Machine Learning Laptop

[medo271]

I am a computer science student preparing for my graduation project, which involves machine learning.

I need to make a choice and a compromise between certain specs, but as I am new to this field, I don't know what is and isn't enough, and if the difference is worth the price jump.

As I live in Egypt, so I will write down my options in local currency.
So currently my options are:
1. Asus ROG GL502VS-WS71 with the GTX 1070, & i7-7700HQ cpu (33,000 L.E)
2. Dell G5 15-5587 with the GTX 1060, & i7-8750H (25,500 L.E)

As a side note, I know that a desktop is better, but I need a laptop anyway, and I can't afford both. Also, my main concern is my graduation project, however I won't buy a laptop every day, so a better overall laptop is preferable, given that the price is justified.

 

[vapour]

1. what scale is your project? like dataset and algorithm
2. software to use?

 

[medo271]

1. I still don't know, my tutor told me we will take it step by step depending on my progress, but I guess at some point we will deal with large datasets.
2. I am going to use Matlab, initially at least.

 

[vapour]

If matlab, definitely #2, no benefit with that 1070 for matlab. But extra 2 cores 4 threads will be helpful for matlab for tasks that you can do parallel computing.

 

[medo271]

If matlab, definitely #2, no benefit with that 1070 for matlab. But extra 2 cores 4 threads will be helpful for matlab for tasks that you can do parallel computing.

1. So, if I am using matlab, I don't need any GPU power, is that right?
2. What if I switched to python in the future? Will your answer stand?

3. Besides ML, is the price jump from the Dell to the Asus worth it, as a laptop I mean?
For their complete specs:
https://www.amazon.com/GL502VS-DB71-Full%C2%ADHD-Gaming-i7%C2%AD6700HQ-Windows/dp/B01K1INYD0

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-G7-15-i7-8750H-GTX-1060-Max-Q-Laptop-Review.317686.0.html

 

[vapour]

1. Yes
2. Depends on what package you use, tensorflow will enjoy gpu acceleration.
3. Worth or not is up to you, yes, ASUS should have better quality.

 

[medo271]

Okay, thanks vapour. That was really helpful