The Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Extremely is a extremely compact workstation that mixes the portability of enormous workstation laptops with Desktop-level efficiency. The target market is professionals working within the area, capturing or creating information on-site, or working in a cell studio the place it’s potential to drive probably massive screens however the place engineers are nonetheless anticipated to journey with the pc.
Specs Overview
Our particular evaluate unit got here with the next configuration: twelfth gen Intel Core i9-12900 (8P + 8E cores), NVIDIA RTX A2000 GPU, 1x 1TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4×4, 32GB SO-DIMM DDR5-4000 RAM. At current, it prices $2833 at B&H Picture, and you’ll browse totally different configurations at Lenovo.com.
In its configurator, Lenovo has many CPU choices, going all the best way all the way down to the twelfth Gen Intel Core i3, and GPUs going all the best way as much as the NVIDIA RTX A5000 cell GPU, so there’s a configuration for everybody, and costs begin at $1200 for the bottom configurations.
Because it’s a workstation, it’s potential to put in as much as 128GB of RAM (ECC or not, easy accessibility), and the SODIMM slots are fairly accessible. Storage-wise, it’s potential to put in two M.2 SSD drives (2x 4TB max, RAID 0/1 potential) and one 2.5″ SATA drive (1TB) for a complete of three storage units.
There are a few PCIe enlargement slots, in case you wish to add extra playing cards (test in the event that they match): one PCIe 4.0 x 16 and one PCIe 3.0 x 4.
Industrial design
The compact nature of the ThinkStation P360 Extremely and its efficiency “per Lbs” or “per Quantity” is the primary attraction right here. As we talked about within the introduction, the perfect buyer may be touring with this laptop, and it’s nice as a result of it could actually simply slot in a backpack or a small pelican case.
The pc has handed 10 MIL-STD-810H navy transport exams, which most desktops are by no means subjected to. I’ve had conditions the place heavy desktop parts like CPU heatsinks bought broken throughout transport as a result of they don’t seem to be designed for transportation shocks after meeting.
That mentioned, we’ve additionally heard about many potential customers who like the concept of constructing a neat workplace and would use this laptop to exchange a robust laptop computer because it has higher upgradability and may drive extra shows.
The ThinkStation P360 Extremely may be extra reasonably priced than a workstation laptop computer with the same function set and velocity (just like the ThinkPad P15). In the event you’re going to make use of a laptop computer as a set workstation, this could possibly be a compelling argument.
As an ultra-compact desktop laptop, the P360 Extremely incorporates a large benefit over specific laptops relating to cooling. As such, it could actually use highly effective parts such because the 125W TDP Intel Core i9-12900 CPU.
However like its laptop computer counterparts, it does use many cell parts, corresponding to laptop computer DDR5 RAM, GPU chips, and so on. A full-on desktop would come on high in sheer efficiency and cooling however could be much less moveable. Even SFF PCs are noticeably greater, however they’ll use off-the-shelf GPUs and parts, which isn’t at all times the case for this laptop.
It’s potential to open the pc and entry the internals with none instruments, because of an ingenious lever that unlocks the outer shell from the primary chassis. Extra particulars on this official video that reveals it properly:
Ports
One important benefit of a desktop laptop is the variety of ports, and the ThinkStation P360 Extremely doesn’t disappoint right here. My solely criticism is the dearth of HDMI ports. Within the entrance, you’ve gotten the next ports:
| 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-A |
| 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Thunderbolt 4 Kind-C |
| 1x Audio Combo Jack |
And within the rear:
| 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-A |
| 3x DisplayPort (built-in GPU) |
| 4x mini-DisplayPort (discrete GPU) |
| 1x 2.5GbE |
| 1x 1GbE |
There’s additionally built-in WIFI entry, and the pc comes with an antenna that you just screw into the again. I might have most well-liked a built-in antenna within the chassis, but it surely’s okay. The wired possibility is there if you’d like most networking efficiency and decrease latency.
Massive PSU
It’s honest to say that the exterior PSU is likely one of the explanation why the ThinkStation P360 Extremely is so compact in comparison with a mid-size tower with an built-in PSU. The 300W PSU is fairly massive and heavy. Its dimension is much like high-wattage gaming laptops, so there’s nothing new right here, and you could deliver it wherever you go.
That mentioned, there’s no query this manner issue is rather more fitted to transportation than different desktop workstation designs, because it simply matches right into a backpack. For instance, the MSI GE76 Raider 12U high-performance gaming laptop computer is about 25% smaller than the Thinkstation P360 Extremely in whole quantity however weighs 61% extra.
Laptops have an built-in show and a battery, so it’s not an apples-to-apples comparability. Nonetheless, the ThinkStation P360 Extremely is constructed for mobility use circumstances the place screens will probably be obtainable on-site.
Additionally notice that the TS P360 Extremely weight ranges from 3.96 lbs to 7.94 lbs relying on the chosen configuration, add-ons, and so on. This distinction could be seen within the official product information sheet and the detailed specs.
Efficiency
Since efficiency/dimension or efficiency/weight is a powerful promoting level, let’s run some key benchmarks to see the place this laptop computer is positioned.
We’ve got the twelfth gen Intel Core i9-12900 CPU possibility (max. is the i9-12900K), however our GPU (the cell RTX A2000) is way from the quickest one you will get on this laptop (as much as RTX A5000), so hold that in thoughts as a result of it’s potential to tweak the worth/velocity ratio. The extra reasonably priced NVIDIA T400 GPU can also be obtainable.
For reference, the RTX A2000 graphics efficiency is between the RTX 3050 and 3060, whereas the RTX A5000 is roughly equal to the RTX 3080. We’re referring to the cell model of those chips since that’s what Lenovo makes use of within the ThinkStation P360 Extremely.
From a CPU perspective, our unit performs properly in benchmarks like Cinebench R23 and Geekbench 5. The MSI GE76 Raider 12U comparability reveals what to anticipate for those who improve our i9-12900 to the i9-12900HK, as discovered within the MSI laptop.
On the identical time, the TS P360 Extremely CPU efficiency “per Lbs” is even higher than laptops, because of its compact design, devoid of show and battery. You could possibly be carrying severe CPU energy in your backpack or carry-on.
For graphics functions which might be GPU-reliant functions, the PCMark 10 Artistic benchmark is attention-grabbing to have a look at. They are typically a mixture of CPU and GPU workloads, largely CPU.
For pure 3D efficiency, we will observe the cell RTX A2000 performing under the RTX 3060 (Idea D5) and considerably slower than the RTX 3080 (MSI GE76). On the identical time, it possesses all of the options present in that era of GPUs, together with the flexibility to run the newest AI workloads in immediately’s imaging and video functions.
The ThinkStation can drive as much as 8 screens by way of 4 built-in mini-DP on the discrete GPU and three full-size DP ports plus the USB-C connector linked to the built-in graphics unit. It is usually necessary to do not forget that, not like laptops, there is no such thing as a passthrough between discrete and built-in graphics items. Subsequently, you need to plan on having your main show related to the discrete GPU by way of mini-DP.
The ThinkStation P360 Extremely’s SSD efficiency is great and on par with different workstations and Artistic-oriented computer systems. The first distinction with high-end laptops is that you would be able to pack as much as 9TB of storage throughout two M.2 and one 2.5″ drive.
Conclusion
The Lenovo ThinkStation P360 Extremely gives a fantastic resolution with immense configuration flexibility for professionals and engineers who want a extremely cell workstation. Rich fanatics may additionally symbolize a small market however see this as an enterprise product.
The desktop nature of the chassis provides it important thermal cooling and extra enlargement choices than comparably moveable laptops. This laptop design is extra enticing and almost at all times extra performant and cost-efficient than competing SFF workstations such because the HP Z2 G9 Small Kind Issue Workstation or the Dell Precision Compact Kind Issue.
The workstation parts, such because the NVIDIA RTX A-Sequence or T-Sequence graphics items, additionally include ISV-certified software program that may be a must-have for some workflows.
Enterprises will recognize the same old Lenovo safety features and administration instruments, which consumer-minded fanatics typically overlook. Issues like Premier Assist, Unintended Injury Safety, and Guarantee Extensions are potential sway elements for IT departments.
Filed in . Learn extra about Desktop Laptop, Intel, Lenovo, Lenovo evaluations, NVIDIA and Workstations.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings