Yeah, that XPS throttling is brutal. I went through the exact same nightmare with a Razer Blade 15 Intel i7 16GB RAM 512GB SSD last year. Honestly, it was a massive disappointment. On paper, the specs looked amazing, but the chassis just couldn't handle the heat. Every time I ran a multi-container Docker build, the CPU would instantly hit 100C and drop its clock speed down to like 1.2GHz. The issue with most Windows laptops is the PL1 (power limit long term) configuration. Manufacturers tune them for short bursts, not sustained 100% CPU loads that Docker requires. If you want to stick to Windows, you have to look at workstations with proper cooling loops, even if they're bulkier. A few specs that worked better in my testing:

• Look for AMD Ryzen chips, like the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 AMD Ryzen 9 32GB RAM 1TB SSD which run much cooler under sustained loads compared to Intel.
• Get at least 32GB RAM because Docker on Windows runs inside a WSL2 VM that eats memory for breakfast. I eventually switched to a Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max 36GB RAM 1TB SSD because the ARM architecture handles the thermal envelope so much better. It barely even spins the fans. Let me know if you want to chat about WSL2 config tweaks to help save your current machine until Friday, I can share my setup.

To add to the point above, what OS do you prefer? Love the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 AMD 16GB for amazing thermals, or Apple MacBook Pro 14 M2 Pro 16GB for silent power!

I went through the exact same XPS thermal issues and switched. For Docker, you need something that doesn't choke. Here are two solid options:

• Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 Pro 18GB RAM 512GB SSD
• Handles Docker like a champ without getting hot. Battery is unmatched.
• Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 1 AMD Ryzen 7 32GB RAM 1TB SSD
• A total tank if you must stay on Windows. Let me know if you need help choosing.