If a workstation’s specification included the latest Xeon E3 processor, an NVIDIA Quadro M2000, 4 GB of RAM, fast M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage and a 4K resolution display, would you expect to carry that workstation in a shoulder bag? This workstation specification exists, weighs about 6 lbs, comes in a 15.6-inch format and is called the Fujitsu CELSIUS H760.
This recently launched system is loaded with the latest technology. The Intel Xeon E3 processor is the latest V5 generation central processing unit (CPU) running at 2.9 GHz with peak speeds of 3.8 GHz. The NVIDIA Quadro M2000M is the latest Maxwell architecture graphics processing unit (GPU) with 640 CUDA cores (Compute Unified Device Architecture). The new Intel architecture enables 4 GB memory capacity and the latest PCIe SSD generation storage solutions deliver a more responsive experience. The 15.6-inch, 4K resolution display is LED-backlit with a nice anti-glare display.
The chassis is a classic CELSIUS H Series design: steel gray with red accents. The keyboard has a low profile design with a soft, responsive touch. It is an engineering machine, so it naturally has a full-sized keyboard including a number pad. Navigation is assured through a three-button touchpad and a touch stick. The PalmSecure identification sensor is situated on the right side of the palm rest.
For CAD, engineering and other technical work, the anti-glare finish is a better choice than a glossy finish for the display. It delivers fine color definition and is much, much easier to view than a glossy display under the multitude of lighting situations that occur while traveling.
The front edge of the system has six LED indicators that are essentially useless in this day and age. The right side sports a Kensington lock connection, a USB 2.0 port and an optical drive bay that can be used for an extra hard drive or an additional battery. The left side of this mobile workstation is loaded with nearly every connector imaginable. Integrated into the CELSIUS H760 are an Ethernet connection, a video graphics array (VGA) output, a DisplayPort output, a Type-C USB connector, two USB 3.0 connectors, an SD card reader, a smart card slot as well as microphone and headset jacks. The Type-C USB connector provides USB 3.1, DP 1.2, Thunderbolt 3 and power delivery functionality up to 15 W.
Graphics may be the most important technology in a mobile workstation. The top-of-the-line GPU for the CELSIUS H760 is the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M GPU. This GPU launched at the end of 2015 and is based on the Maxwell architecture. It is built using a 28-nm process and has 1.87 billion transistors. It has 640 CUDA cores, uses 4 GB of GDDR5 memory with a memory bandwidth of 80.2 GB per second. This GPU handles CAD and engineering graphics tasks with ease.
Fujitsu allows for a range of CPU configurations in this workstation. The high-end Intel Xeon E3-1535M v5 CPU and the Core i7 920HQ running at 2.9 GHz (up to 3.8 GHz) are the fastest choices. The high-performance, quad-core Intel Xeon processors are excellent CPU options for clients with demanding applications in simulation and rendering. A fast CPU is also helpful in complex 3D CAD in order to keep the graphics pipeline full for the Quadro M2000M. Opt for the Xeon version if you want to use error-correcting code (ECC) memory.
The CELSIUS H760’s maximum memory configuration is 4 GB. Your memory requirements depend on your workloads and your workflows. Data-intensive workflows such as those using 3D CAD, simulation and post-processing visualization are examples where customers should consider the maximum memory configuration. Basic testing on memory use will indicate how much memory you need.
High-performance storage is critical. It makes loading applications faster. It makes saving large projects faster. It adds balance to a system that uses powerful graphics and processors. The CELSIUS H760 uses M.2 PCIe SSD storage, which is not only blazing-fast SSD storage, but is attached to the PCIe bus interface. This provides the mobile workstation with faster overall throughput in the storage system and helps to eliminate bottlenecks in the workstation performance.
One of the best professional benchmarks to evaluate the performance of a graphics workstation is SPEC.ORG’s Viewperf 12 benchmark. The benchmark is created by an industry consortium. It uses typical data sets from applications like CATIA, Creo, SOLIDWORKS and others. The results are a weighted average of performance measured in frames per second (FPS).
Viewperf 12 Performance for the CELSIUS H760
|
Test |
Result |
|
CATIA-04 |
45.79 |
|
CREO-01 |
38.79 |
|
ENERGY-01 |
3.05 |
|
MAYA-04 |
36.82 |
|
MEDICAL-01 |
14.25 |
|
SHOWCASE-01 |
23.04 |
|
SNX-02 |
32.78 |
|
SW-03 |
67.02 |
Fujitsu has a long history in professional workstations. It shipped the world’s first mobile workstation in 1999. This latest generation of CELSIUS H Series mobile workstations takes every important workstation technology to a new level. The CELSIUS H760 mobile workstation will get the job done for you fast—in the airport, on the train, at home and even in the office.
About the Author
Tom Lansford is an international marketing consultant and manages the sites Professional Workstation, CADplace France and CADplace UK. He has been living in Europe since 1992, and previously managed workstation marketing in Europe at NVIDIA. Lansford is a professional videographer and his interests include design visualization, simulation, graphics and GPU computing.