Miscellaneous laptop discussions : The right laptop for running CAD
The right laptop for running CAD
by t.rice - 9/2/08 1:06 PMI have found several posts about laptops and CAD but none too recent. I'm hoping to gain some knowledge of what to look for when buying a laptop that will run TurboCAD Pro 15 Architectural without any frustration. I would like a laptop with a larger screen size and fairly lightweight. Budget is not a huge issue but I'm hoping I can keep the price around $2,000. Besides using it for architectural design, the laptop will be used for basic email, documents, watching movies while traveling, and video conferencing with family.
I would appreciate any information you can offer. I have read your reviews on laptops but not sure which ones would work for what I'm looking for. If you could get me pointed in the right direction I'm ready to do my research. Thanks.
Try this approach.
by R. Proffitt
- 9/2/08 2:31 PM
In reply to: The right laptop for running CAD by t.rice
What do you run it on now and tell why it is or is not "frustrating."
Not yet using it.
by t.rice - 9/2/08 3:03 PM In reply to: Try this approach. by R. Proffitt
Right now I'm running just the "evaluation copy" of TurboCad for Mac. There are more options for use with a PC and since my husband is looking to replace his laptop we want to make sure we get something that will run well while using CAD in the event we decide to go with a PC version and not the Mac. In the past we have had issues with design programs running very slow which causes a lot of frustration.
A Dell Precision M4400...
by fbbbb - 9/2/08 5:07 PM In reply to: Not yet using it. by t.rice... with the T9400 2.5Ghz processor, Vista Business 32-bit, the 1440 x 900 LED display, 4Gb RAM, 250Gb HDD, DVD+-RW, N wireless and Bluetooth, backlit keyboard and webcam comes in at $1970 before any additional discounts.
The warranty is 3-year next-day on-site (non-consumer) and 1 year for the battery. You can add an additional 2 years of battery warranty for $99 which is a bit steep but considering how often these do tend to go wrong it might be worth it.
This would be the upper end of your needs based on your budget - the machine backs a processor with decent performance for a mobile machine, and a graphics processor that's definitely up to the task of running TurboCAD.
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/workstation_precision_m4400?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz
http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/media/precision_m4400.pdf
PS. I currently use...
by fbbbb - 9/2/08 5:19 PM In reply to: A Dell Precision M4400... by fbbbb...the upper-end models of the HP 8510w and the 8710w as my mobile workstations, but the refreshed Dell Precisions like the M4400 will be what I'd buy now.
For a larger working screen area without squinting at a 1920 x 1200 display on a 15" machine, you might like to wait for the M6400, due soon - the 17" version of the M4400.
Gateway?
by t.rice - 9/4/08 11:54 PM In reply to: PS. I currently use... by fbbbbWhat about the Gateway M7811FX? I read some good things about it.
Try a model from this link.
by R. Proffitt - 9/5/08 5:56 AM
In reply to: Gateway? by t.rice
http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529598021.php
I couldn't find your model number.
Wrong Series.
by t.rice - 9/6/08 8:40 PM In reply to: Try a model from this link. by R. Proffitt
I mistakenly wrote it was the "M"7811FX and it's actually the "P"7811FX. One negative is it weighs over 9 lbs.
Here is what is recommended
by PudgyOne - 9/5/08 2:45 AM In reply to: The right laptop for running CAD by t.riceMinimum
* Pentium IV Processor
* Microsoft ® Windows XP 512 MB RAM, Microsoft ® Vista 1 GB RAM
* 300 MB of free hard disk space depending on accessory applications installed, 64 MB of swap space
* Super VGA (1024 x768) display
* High Color (16 bit) graphics card
* DVD-ROM drive
Recommended
* 2 GHz Processor, 2 GB RAM
* 3D Graphics accelerator card
* Wheel mouse
* Internet connection
* Microsoft ® Internet Explorer™ required for Internet registration
* Macromedia ® Flash™ plug-in required for on-line tutorials
Rick
Student Advice
by eljohn3 - 9/6/08 7:08 AM In reply to: The right laptop for running CAD by t.riceI know this may not simplify the matter much but, the truth is that any any higher performance laptop will be perfect to run CAD software. My college has been running a number of CAD programs on complete POS desktops for as long as they've had the CAD program. The truth is most CAD programs don't have "extreme" requirements like most people think. However, if you wanna play it safe and make sure the thing wont crash during intensive 3D CAD, usually the most unstable part of the programs, I'd get something with a higher performance cpu (probably a core 2 duo 2.2ghz or better) and a gamer's graphics processing unit. CAD saves can be somewhat huge at times, so you may wanna go and spring for a larger internal hard drive (and probably a usb external drive as well). One thing I can tell you for certain is that you will want to get the absolute maximum amount of ram available for any model you choose, especially if you plan on using any future windows OS. Your best bet is to shop around online and build a few different models yourself. If you're going to stick to name brands I think dells xps series are known to be sturdy platforms all around, but since most people seem to hate dell you may want to look into some of the "less outrageous" alienware and other gaming laptops, which specialize in 3d.
To be honest, even if you don't get the highest of the high-end laptops you'll probably have no problem finding an adequate platform for all your needs.
-Good luck with your search.
Why not a MacBook Pro?
by mdpeterman - 9/6/08 8:14 AM In reply to: Student Advice by eljohn3I use my MacBook Pro for CAD stuff almost daily and it's great! On the select CAD programs I use that are windows only, I have a 40GB boot camp partition with XP Pro installed.
I Build My Own
by haloviper - 9/6/08 4:31 PM In reply to: The right laptop for running CAD by t.riceI have a small computer store and build custom computers, desktop and notebook. I also am a graphic designer. The laptop that I built for my use that I also sell in my store has an Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 2.4GHz processor, 4GB of ram, a 320GB hard drive and an NVIDIA 8600M GT video card with 512MB onboard memory. It also has an Intel 4965AGN WIFI card, bluetooth, fingerprint reader for security and a 15.4 inch display. I run AutoCad, CorelDraw and Adobe Photoshop on it with no problems at all and I use this laptop more than I do my powerful desktop workstation.
compaq
by B123456H - 9/6/08 5:29 PM In reply to: The right laptop for running CAD by t.ricemy Compaq v2000z and dell 1501 laptops run autocad 2009 and inventor 11 pro smoothly without any hiccups or crashes.
key things, get lots of memory/ram 2-3gigs and a true dedicated graphics gpu (no intel integrated crap) Any new chipset by ati or nvidia will be more than enough.
go dual core and autocad 2009 can adapt to the processor architecture; giving you better results faster.
hp dv5z is a perfect match, i got mine for $688.
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