Hey everyone, I'm a DevOps Engineer currently using a Lenovo ThinkPad L580, and I'm running into some performance issues when I try to run 3 or 4 virtual machines simultaneously. Here are the specs of my laptop: an i5-8250U CPU, 32 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. I'm on Windows 11 Pro. Even with these specs, the laptop struggles under the load, making loud fan noises and overheating while quickly draining the battery. I've already replaced the thermal paste, so the cooling system should be fine. I'm asking for recommendations on a laptop that can better handle my workload, mainly running multiple VMs for testing, along with heavy browser use and terminal work. What models do you suggest? Thanks in advance!
5 Answers
Why not set up a homelab instead? Get a few inexpensive mini-PCs, run Proxmox, and use a desktop switch. That way, you wouldn't have to push your laptop to its limits just to run multiple VMs.
Before you look for a new laptop, maybe investigate if you truly need all those VMs running at once. Running multiple Windows VMs can really add up on RAM; you're likely looking at a laptop with at least 64 GB of RAM if each VM needs about 10 GB. You might want to check if your current setup can be expanded.
Can I just ask why you'd want to run multiple VMs on a laptop? It seems like a lot for a portable machine to handle.
Have you considered if you really need all those VMs? Sometimes Docker containers can do the job without the extra overhead. If you want to stick with ThinkPad, check out the T or P series for better performance. The P series can be pricey but usually includes a GPU which could be overkill. I'm using a Legion 7i with a 3070 and 32 GB RAM, and it handles everything like a champ!
Have you thought about switching to a Mac? I know this might open the Windows vs. Mac debate, but Mac's FreeBSD base integrates really well with lots of DevOps tools. I switched after a decade on Windows, and it was totally worth it. If you do switch, consider ARM processors and container setups. I'm aware you're probably using WSL, but there's a lot of potential in going the Mac route.
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