
06-09-2008, 08:43 AM
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1,278 posts, read 3,961,297 times
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I am about to get a new lap top and I wanted to see if anyone on here had any suggestions.
I need to be able to very smoothly run autoCAD, Sketch UP, Photoshop, Architectural Desktop, Illustrator, etc
I can spend around $1500. I frequently need to travel with the lap top, so one that is not to heavy would be great.
Any thoughts? Also, does anyone on here run CAD on a Mac and is if so how does it run?
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06-09-2008, 12:53 PM
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Location: High Bridge
2,736 posts, read 9,331,175 times
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Not going to do it well on the mac for $1500...
You are definitely better off spending it elsewhere, such as on a Dell. How much work will you be doing on it? I find my 12.1" XPS M1210 runs AutoCAD 2009 beautifully, and I like having a small screen for when I'm working on the train, but... I wouldn't do all my work on it. Its mostly for getting some quick stuff done, finishing off a design, etc, but not my main starting point when I'm gathering all my xref's and such together. Might want a bigger screen than that.
An external wireless mouse makes for a GREAT investment, so you can pan and zoom easily with the scroll whell. I went with the Logitech VX Revolution (I love this series, I have an MX for my work desktop, one for my home workstation, and then similar logitech products (I like the feel) for all my other PC's in the house); the nano will not do this, so you know. The clicking of the mouse wheel will ONLY change it from smooth scroll to click scroll, and vice versa... this is why I like the revolution better.
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06-09-2008, 03:40 PM
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1,278 posts, read 3,961,297 times
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XPS M1530 is one I am looking at. I currently do all of my work on a lap top, and I will for probably another year and a half so I need the screen to be as big as possible without being to heavy.
What size should the graphics card be do you think? Do you run sketch up? I am currently having a lot of problems with it running slow, and I am pretty sure it is b/c of my graphics card. I want to eventually be able to maybe use 3dsMax too.
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06-11-2008, 11:49 PM
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Location: Northglenn, Colorado
3,689 posts, read 10,096,294 times
Reputation: 970
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudbeckia
XPS M1530 is one I am looking at. I currently do all of my work on a lap top, and I will for probably another year and a half so I need the screen to be as big as possible without being to heavy.
What size should the graphics card be do you think? Do you run sketch up? I am currently having a lot of problems with it running slow, and I am pretty sure it is b/c of my graphics card. I want to eventually be able to maybe use 3dsMax too.
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remember that Autocad Architecture requires a more robust computer than just plain Autocad does. I would look at the recommended items on the Autodesk website and crank it up a tad over the recommended. Since you are going to use multiple graphical programs, Find the most taxing and base your decision on that one. Go a bit over the recommended specs on the most taxing program you plan to use.
I have Autocad Architecture 2009 running absolutely wonderfully on my home machine which I built myself lol.
Athlon 64 X2 5400 processor
Nvidia 8800 gt graphics card, (I know that Lap top graphics cards are going to be your weak point)
3 gigs memory and
Windows Vista Home Premium.
I can do some very graphically intense designs with no problems from my machine at all.
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06-12-2008, 12:31 PM
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Location: High Bridge
2,736 posts, read 9,331,175 times
Reputation: 672
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudbeckia
XPS M1530 is one I am looking at. I currently do all of my work on a lap top, and I will for probably another year and a half so I need the screen to be as big as possible without being to heavy.
What size should the graphics card be do you think? Do you run sketch up? I am currently having a lot of problems with it running slow, and I am pretty sure it is b/c of my graphics card. I want to eventually be able to maybe use 3dsMax too.
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Sketch-up's needs are nowhere near ACAD Arch; so don't worry about that. 3DS will have similar needs to what you'd want for good scene rendering in Arch (if you're doing that level of modeling), so imho, get the best graphics card they are offering on the laptop, no less. I only deal with 2D and 3D, but without the modeling component, which runs perfectly well and good with onboard graphics. Anything else, and you definitely need more power, or you'll have a good amount of waiting involved (which I find incredibly frustrating). I still have to recommend the vx revolution btw, its worth it just for AutoCAD 
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09-12-2009, 06:34 PM
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1 posts, read 10,067 times
Reputation: 10
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I have a msi ultra laptop. Intel(R)core(T)2duo cpu t7250@2.00GHZ 4.00GB Ram 500 hardrive nvidis graphics. Is this suitable for 3D autocad? what upgrades should i consider?
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09-12-2009, 08:22 PM
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Location: Cicero, NY
623 posts, read 1,748,386 times
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Brand doesnt matter so much as you get at minimum a dual core but preferably a quad core processor, and max out the ram. Most laptops nowadays will have a decent enough vid card for your needs
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