Laptop for DCS VR help / suggestions

[A2597]

So I'm getting ready to purchase a laptop for my dad to play DCS, dedicated VR setup (it needs to be laptop to be more portable for him).

 

 

I currently play on a desktop with a GTX 1080 (non TI) with 8GB RAM and a Ryzen 5 1600 and the performance is adequate for him, but better obviously preferred. (More RAM and a recent i7 would help)

 

 

 

There are laptops with a GTX 1080 in it, but it's the mobile card and from what I can tell that means a 30% reduction in speed.

 

 

 

I also see eGPU enclosures, meaning we could get a 1080ti or RTX 2080...but does anyone have experience with those in DCS? (And then how to find a good laptop to pair it with for maximum return).

 

 

So, all input welcome, budget is around 2500. Thanks guys!

[Sn8ke_iis]

First advice, don't get the laptop. For that budget you could build a top of the line mITX similar to mine that's very portable. They make little baby ITX cases but you'll have cooling constraints. I had a big 'ol workstation that I put on castors that was portable. Generally speaking, laptops are so limited in terms of power, cooling, and have excessive fan noise that you'll regret buying it. They tend to go obsolescent faster and have very limited upgradebility except for RAM and SSD.

My 2 cents.

[A2597]

Part of the need for a laptop is that my dad flies, so space and weight are at a premium for him, not to mention desktops generally dont like to be tossed around in a small plane....

[BitMaster]

I get the " flying " part,, but if you can carry a HOTAS on a 747 you can also take an ITX.

 

 

 

The bigger problem is HOTAS and Rudders imho, unless he only does CA when out of town.

[BitMaster]

Other than that, you have to spend north of 1500, rather north of 3000 to get a good and supported laptop.

 

 

Fastest mobile CPU, fastest GPU that fits a laptop ( 1080 non-ti desktop edition afaik ), NVMe, 32GB, those are the corner stones

[lemoen]

The big issue with a laptop and VR is that the CPU needs to be really really really fast for VR. In my PC, i5-7600k overclocked, 32gb of ram and a Nvidia 1070, the GPU only gets to maybe 60% usage for 45 FPS and in MP it is utilised even less for 22-45 FPS.

[A2597]

To clarify, he flies himself. (Along with rest of my family).

Small plane, not much room once packed up, plus the vibration of a smaller plane on a desktop concerns me.

I just saw that laptops are using the desktop 1080s, not a 1080mobile variant, that's incredible and makes it much easier to go that route!

[BitMaster]

OK, I get it.

 

 

I favour Dell with a 4-Year Full Everything Warranty if I need a Windows Laptop.

 

 

Get the fastest CPU ( single core speed ) that they offer + Desktop1080 +32GB + 500GB-1TB SSD/NVMe

 

 

That's what I would get again. Used to have one with 8800GTX-SLI and all that stuff. Great service but the price is a notch higher.

[BitMaster]

Circa 5k US$ with a 5G CPU and 1080 with all the rest as mentioned:

 

 

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/alienware-17/spd/alienware-17-laptop/dkcwcflg033v2seq4