Check your department’s website and talk to professors in the department. Depending on the software, the 13 should be able to do most, but the gpu on the 16 might come in handy too
this post was submitted on 27 Oct 2023
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I'm a math grad student and I have used my framework 13 for programming in matlab, Python, and a little C++. About the only issue I've had is when doing computations on really large datasets, the calculations can take a while or the computer runs out of ram. But my desktop does the same thing under those workloads. The only other thing is the fans may ramp up while running programs or code that pushes the cpu a lot.
Now, if you do a lot of CAD (which may be the case since you're an engineering student), then the gpu in the 16 (or a decent egpu) would come in handy.
I do IT consulting for professional mechanical engineers using SolidWorks, Ansys, et al.
Most of them prefer large dual monitor setup on their desk or 16-17" laptops. More real estate for models, tool palettes, etc.
64GB RAM is the minimum for every machine.
These apps can make use of a real GPU to speed up computation. Though Nvidia GPUs are preferred, AMD Radeon (as in FW16's 7700S) is also useful.
Most of their storage is network-based, using file servers I manage and can more easily back up. Without that, 1TB should be more than fine on a laptop - Pricing right now makes 2TB a good option to consider.
Everything runs on Wintendos. Linux is much less widely supported (sadly).
Do talk to your specific department to see which apps they're going to have you using. Consider "minimum requirements" for those apps to be genuinely the minimum - You'll want to aim higher to be actually happy with performance while doing your work.
The FW16 Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 options are very similar. Difference is slightly higher base/boost clocks and slightly faster iGPU on the Ryzen 9. Especially if money is a concern, go Ryzen 7 and you'll be fine.
My own order is a Batch 5 FW16. I, personally, do primarily development and systems/network admin using Linux.
He can just get the AMD 13 and an eGPU of his choice
I'd take the 16 inch with the entry cpu and without a gpu. 32gb would be preferred for windows, 16 for Linux.