Thinkpad W530 and 3ds max

[ecaterinatache]

Hello

Though I`ve seen enough forum topics where people would ask what laptop to buy for 3d work, I don`t understand something. They are always advised to get a workstation.Even with older, k1000m or k2000m cards.
So I got a W530 with i7 3740QM, 16 GB RAM, Quadro k2000m, 240 GB SSD ( it was sh and at the same price as ASUS ROGs). Then I attended a 3d class for interior design visualization. All other students were using ROGs or other multimedia/gaming laptops and their renderings were faster, everything was working better.
I usually build the walls, and then import 3d objects, so its not exactly low poly stuff ( I`m usually using free obj from 3dsky, turbosquid and other freebies from the web as I don`t have time to build everything). But once I start adding furniture it all becomes such an ordeal, it moves so slow, i get all sorts of errors. I`ve used from max 2012 to 2014.
So my question is: Is the W530 overwhelmed by high poly/imported 3d objects? Or is there some software issue? ( I have win 8.1 and I have installed the GPU driver from Nvidia)? Or maybe hardware?!

Thank you!

[indicium]

What is your setting in BIOS under Display? Discrete or Optimus? If its Optimus then your system uses the Intel integrated GPU for most programs and only rarely uses the Nvidia. I have the Discrete selected and use it all the time as I run my W530's on AC, 95% of the time. I don't do much 3D but I have noticed that some graphics run slower when using the integrated GPU. Mostly I run Virtual Machines and Trading Software (Stocks, Options and Futures). Also, I'm running 32 GB of Ram at 1864 MHz (XMP) with 2x1 TB HGST Hard Drives and Express Cache on one of the systems and an mSata Boot Drive on the other. I'm running Win 7 Enterprise on both.