a must.
Also keep an eye out for ‘always on’ USB
ports, which are extremely useful for charging
SmartPhones and other devices when the mobile
workstation is off.
Taking data transfer speeds up to a whole new
level HP and Lenovo boast support for Thunderbolt
– definitely nice to have if you need to read / write
huge datasets to external storage.
Other machines include IEEE 1394a (FireWire),
which is more of a legacy standard now, and eSATA,
which usually doubles as a USB port.
RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet is essential if you want
to move large CAD files over the network. This is
standard on most machines, but the Dell Precision
M3800 uses a USB to Ethernet adapter rather
than the standard RJ45 connector.
Memory card readers are standard but check
out which formats are supported as these vary
from machine to machine. ExpressCard slots are
less common, but allow you expand your machine
adding new or legacy wireless and wired standards.
Wireless
WiFi is now taken for granted on mobile
workstations but most vendors offer a choice of
two or three modules. Standard 802.11 a/b/g/n
should be fine for mainstream use, but for moving
hefty CAD files around or extending the range
consider Dual Band 802.11ac.
In theory 802.11ac is two to three times quicker
than 802.11n and approaches the speed of Gigabit
Ethernet. However, as wireless speeds drop
off over distance, and due to interference and
Security
When you have company critical information stored
on your machine, security is essential. Laptop theft
is prevalent and that’s without giving criminals a
head start by leaving your bag in the pub, airport
or on the train.
Drive encryption is vital if you want to prevent
unauthorised access to data. This can be done in
software or hardware.
BitLocker is available in the Enterprise and
Ultimate editions of Windows 7 or the Pro or
Enterprise editions of Windows 8 and provides
software-based encryption for the entire volume.
Hardware-based encryption is generally
considered to be more secure and, because all
of the processing is done on the disk, is less
susceptible to loss of performance. This can be
done with Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs) and can be
set at the BIOS level.
To add another level of security, smart card
readers or fingerprint scanners are available on
most mobile workstations.
Fingerprint sensors are usually located in front
of the keyboard or between the trackpad’s buttons.
Simply place your finger on the device to log onto
Windows or to web sites. The related software
automatically fills in your user name and password.
Docking
Docking stations are extremely useful if you
frequently move your mobile workstation to and
from your desk. They allow you to keep keyboard,
mouse, display, Ethernet and other peripherals
permanently connected to the dock meaning your
don’t have to mess about with cables.
The best support comes from corporate-focused
mobile workstations, such as the Dell Precision
M4800, HP ZBook 15 and Lenovo ThinkPad W540.
A dedicated port on the underside of the machine
allows you to ‘snap on’ each machine to its
custom dock in seconds.
The ZBook 14’s docking port is on the side,
compatible with a HP UltraSlim Docking Station,
while the Dell Precision M3800 connects to Dell
D3000 dock via USB 3.0. Other manufacturers rely
on universal USB docking stations.
Servicing
Serviceability has become a big focus in workstations
over the past few years and many manufacturers are
now bringing this to mobile workstation.
HP leads the market with its ZBook family, all of
which feature the HP Easy Access Door so users
don’t have to fiddle around with tiny screws.
Simply slide the catch and the back panel pops
off, making it easy to upgrade or replace memory,
hard drives and mini cards. Getting inside the Dell
Precision M4800 or M6800 is also easy - simply
remove two screws and the back panel slides off.
The Lenovo ThinkPad W540, Scan 3XS
MGW-10, Workstation Specialists WS-M1760 and
Schenker W503 all feature separate panels for
hard drive, memory, mini cards, etc. This can be
a pain and a case of trial and error if you don’t
know what’s behind each panel. The Dell Precision
M3800 needs a specialist Torx T5 screwdriver, the
type you never have when you need one.
Warranty and support
Most mobile workstations come with a 2 or 3 year
warranty, but these can often be extended for an
additional cost. Some are collect and return, others

Good things come machines that

previously were
and applications.
However, Samsung’s
Self-Encrypting Drive
security technology
are next business day on site.
Think about how long you can afford to be without
in small packages restricted to a single
hard drive can now
recently released
840 EVO mSATA SSD
to keep data safe.
The 840 EVO
your machine. If you have to send it to a repair
mSATA is a compact support two or three. comes in 500GB and mSATA SSD also centre it can take days or even weeks to get it back.
alternative to the The drives are very 1TB as well as 120GB features TurboWrite Check the small print as some warranties only cover
traditional 2.5-inch easy to fit: simply or 250GB capacities technology and screens or batteries for 12 months.
hard drive. Primarily remove the laptop’s so you can also store a RAPID (Real-
designed for storage If you carry your mobile workstation all the time,
rear panel and secure big CAD datasets. time Accelerated
in highly mobile with two screws. Performance is Processing of I/O consider accidental damage cover. And if you travel
devices, these tiny mSATA SSDs are top notch. The 1TB Data) mode, both of overseas think about how you’d deal with a tech
cards are also having typically seen in model delivers very which are explained support query or hardware failure. Some warranties
a major impact in mobile workstations high random and in our detailed
mobile workstations include Next Business Day on site service even when
in 128GB or 256GB sequential read and review of the 2.5-inch
Measuring a mere capacities, delivering write speeds. 840 EVO SSD. you are abroad. This can mean great peace of mind if
51 x 30 x 0.8mm, fast storage for OS All models feature tinyurl.com/SSDEVO you’re a frequent flyer.

DEVELOP3D.COM 3
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Mobile
workstation
buyer’s
guide
HP ZBook 14 Dell Precision M3800 Schenker W503 HP ZBook 15

Class Ultra portable 14-inch Ultra portable 15-inch Mid range 15-inch Mid range 15-inch

Intel Core i7 4600U Intel Core i7 4702HQ Intel Core i7-4700MQ Intel Core i7-4700MQ
Processor (CPU) (2.10GHz up to 3.30GHz) (2.20GHz up to 3.20GHz) (2.40GHz up to 3.4GHz) (2.40GHz up to 3.4GHz)
(2 cores, 4 threads) (4 cores, 8 threads) (4 cores, 8 threads) (4 cores, 8 threads)

8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3L 16GB (2 x 8GB) 16GB (2 x 8GB) SO-DIMM DDR3L 8GB (1 x 8GB) 1,600 MHz
Memory (RAM) SDRAM, 1600MHz DDR3L 1,600MHz RAM 1,600MHz Crucial DDR3L SDRAM

AMD FirePro M4100 Nvidia Quadro K1100M NVIDIA Quadro K3100M Nvidia Quadro K2100M
Graphics (GPU) (1GB GDDR5) (2GB GDDR5) (4GB GDDR5) (2GB GDDR5)

Graphics driver 13.101.1 326.8 327.41 312.65

14” LED-backlit FHD UWVA 15.6 inch LED Backlit Touch Display 15.6” FHD 15.6” RGB LED-backlit HD
Screen IPS eDP anti-glare + PSR with Truelife and QHD+ resolution (1,920x1,080) DreamColor UWVA eDP anti-glare
(1,920 x 1,080) (3,200 x 1,880) 95% colour gamut panel (1,920 x 1,080)

750GB 7,200 RPM HDD +

256GB SATA 256GB Solid State Drive Full Mini 500GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD + 32 GB mSATA SSD (cache drive using
Drives Solid State Drive Card + 500GB 5,400RPM Solid State DVD Multi recorder Intel Smart Response Technology) +
with SED technology Hybrid Hard Drive DVD+/-RW SuperMulti DL

Spill resistant keyboard. Backlit full size keyboard Full size keyboard with Spill resistant keyboard.
Multi gesture TouchPad with three (no numeric keypad); Gesture numeric keypad Multi gesture TouchPad with three
Keyboard / Mouse buttons and Pointstick with three enabled multi-touch touchpad Touch pad with multi-gesture buttons and Pointstick with three
additional buttons with two buttons and scrolling additional buttons

HP Long Life 3-cell (50 WHr) Dell 61 WHr 6-Cell 8-cell 77Wh Lithium HP Long Life 8-cell (75 WHr)
Battery polymer/prismatic battery Lithium-Ion Battery Ion battery Li-Ion battery

Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235

Intel Dual Band Wireless-N 7260NB Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260
Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n and
802.11a/b/g/n (2x2) WiFi + Bluetooth 4.0 (with Bluetooth) Bluetooth 4.0 Combo

2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 3 x USB 3.0

4 x USB 3.0 (1 charging) 3 x USB 3.0 and 1 x USB 2.0 1 x eSATA / USB 3.0. (1 charging) 1 x USB 2.0.
Ports Secondary battery connector (all with PowerShare) RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet. Thunderbolt
RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet Mini Firewire RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet

Memory card reader ExpressCard/54

3-in-1 media 9-in-1 memory
Expansion / security Smart Card reader Secure Digital
card reader card reader
Fingerprint reader Smart Card Reader

Display outputs VGA, DisplayPort HDMI, mini DisplayPort DisplayPort, Mini DP, HDMi VGA, DisplayPort

Docking Side docking port No dedicated docking port No dedicated docking port Docking port underneath

Size (W x D x H) 339 x 237 x 21mm 372 x 254 x 8-18mm 376 x 256 x 35-43mm 381 x 257 x 31mm

Weight (machine + power adapter) Starting at 1.62kg + 0.38kg Starting at 1.88kg Starting at 3.1Kg + 1.05kg Starting at 2.82 kg + 0.95kg

Microsoft Windows 7 Microsoft Windows 8.1 Microsoft Windows 7 Microsoft Windows 7

Operating System Professional 64-bit Professional 64-bit Professional 64-bit Professional 64-bit

3-year limited warranty for carry-in 1-year Next Business Day

Details of all benchmarks can be found at tinyurl.com/D3Dbench

24 Month Collect & Return (inc parts, 3-year limited warranty for carry-in
Warranty service. 3-year warranty On Site Service labour, support, shipping) service. 1-year battery warranty
on HP Long Life battery (optional 3, 4 or 5 year)

Website hp.com dell.co.uk/precision mysn.co.uk hp.com

CPU benchmarks (smaller is better)

CAM (Delcam PowerMill 2010) (i) 315 (ii) 611 (iii) 883 (i) 220 (ii) 336 (iii) 458 (i) 179 (ii) 272 (iii) 375 (i) 183 (ii) 285 (iii) 400

Rendering (3ds Max Design 2011) 551 299 238 258

Graphics benchmarks (bigger is

better)

CAD (SolidWorks 2013) 2.07 Benchmark does not run on Windows 8 5.30 4.58

CAD (PTC Creo 2.0) 2.48 4.32 6.15 4.92

Price (excl VAT) £1,857 £1,499 £1,531 £1,996

4 DEVELOP3D.COM

Dell Precision M4800
Mid range 15-inch
Intel Core i7-4800MQ
(2.70GHz up to 3.7GHz)
(4 cores, 8 threads)
8GB (2 x 4GB)
DDR3L 1600MHz
AMD FirePro M5100 Mobility Pro
(2GB GDDR5)
12.104.2
15.6” Dell UltraSharp (1,920 x 1,080)
wide view, anti-glare, LED-backlit
500GB Hybrid 2.5-inch, 6Gb/s SATA
with 8GB Flash Drive + 8X DVD+/-RW
Drive Slot Load
Full size keyboard with number pad
Multi-touch touchpad
with three buttons
Track stick with three buttons
9-cell (97Wh) Lithium Ion battery
with ExpressCharge
Dell Wireless 1550 2X2 802.11ac +
Bluetooth 4.0
4 x USB 3.0 (1 with PowerShare)
1 eSATA / USB 2.0
RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet
9-in-1 media card reader
SmartCard reader
54mm ExpressCard slot
HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort
Docking port underneath
376 x 256 x 36-40mm
Starting at 2.88kg + 0.81kg
Microsoft Windows 7
Professional 64-bit
Standard 3-year Next Business
Day On Site Service after Remote
Diagnosis
dell.co.uk/precision
(i) 171 (ii) 275 (iii) 399
243
4.55
4.39
£1,152
Lenovo ThinkPad W540
Mid range 15-inch
Intel Core i7-4800MQ
(2.70GHz up to 3.7GHz)
(4 cores, 8 threads)
8 GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3 1600MHz
Nvidia Quadro K2100M
(2GB GDDR5)
332.21
15.5” 3K (2,880 x 1,620) IPS display
with built in Pantone colour
calibrator
256GB Samsung SSD
DVD Multiburner
Spill-resistant, ergonomic keyboard
with numeric keypad. TrackPoint
pointing device and TrackPad with
5-point click integration
6-cell (56 Wh) battery
(optional 9-cell)
Intel Dual Band
AC 7260 WiFi
Ericson N5321GW WWAN:
Bluetooth
2 x USB 2.0 + 2 x USB 3.0
Thunderbolt
RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet
4-in-1 card reader
Express Card (SmartCard)
VGA, DisplayPort, Mini DP
Docking port underneath
377 x 248 x 28mm
Starting at 2.53kg + 0.72kg
Microsoft Windows 7
Professional 64-bit
3 Year On-site
lenovo.com/UK
(i) 176 (ii) 284 (iii) 412
285
2.58
4.77
£2,349
MOBILE WORKSTATION BUYER’S GUIDE
Scan 3XS MGW-10
High-end 17-inch
Intel Core i7-4800MQ
(2.70GHz up to 3.7GHz)
(4 cores, 8 threads)
32GB (4 x 8GB) Corsair DDR3
Vengeance RAM 1,600MHz
NVIDIA Quadro K3000M
(2GB GDDR5)
332.21
17.3” HD
1,920 x 1,080 backlit
LED display
250GB Samsung 840 Evo SSD +
1TB Hitachi Travelstar 7K10000 +
Samsung DVD writer
Full size keyboard with
numeric keypad
Touch pad with multi-gesture
and scrolling
8-cell (77Wh) Lithium
Ion battery
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235,
300Mbps & Bluetooth
2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0
1 x eSATA / USB 3.0.
RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet.
Mini Firewire
9-in-1 memory
card reader
DisplayPort, Mini DP, HDMi
No dedicated docking port
412 x 276 x 45-42mm
Starting at 3.9kg + 1.1kg
Microsoft Windows 7
Professional 64-bit
2 Years Collect and Return
(screen 1st year only)
3xs.scan.co.uk
(i) 169 (ii) 266 (iii) 376
237
4.75
5.31
£1,553
Dell Precision M6800
High-end 17-inch
Intel Core i7-4800MQ
(2.70GHz up to 3.7GHz)
(4 cores, 8 threads)
16GB (4 x 4GB)
1,600MHz DDR3
NVIDIA Quadro K3100M
(4GB GDDR5)
327.62
17.3” UltraSharp HD (1,920 x 1,080)
Wide View Anti-Glare
LED-backlit
750GB 2.5inch SATA (7,200RPM)
Hard Drive +
Slot load DVD+/-RW
Full size keyboard with number pad
Multi-touch touchpad
with three buttons
Track stick with three buttons
9-cell (97Wh) Lithium Ion battery
with ExpressCharge
Dell Wireless 1550 2X2 802.11ac
+ Bluetooth 4.0 Optional mobile
broadband mini card
4 x USB 3.0.
1 x eSATA / USB 2.0.
RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet. -
9-in-1 media card reader.
54mm ExpressCard slot.
HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort
Docking port underneath
40 x 417 x 271mm
Starting at 3.57kg + 1.03kg
Microsoft Windows 7
Professional 64-bit
Standard 3-year Next Business Day
On Site Service
dell.co.uk/precision
(i) 173 (ii) 277 (iii) 396
244
5.35
6.13
£1,659
Workstation Specialists
WS-M1760
High-end 17-inch
Intel Core i7-4800MQ
(2.70GHz up to 3.7GHz)
(4 cores, 8 threads)
32GB (4 x 8GB)
PC3-1600MHz High
Speed DDR-3
NVIDIA Quadro K5100M
(8GB GDDR5)
331.82
17.3” HD
1,920 x 1,080 backlit
LED display
240GB Intel 525 Series mSATA SSD +
750GB 7,200RPM high-performance
SATA drive + 8x DVD-RW Drive
Full size keyboard with
numeric keypad
Touch pad with multi-gesture
and scrolling
8-cell 77Wh Lithium
Ion battery
Intel 300MB/Sec ‘N’ Wireless
Network Card +
Integrated Bluetooth 3.0
2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0
1 x eSATA / USB 3.0.
RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet.
Mini Firewire
9-in-1 memory
card reader
DisplayPort, Mini DP, HDMi
No dedicated docking port
412 x 276 x 45-42mm
Starting at 3.9kg + 1.1kg
Microsoft Windows 7
Professional 64-bit
36 Months Standard Hardware
Warranty with NBD Engineer
Response
workstationspecialists.com
(i) 171 (ii) 266 (iii) 374
236
6.32
7.56
£2,835
DEVELOP3D.COM 5

HP Zbook 14
W D
e’ve seen 14-inch
mobile workstations
come and go over
the years, but none
can touch the HP ZBook 14 when it
comes to mobility.
Pitched as the world’s first
workstation Ultrabook, HP’s little
beauty is a mere 21mm thick,
weighing a touch over 1.6kg. Even
with the 65W power adapter the
whole package comes in at 2kg. This
is a mobile workstation like no other.
Of course, the tradeoff for mobility
is performance. The AMD FirePro
M4100 GPU is very much entry 3D
and while most mobile workstations
have headroom for a 37W CPU, the
ZBook sets its limits at 17W.
The clock speed of 2.1GHz - 3.3GHz
on our test machine’s Intel Core
i7-4600U CPU may be impressive for
such a low powered chip, but with
only 2 CPU cores, there will likely be
bottlenecks in everyday use.
Windows, drivers and software
all fight for CPU cores, and multi-
threaded 3D software will suffer.
But to pull up this machine on
performance would be missing the
point. Cranking down key components
(and ommitting a DVD drive) are the
very reasons the ZBook 14 is so light.
And it is an exceptional piece of
design. The island style keyboard is
a pleasure to use, the Touchpad silky
smooth and the mouse buttons have
a good amount of give. There’s even
a Pointstick should you prefer.
Because of the 14-inch form factor
there’s no dedicated numeric keypad,
but pressing fn and num lk together
turns the centre of the keyboard into
a pseudo numeric keypad.
Even with its slender body, HP has
still managed to include a standard
RJ45 port. This ingenious design has
a spring-loaded hinge that expands
the port to its full width when you
plug in an Ethernet cable. VGA
and DisplayPort v1.2 ports allow
connection to external displays.
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Ultr
Mobila
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h h
Unlike most mobile workstations,
all four ports are USB 3.0. One is
‘always on’ for charging, denoted by
a miniscule lightning symbol, which is
very hard to see. It’s a real shame this
port isn’t colour-coded. HP isn’t the
only manufacturer to miss this trick.
WiFi on our test machine supports
802.11a/b/g/n (2x2), but you can
upgrade to 802.11ac (2x2) to boost
transfer rates. Mobile broadband
modules are optional.
The display in our test machine is
impressive — a 14-inch full HD IPS
panel, which delivers crisp lines
and vivid colours. There are other
options available from a 1,600 x
900 touchscreen down to a more
standard 1,366 x 768 display.
Despite its tiny chassis, the ZBook 14
still offers exceptional serviceability.
Slide a catch on the underside and
the HP Easy Access Door simply clips
off. Now you have direct access to
battery, memory, hard drive and mini-
cards making it exceptionally easy
to upgrade or replace components.
There’s hardly a screw in sight.
For power the three cell 50WHr
battery can be supplemented with
a secondary 6-cell (60 Whr) slice
battery, which connects via a port
on the underside of the machine.
Enterprise-users are catered for
through a dedicated docking port (on
the side rather than underneath), a
smart card reader and a fingerprint
reader to the right of the touchpad.
To add another layer of security
the 2.5-inch 256GB SSD in our test
machine features Self Encrypting
Drive (SED) technology. There are
plenty of other storage options and
if you want to double up on drives
there’s an optional 120GB M.2 SSD.
The ZBook 14 is a great little
machine, well built with exceptional
serviceability. It’s ideal for truly
mobile CAD but limited to small
assembly modelling. Considering the
core spec it’s a little expensive, but
it’s hard to put a price on mobility.
Dell Precision M3800
ell’s new lightweight
laptop may be a dead
ringer for an Apple
MacBook Pro, but
it’s an entirely different beast
— a dedicated 3D CAD mobile
workstation, certified for a wide
range of applications including NX,
Inventor, Catia, SolidWorks & Creo.
As far as mobile workstations
go, the slimline Precision M3800
certainly stands out from the crowd.
Starting at 1.88kg and boasting an
incredible 15.6-inch QHD+ display
no other mid-sized CAD laptop
can compete on portability. Its
aluminium frame, lightweight carbon
fibre base, island style keyboard and
spacious touchpad all contribute to
what is a refined, well built machine.
There is a downside to the elegant
design. The Intel Core i7-4702HQ CPU
and Nvidia Quadro K1100M (2GB)
GPU, standard on all models, are a
few notches below what you’d find on
a typical 15-inch mobile workstation.
There’s also a maximum of 16GB RAM
so CAD models can’t get too hefty.
In our CPU-intensive tests we found
the M3800 to be around 20-25%
slower than a comparative Intel Core
i7-4800MQ-based machine. Graphics
also takes a hit, partly due to the
processing power of the entry-level
to mid-range Nvidia GPU, but also
because of the stunning QHD+
(3,200 x 1,800) resolution screen.
With three times as many pixels to
push around as FHD (1,920 x 1,080),
most users will probably experience
some slow down in 3D performance.
This will vary according to
application, datasets and how you
view your models (e.g. plain shaded
with edges or realistic materials),
but the Quadro K1100M should still
be perfectly adequate for small to
medium CAD assemblies.
The 15.6-inch QHD+ display may put
an additional load on the GPU, but
the image quality is exceptional. CAD
models are incredibly crisp with fine
Ultr
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lines and vibrant colours. The glossy
Gorilla glass display is 5-finger multi-
touch enabled, a nice feature that
works best with Windows 8.1.
Our test machine came with a
256GB mSATA SSD for operating
system and apps and a 512GB
SSHD for data, but there are plenty
of others options. The machine
boots in a mere 10 seconds, but
this is probably mostly down to
efficiencies in Windows 8.1.
There are some downsides: there’s
no DVD drive, numeric keypad or
RJ45 Ethernet port — though a USB
to Ethernet cable is included. And
because the M3800 is based on a
consumer chassis (Dell XPS 15) it
misses out on business features such

Offering impressive
portability in a
stylish package, the
Dell Precision M3800
is in a class of its own

as a fingerprint reader and docking
port (though a Dell D3000 USB 3.0
Docking Station is supported). The
warranty is also consumer focused:
1-year compared to the three offered
on other Precisions, though upgrades
are available.
Under heavy loading fans are
also more noticeable than they
are standard 15-inch mobile
workstations. Some may find the
noise annoying but the processors
did appear to keep running at full
speed even under long term loading.
These compromises may be
deal-breakers for some, but for a
machine that offers such impressive
portability in a stylish minimal
package, the Dell Precision M3800
is simply in a class of its own.

MID
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HP Zbook 15
T D
his mainstream 15.6-inch
delivers far more grunt
than its lightweight
sibling, the ZBook 14. It
can handle a high-end CPU (up
to the Intel Core i7-4900MQ), a
mid-range GPU (up to the Nvidia
Quadro K2100M) – an ideal
combination for mid-range CAD.
Internal access is a breeze thanks
to the superb HP Easy Access Door.
Simply flip a switch and the back
panel pops off. No tools required.
Everything is beautifully laid out
inside. RAM slots are marked clearly
meaning upgrades can be done in
seconds. The 2.5-inch hard drive,
secured by a couple of screws, is
eased out with a green lever. No other
mobile workstation gets close to the
ZBook 15 in terms of its serviceability.
It’s also a joy to use. The ‘island’
keyboard and trackpad are superb.
Wireless and sound can be switched
on/off instantly using two buttons
located above the numeric keypad.
Our test machine’s HP DreamColor
panel is also superb, by far the
best HD display on test this month.
Colours are vivid and don’t drop off
at wider viewing angles, but you
pay a premium for this high-quality
Lenovo ThinkPad W540
T
his latest update to
Lenovo’s ThinkPad family
is a specialist piece of kit.
With an exceptional 15.5-
inch 2,880 x 1,620 display and an
X-Rite Pantone colour calibrator
built in, it’s ideal for colour-
critical workflows. Simply choose
a profile, close the lid and it does
the rest, making a few re-assuring
beeps along the way.
The IPS panel is stunning: colours
are vivid and jagged edges on
wireframe CAD models almost
invisible. Unfortunately, the cost of
having so many pixels on screen is a
IPS panel. There are some lower-
cost options, all of them HD.
Kitted out with an Core i7-4700MQ
CPU and Nvidia Quadro K2100M GPU
our test machine delivered solid if
not spectacular performance. Its
8GB of RAM is a touch light for most
workflows, but with capacity for
32GB this can be easily remedied.
Storage takes the middle ground
between SSD and HDD, courtesy of
a 2.5-inch 750GB hard drive and a
32GB mSATA SSD, which acts as a
cache drive. There are plenty of other
options including a 128GB mSATA.
There’s also scope for expansion
by swapping out the DVD/RW for
a drive upgrade bay to house a
second 2.5-inch drive.
There are 4 x USB ports, three
of them USB 3.0, but the machine
also comes with Thunderbolt for
exceptional transfer rates.
Overall, the ZBook 15 is an
impressive machine, well built with
exceptional serviceability. But quality
like this doesn’t come cheap. Our test
machine will set you back the best
part of £2,000 and while this includes
the superb DreamColor display some
will find it hard to justify for a mid-
range mobile workstation for CAD.
drop in performance. We experienced
a 35% and 15% respective slow
down in SolidWorks and Creo when
going from 2,880 x 1,620 to standard
HD. This will vary according to
applications and models and it may
have no impact on some workflows.
However, if it is an issue, you can
always downgrade to an HD display.
Storage is fast, provided by a single
256GB Samsung SSD. There’s also
room for a second 2.5-inch drive but,
surprisingly, no mSATA.
The machine is optimised for
mobile workers. It has fast Intel
Dual Band AC 7260 WiFi and mobile
MOBILE WORKSTATION BUYER’S GUIDE
MID
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15-inc E
Dell Precision M4800
ell has an impressive
pedigree when it comes
to mobile workstations
and its latest 15-inch
offering picks up where the
Precision M4700 left off.
The aluminium and magnesium
alloy chassis feels solid and built to
last; the keyboard, numeric keypad
and trackpad are all excellent and
there’s a reassuring click when
closing the lid on the HD display. The
days of Dell using a cheap consumer
chassis for its mobile workstations
are long gone.
Despite this feeling of quality, our
test machine is not expensive. But
even with its ‘budget’ £1,152 price
tag you get a top notch Intel Core
i7-4800MQ CPU, ideal for 3D CAD.
The AMD FirePro M5100 is an
excellent choice for Creo and
SolidWorks, standing shoulder to
shoulder with the Nvidia Quadro
K2100M and delivering solid scores
in our benchmarks.
You do get more bang for your
buck by going down the AMD route.
An equivalent spec M4800 with an
Nvidia GPU will set you back £1,189
and this will only secure you the
slightly less powerful Quadro 1100M.
broadband built in so you can
send/receive data wherever you
can get a 3G/4G signal. Lenovo also
places a big emphasis on battery
life, automatically clocking down
the Intel Core i7-4800MQ CPU by
75% when not plugged in, though
this can be changed in the BIOS to
give priority to performance.
Overall, we had mixed feelings
about the W540. We loved the
display and colour calibrator,
but the touchpad can be
hugely frustrating, so use
an external mouse
whenever possible.
The rest of our test machine’s
components are much more entry-
level. 8GB (2 x 4GB) RAM and a
500GB hybrid drive hardly inspire,
but with room for 32GB RAM
(4 x 8GB) and three drives there
are plenty of options.
Maxing out the storage means
swapping out the slot load DVD
drive for a second 2.5” drive (HDD,
SSD, or hybrid). The third drive is an
mSATA SSD, available in capacities
up to 512GB. This is significantly
larger than those offered by HP and
Lenovo in equivalent machines.
Providing you have the right
combination of drives, you can
boost drive performance or security
by configuring with RAID 0 or 1 (two
drives) or RAID 5 (three drives).
To keep costs down, there’s no
optional fingerprint reader in our
test machine, so security is left to
the Smart Card Reader.
Overall, Dell has delivered
another solid mobile workstation
— and one that is priced extremely
competitively. For mainstream 3D
CAD our test M4800 may be a little
unbalanced, but add an SSD into
the mix and top up the RAM and
you won’t be disappointed.
MID
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DEVELOP3D.COM 7

Schenker W503
T F
o get the kind of 3D
performance on offer in
this 15-inch from German
firm Schenker you’d
normally have to invest in a hefty
17-inch machine. 15-inch models
from the major manufacturers
max out at the Quadro K2100M,
but Schenker’s W503 takes the GPU
up a notch to a Quadro K3100M.
In SolidWorks and Creo this extra
GPU horsepower is reflected in some
elevated benchmark scores. In the
real world it means you’ll be able to
push up the quality settings in your
real-time renderer and still maintain
those all important frame rates.
The Intel Core i7-4700MQ CPU may
not be the fastest, but the excellent
500GB Samsung 840 Evo SSD gives
it a boost in our multithreaded
MID
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Scan 3XS MGW-10
C T
onsidering the amount
of technology on offer in
this 17-inch model from
Scan, 3XS MGW-10 wins
hands down on value for money.
With an Intel Core i7-4800MQ CPU,
Nvidia Quadro K3000M GPU and
32GB RAM, it has a spec to rival a
mid-range desktop workstation.
A 250GB Samsung 840 Evo mSATA
SSD provides fast storage for OS and
apps, while a 2.5-inch 1TB Hitachi
Travelstar HDD will hold the bulk of
your CAD data. With room
High-
17-incend
h ative to a
8 DEVELOP3D.COM
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CAM and rendering tests. Its ability
to fetch data quickly means the CPU
can get to work much earlier.
As a smaller manufacturer,
Schenker is quick to respond to new
tech and is already offering the Intel
Core i7-4940MX (3.1GHz to 4.0GHz)
CPU and 1TB Samsung 840 Evo SSDs
in 2.5-inch and mSATA form factors.
Indeed, if high performance
storage is your obsession, the W503
is well equipped. There’s space for a
whopping 4TB thanks to two mSATAs
(which can be striped or mirrored in
RAID 0/1) and two 2.5-inch bays (one
replaces the DVD).
The downside of having 17-inch class
features in a 15-inch chassis is it does
feel slightly chunkier than its peers
and the power adapter is heavier.
From a design perspective, it’s also
less refined, though the keyboard and
touchpad are perfectly adequate.
The HD screen, despite boasting
a 95% colour gamut, doesn’t excite
out of the box like the HP ZBook 15
or Lenovo ThinkPad W540. Investing
in a colour calibration tool might
change this. But then one mustn’t
forget that to get your hands on
this 15-inch powerhouse
will only set
you back
£1,531.
for an additional 2.5-inch and mSATA
drive there’s plenty scope to expand.
RAID 0/1 is supported in pairs.
The Clevo P170SM chassis (also
used by Workstation Specialists in its
WS-M1760) is plasticky in places and,
compared to the Dell Precision M6800
or HP ZBook 17, a little uninspiring.
That’s not to say it isn’t well-
built, but when one can customise
the backlit keyboard with flashing
colours, it’s obvious Clevo only has
one eye on the professional user.
The Quadro K3000M is of a slightly
older generation of GPUs than the
K3100M and didn’t reach the same
heights as Schenker’s W503. Scan says
this is down to supplier availability
rather than cost, so it’s probably
worth waiting for the newer GPU to
come online, which should be soon
Overall, the machine offers solid
performance, good expandability
and great value for money,
making it a cost-
effective altern-
mainstream
desktop CAD
workstation.
Dell Precision M6800
rom the outside the
17-inch Dell Precision
M6800 looks just like a
bigger version of the Dell
Precision M4800. And in many
ways it is. It features the same
trademark Dell styling, solid
chassis and easy maintenance
of its 15-inch sibling. The big
difference is what’s inside.
The M6800 places a big emphasis
on high-performance graphics and
only has options for mid-range or
high-end GPUs. Our test machine’s
Quadro K3100M should be perfect
for power CAD users, but you can
take this all the way up to the
K5100M should you so desire.
The 4GB GPU is partnered with an
Intel Core i7-4800MQ CPU and 16GB
of RAM, which comes in 4 x 4GB
DIMMs. Unfortunately, this means
there’s no room to upgrade to the
maximum 32GB without swapping
out memory.
It’s criminal for a machine of
this class to be kitted out with
such prosaic storage but our
M6800’s 750GB Hard Drive
is crying out for an SSD to
take the strain in day to
day operations.
And it’s not as if the
M6800 can’t handle it. With
WS-M1760
his 17-inch monster from
Derby-based Workstation
Specialists is by far the
most expensive mobile
workstation on test this month,
but it’s in a completely different
class in terms of its spec.
The high-end 8GB Quadro K5100M
GPU makes light work of throwing
texture-heavy design viz datasets
around the HD display. And, with
1,536 CUDA cores, it can also double
up as a powerful general-purpose
processor. This will be of interest to
users of CUDA-compatible ray trace
renderers or simulation solvers,
where the GPU can be used to
augment the Intel Core i7-4800MQ
CPU. And there’s plenty of memory
to support such complex datasets:
the machine is maxed out with 32GB
PC3-1600MHz High Speed DDR-3.
To serve up the OS and apps
there’s a 240GB Intel mSATA SSD
with a 750GB HDD for data. If
you need a more powerful
storage system, you
can double
up on both
mSATA and
support for one solid state Mini-Card
and three 2.5-inch drives (one in the
optical bay caddy), there are plenty
of options. Drives can be configured
in pairs for RAID 0 or 1 and, unlike
the WS and Scan, you can also
make a three drive RAID 5 array for
performance and redundancy.
The 17.3-inch UltraSharp HD display
is impressive, boasting crisp lines and
well-balanced colours. Unfortunately,
there’s no upgrade to QHD+, which
is a shame as the M6800 is more
equipped than most to throw around
ultra hi-res models without unduly
impacting performance.
It’s clear our test machine needs
some tweaks to get the most out of
the M6800, but it certainly has the
foundations for a solid, enterprise-
class desktop replacement.
High-
17-incend
h
2.5-inch drives.
The WS-M1760 uses the same Clevo
P170SM chassis as the Scan 3XS
MGW-10 so there’s no docking port
or SmartCard reader, but you do get
a fingerprint reader, powered by
Truesuite keepsafe.
The HD display is a bit lacklustre.
Lines are sharp, but fire up a CAD
render and the colours appear a
little dull. The good news is there are
plenty of digital outputs to connect
to an external display, including
HDMi, DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort,
which will be helpful to get the best
out of the high-end GPU.
High-
en
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h