Computers for Mastercam use

gcode · December 04, 2021, 04:47 PM

I think the machine configuration utility made me choose that option on the last machine I bought
I could say whether it makes any difference or not
I have never bought an upgraded warranty.... and with 15 machines over 10 year period I've never needed
service.

neurosis · January 15, 2022, 02:25 PM

Quote from: gcode on December 03, 2021, 09:45 AMI have heard very good things about https://www.xicomputer.com/solutions/MasterCAM/

Has anyone on the forum owned one of the Xi laptops? I'm getting close to a laptop upgrade and I'm considering them. It's hard to find any reviews on their products.

I usually stick with Sager or Asus for my personal laptops. I'd like to try one of the Xi's but I'm not sure how I feel about rolling the dice with that kind of $$$

gcode · January 15, 2022, 04:22 PM

I've never owned an Xi, but I have heard good things about them
I've always purchased Dell referbs for work laptops

Dell referb

I don't know if that link will work
Its filtered for
Precision Workstaion, Nvidia video, i7 and i9 processors at 17" screen

I really like MS Surface machines for general use
Boxx makes Mastercam worthy laptops, but they are hellish expensive

neurosis · January 15, 2022, 04:54 PM

Yea, I wouldn't even consider a Boxx for personal use.

When I purchase personal laptops they are for light gaming, light work, some browsing, and other typical computer use.

One thing that is super important to me in a laptop is that it has good cooling. I've had laptops crap out after a couple of years because they don't dissipate heat well enough.

I do want something that is going to be around for 5 or 6 years.

gcode · January 15, 2022, 05:33 PM

My wife I both have an MS Surface for personal use
I like them alot.

CNCAppsJames · January 15, 2022, 07:31 PM

My "new" laptop... purchased in May 2021;
Dell Precision 7750
Intel i9-10885H
64GB RAM
NVidia Quadro RTX 4000 w/ 8GB w/ 17" 4k Screen
2x 1TB Samsung 970 Pro NvME SSD (IIRC... may be a 980...)

No other laptop brand offers the kinds of guarantees for service that Dell does. Next Day onsite service no matter where I am. I was on the eastern side of Oregon once. Got there next day.

My rigs get replaced every 3 years on average. I just cannot imagine having a rig longer than that as quickly has software hardware needs change. For me, in my position, time is money. Typically I'll get the 2nd fastest chip available. Usually saves close to $1k. I don't have to be frugal, but I'm pretty tight when I spend company money.

I may be able to get a little more performance from Xi or Boxx, or others but traveling as much as I do, anything can happen so I'd rather have a solid contingency. Sometimes there's multi-million deals on the line and those decisions are often made quickly by the time the tewchnical questions come to me. If I have to wait for a couple days because my rig is down, that doesn't have a good look.

neurosis · January 16, 2022, 01:04 PM

Ok, just a little heads up after doing some digging. lol. I've been talking to Xi computers this weekend about purchasing a laptop. I've also been looking around at other places trying to find something that may work if I didn't care to roll the dice with Xi.

The top end Xi laptop looks identical to a SAGER NP9672M-G1 but when similarly configured, is about ~~$800~~ (make that $1000) more expensive. The only difference in options, was that with the Xi I can get Windows 10 pre-installed but would have to get Windows 11 with the Sager.

Here are the photos of both - one from Xi, and the other from Xotic-PC.

Xi

Sager

gcode · January 16, 2022, 05:49 PM

In 2020 I was in the market for a Mastercam worthy laptop and had a very tight budget to work with.
There used to be a half mile of little hole in the wall Asian owned computer shops on Beach Blvd in Anaheim.

They all offered made to order laptops, but to a man, they were using the same cases/motherboards.
They were built by some Taiwanese company you've never heard of. With a little research I discovered that
these cases were also used by Dell for their business class laptops.

It looks like nothing has changed 22 years later.
It wouldn't surprise me to find that Alienware, Boxx and other builders were using these same cases

neurosis · January 16, 2022, 06:45 PM

I don't think that it's just the case. I think that they are re-selling sager laptops. Which is fine. There is nothing wrong with that. Sager makes great laptops. The Xi laptop comes with the same motherboard, graphics card options, etc. They have the same exact power supply, finger print reader, Kensington Security Lock. There are too many similarities not to think it's just a very slightly upgraded Sager. You could be right though?

They are putting better drives in them. Sager is putting WD blue drives std. with an option to upgrade to a 970 plus. Xi is optionally putting Samsung Evo 980 pro's in so that could explain some of the price difference. Xi is raping you on the price of the video cards.

I do like these cases. If Xi would come down on the price a bit I would consider buying from them vs Xotic or straight from Sager. I can see padding the price a couple of hundred, but not what they are asking.

CNCAppsJames · January 16, 2022, 07:11 PM

Sager is a few cities over from me. I seriously considered them again. Had one 2 laptops ago but it got stolen. Of I'm home I canngetnsame day service. If I'm out and about not so much.

beej · January 18, 2022, 08:31 AM

Quote from: Tim Johnson on December 03, 2021, 06:29 AMI have a Dell Precision 5820 I9 that IT got for me and it's a piece of shit. It seems like every week is a new and different adventure. I'm looking for suggestions for a replacement computer. Thanks in advance for any advise.

I've got the same machine bought from Solidbox in February and I haven't been all that happy with it either.

Tim Johnson · January 18, 2022, 09:33 AM

QuoteI've got the same machine bought from Solidbox in February and I haven't been all that happy with it either.

My computer magically diagnosed itself and fixed most of its issues.

beej · January 18, 2022, 11:01 AM

Quote from: Tim Johnson on January 18, 2022, 09:33 AMMy computer magically diagnosed itself and fixed most of its issues.

I wish mine would do that. any idea what changed. I have to run the file repair several times a day. someone on here told me I have a memory leak, but so far no one has been able to find what that is.

Tim Johnson · January 18, 2022, 12:17 PM

QuoteI wish mine would do that. any idea what changed. I have to run the file repair several times a day. someone on here told me I have a memory leak, but so far no one has been able to find what that is.

I saw that there were some registry changes but I don't know what they were. There were a lot of software and driver updates. I think that Dell may have replaced an i7 chip with an i9 because I saw some i7 code a couple weeks ago. I was told I was on a waiting list for an I9 computer that showed up inside of a week.

Tim Johnson · January 21, 2022, 11:40 AM

QuoteI wish mine would do that. any idea what changed. I have to run the file repair several times a day. someone on here told me I have a memory leak, but so far no one has been able to find what that is.

It just came up again for software updates. I took a screenshot but I can't add it. It called DELL SupportAssist.