WTB a powerful workstation to replace my Precision 7750

[ov_Darkness]

I own a Precision 7750 (i7-10875H, 128GB RAM, RTX4000) for almost 5 years now, but unfortunatley it starts to show it's age. The performance is not perfect, and today I;ve noticed that my RTX4000 is gone.
I think about replacement for quite some time. My requirements:

 

It's my daily driver for most of my heavy lifting in my mechanical engineering studies, and running my engineering business.
Software that it will run (but not limited to):
Fusion360, Siemens NX, Artec Studio, Calibry Nest, Ansys, Matlab.
I easily use more than 64GB of RAM and sometimes I even need more than 128GB, so the 128GB is a bare minimum.
Nvidia GPU with at the very least 8GB of VRAM is needed - 3D scanning software needs it to work.

IT NEEDS TO BE ROCK SOLID. I use it LITERALLY in the field (quarries, mines, workshops).
16-18" screen. OLED would be nice, but I'm ok with a very good LCD. I don't need touch, but I'd love to have Windows Hello.
128GB RAM or more (buying the lowest possible config and replacing RAM by myself is storngly preferred)

Replaceable SSD's (at the very least two bays).

It would be nice if it would be made from good materials and looked nice (no RGB nonsense). It must be presentable because I visit customers.

Good warranty (accidental damage protection) 36-60 months - is preferrable.

PRICE.
Unfortunately my budget is not made from rubber ripped from old underwear, so the cheaper- the better.

I was thinking about Framework 16, Dell Pro Max PLus 16 and 18, but my desired config in 18" costs over 8k EUR.

 

 

 

 

 

[1610ftw]

A workstation with 18" and with the option to upgrade to more than 128GB is rare.

 

In order of pricing these are your candidates that I would look into when you may want more than 128GB and non-garish looks:

 

Clevo X580

Lenovo Legion 9i

Dell Pro Max 18"

HP Zbook Fury G1i 18"

 

I would consider the Clevo to possibly not being robust enough for the kind of work you want to do and as for the Lenovo I am not sure, you may want to research that.

The Zbook seems to be built like a tank and very serviceable and it takes normal memory up to 256GB, as do the Clevo and Lenovo.

The Dell only does so up to 128GB, above that you have to buy some hideously expensive memory from Dell themselves or third party offers that also are very expensive.

I would think that build quality of the Dell is up there with the HP or maybe only a little bit behind and longevity should not be an issue with both. I prefer the cleaner surfaces of the HP and it seems to be available at reasonable prices when you do not need the maximum GPU option:

https://www.lap4worx.de/hp-zbook-fury-g1i-18-zoll-98l71et

https://www.lap4worx.de/hp-zbook-fury-g1i-18-zoll-98l73et

 

In any case, you should spec them out with for example 192GB bought at the best possible price which for all but the Dell would be aftermarket and you can also minimize SSD size, only get the smallest possible one with your order and use your own to complement or replace what is in there, these have 4 SSD slots! Don't forget to check the warranty you need, that is probably not that easy to get at 60 months but 36 will be no problem at all for all the above choices. 

 

Oh and you can get a replacement GPU for the 7750 for very cheap:

https://www.ebay.de/itm/205066228932

 

So you will be able to shop around a bit while you keep using it.