Solidworks Mobile Workstation for MSFS? Any Engineers on here that are also flight simming?

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Hi all. I currently sim on an Xbox series X. I’m not all that PC hardware savvy. Just an user of whatever I’m handed. I like the simplicity of not having to chase the latest greatest hardware and drivers to make everything work. But, I am a CAD designer using Solidworks and am due to get a new Mobile Workstation for travel… so why not get a machine that will run MSFS as well?!

Solidworks only runs well with certified machines with certified GPU’s. Solidworks only utilizes 1-1.5 cores so faster single core speed is better than having more cores. I am looking at a Lenovo Thinkpad P17. For a GPU, It will have a NVIDIA RTX A5000 with Max-Q 16GB GDDR6.

I have a choice between two processors. An I-9 with more cores or an Xeon with fewer. The Xeon offers ECC memory and is a little more stable for designing, but it’s not an absolute must for what I do. I’m not running space shuttle design simulations in Solidworks. If MSFS runs better with more cores, I’ll go with the I-9. If it doesn’t matter much, I’ll go with the faster Xeon. I just have no idea what MSFS is utilizing on a PC.

The CPU choices I have right now are:

Intel Xeon W-11855M Processor with vPro (3.20 GHz, up to 4.90 GHz with Turbo Boost, 6 Cores, 12 Threads, 18 MB Cache)
or
Intel Core i9-11950H Processor (2.6GHZ, up to 5GHZ, 8 Cores, 16 Threads, 24 MB Cache)

I’d appreciate any advice. Thanks much!

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Did this quick comparison and the two processors seem to be rated evenly. I have a Ryzen 5900x processor with 12 cores/24 threads and I can see at least 13 threads+ being utilized in MSFS (DX12) so I would go with the I9 which has the higher thread count. The I9 also has more CPU cache on board and that is very helpful with MSFS also. You really can’t go wrong with either CPU.

Intel Core i9-11950H vs Intel Xeon W-11855M
Intel Core i9-11950H vs Intel Xeon W-11855M1458×1105 91 KB

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just another comparison with some tech stuff
https://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/193/Intel_Core_i9_Mobile_i9-11950H_vs_Intel_Xeon_W_W-11855M.html
i agree with WingWarper, you cant go wrong with either

it looks like a pretty close comparison with the i9 ahead just a bit, so it depends on if that extra cost is worth the possible extra bit of speed in game
considering its a required workstation that cost may not matter (as much?) … maybe go for the i9 if you can (it ‘may’ help with concurrent multiple apps, like is common with flight sims)

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Thanks guys. I did order up the I9. Xeon would make sense for a machine dedicated strictly to CAD. But, I will be running stuff like Adobe Premier Pro which likes at least 8 cores. I think The added cores will help with MSFS as well. Time will tell. I’ll report back in case others are in the same situation wanting both a mobile workstation as well as a mobile Sim Station.

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