Time to buy a Laptop to run SW

[JerryFlyGuy]

So I've decided it's about time to buy a laptop to run SW. I'm thinking a DELL Inspiron 17xx series would be my best option.. anyone have any experiance w/ the latest model's they are putting out.. I'm thinking quad core w/ 4Gig of Ram.. I'm just going to get an Nvidia gaming card.. it will work but not have real view graphics.. but my desktop has a big dollar card so any rendering I need, can be done there.. is the Intel 2x Dual core they offer better than the AMD Turion version or vs?

I expect the thing will cost $3k or so..
as always... opinions welcome..

[TommyL]

Hey,

I myself just bought a Gateway MX8738 with Window Vista as the operating system. Vista is pure eye candy but, thats were the fun ends.

I cannot give you advice on what processor to go with, however I am bias tward the AMD's

Now you might have problems getting Solidworks to run with this new OS.

So I figured no problem! I'll just F disk the hard drive and do a dual boot with WinXP on the other partition................wrong! After doing so the set up disk for XP will not recognize the hard drive.

If your going to go with a Dell you might want to stay away from Vista. Seems the new OS doesn't like CAD programs. If this helps I'm running Solidworks 2006. Maybe 2007 will work just fine.

Granted I could be wrong. I'm no expert so take my opinion(s) with a grain of salt.

TommyL.

[JerryFlyGuy]

Thanks Tommy, I've read someplace that SW runs very well on Vista, but I think that was for 2007 or later. I will have to do some more reading about these processors on various sites to get a better opinion of what is best. Personally I think I'd rather run X64 over vista if possible but we'll see if that will work, or if it's worth it. I've heard that Vista is slower than and older slower pc runing xp.. just because it has soo much more overhead.. I'd like to stay away frm Vista if possible.. but we'll see..

[jl123]

I wanted to get a laptop for the same reason actually. You might want to look into dell's precision line of laptops if you're used to big time professional graphics. The M90 series is what I was looking at.

M90 Notebook
(System Identifier: EEDWHLJF)


Precision Mobile Workstation M90 Notebook: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7600 (2.33GHz/667MHz/4MB)
Genuine Windows XP x64 Professional

System Price : $2,569.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Operating System
Genuine Windows XP x64 Professional
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard Disk Drive
80 GB EIDE Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video
512MB NVIDIA Quadro FX 2500M (dedicated), OpenGL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software Upgrade
Microsoft Office 2007 Small Business Edition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media Bay
24X CD RW/DVD Combo Drive
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base
Precision Mobile Workstation M90 Notebook: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7600 (2.33GHz/667MHz/4MB)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware Upgrade
Hardware is Microsoft Vista Capable
9 Cell Battery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Interface Card
3945 802.11a/g Wireless Mini Card
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NoteBook Screen
17 inch Wide Screen XGA+ Notebook Screen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previously Ordered New
Previously Ordered New

That particular notebook isnt all a good deal but you get the point. You have to search around and pay attention to the specs. I found what I wanted for $2300 one day which was so much nicer than this one. You just have to search and filter the results the way you want.

You want a Core 2 duo trust me. There is no reason to go with AMD even for a desktop right now. Especially stay away from AMD in a notebook.

Those specs I just quoted are from the Dell outlet store. They might be refurbished but you get a nice price break for something that would cost you a thousand+ more. You can still purchase any warrenty plan you want and usually it's cheaper than buying a plan for a new machine.

Search through the dell outlet store and sort the results for the M90. One thing you want to see definately is an Ultra Sharp UXGA+ screen. If theres any weakness in the M90 it's the screen. The upgraded lcd will fix that in a hurry though.

Actually here we go. This shows what I'm talking about. You just have to do a little digging and you'll find a much nicer machine. Check this out.

M90 Notebook
(System Identifier: EE9VH2HL)


Precision Mobile Workstation M90 Notebook: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7400 (2.16GHz/667MHz/4MB)
Genuine Windows XP Pro

System Price : $2,349.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Operating System
Genuine Windows XP Pro
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
4 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard Disk Drive
100 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video
512MB NVIDIA Quadro FX 2500M (dedicated), OpenGL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media Bay
8X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base
Precision Mobile Workstation M90 Notebook: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7400 (2.16GHz/667MHz/4MB)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware Upgrade
Hardware is Microsoft Vista Capable
9 Cell Primary Battery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software Upgrade
Roxio Creator Delux
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NoteBook Screen
17 inch UltraSharp Wide Screen UXGA Notebook Screen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bluetooth Wireless
Bluetooth Wireless Card
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Interface Card
3945 802.11a/g Wireless Mini Card

Note the upgraded LCD. Nicer hd, twice the memory, dvd burner, and all it costs you is a slightly slower cpu and a few hundred less. But nonetheless it's possible to find a core 2 duo 2330 with the specs you want Just a matter of looking for it.

Sorry I forgot you are in canada. These prices are american obviously.

Good luck.

[ger21]

As mentioned, Intel's currently rule over AMD.
As for the video card, it has nothing at all to do with rendering. Only the screen display. Better cards will give you faster on screen rotation and movement. Rendering is handled entirely by the CPU.

[jl123]

Yep. But if theres one place not to skimp it's on the video card. I hate to see a nice system with a mediocre card struggle with 3d intensive applications because it has some cheapo nvidia or ati graphics. The specs should complement eachother. If it's got a near top of the line cpu, hd, etc you shouldn't settle for a weak video solution. On the Dell M90 for example...you don't want to try and fill up that high resolution screen with a full window of your favorite 3d app to only see it brought to it's knees. The ultrasharp screen runs at 1920x1200. Don't get stuck having to run solidworks or something in a small window that doesnt fill half the screen because the video card doesn't have enough spine.

I think the most overlooked thing is the hard drive. Do not settle for a 5400rpm drive unless all you care about is portability/battery life. Once you got with a 7200 rpm drive in a laptop you will never go back. It makes a bigger difference than you would think. Can't let the slowest component in a computer be THAT slow...

[ger21]

I think the most overlooked thing is the hard drive.

I don't use laptops for much, but in my Desktops, I've been using 10K rpm drives for about 10 years now. Much, much faster.

[jl123]

Heh. Yep same here. At one point I was using 15k scsi drives. I had to turn to 10k sata drives since more space was needed and at the time 73GB and 147GB 15k scsi drives were very expensive.

I've been using 7200rpm drives in my laptops ever since they came out. I haven't looked back. Even if I were to buy an M90 I would settle for a 60gb 5400rpm drive. Only to replace it with the drive of my choice when it arrived at my door. The old drive could always be used for an external backup.

You should try a 7200rpm drive for your laptop if you ever crave that snappiness your desktop has.

[JerryFlyGuy]

Thanks for all the advice guys.. I'm thinking these M90's are pretty sweet... Also, I think I'd rather have more ram w/ a slower clock for less money.. I looked at Dell's outlet store on line but am wondering if they will deal w/ someone from Canada? Any Canadian's bought from there? The Laptop I priced out [Inprion 1720 I think] was all pretty close to these spec's, w/out the Quadro Fx card.. I'm wondering if I couldn't get away w/ the gaming card over the Quadro and save some bucks there.. the New system I priced was $2900 Cdn, and came w/ all the bells and wistles.. [case, blue tooth, wireless mouse.. built in webcam bla bla bla..] The only thing that wasn't really posh, was the Nvidia 256mb gaming card.. I'm going to have to check back w/ SW and see what their site says about running it.. I know it won't do real view.. but I can live w/ that.. Funny thing is.. my work desktop is running a ATI FireGL V7350 and I can't get the real view to run on it either.. something wrong w/ the setup's as the card is a certified SW card.. but.. after a while you forget about all the shinny real view stuff.. Until I go home and see it on my home desktop.. I've only got a V7100 on it..

Off to do more shopping..

[jl123]

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/serv...rdtesting.html

Yeah theres something wrong with your setup on your work pc with the 7350. Only thing I can think of off the top of my head is to update the driver. The M90 is definately certified and will give you realview. The inspiron with a gaming card will not. I have a 7900gtx and I don't get it. What can I say I used to game and now I don't. I am definately going to get me a quadro once I rebuild.

As for a laptop, that's why I'm looking at the M90. I figure if I'm going to do it...might as well do it right.

As far as getting a slower clock speed for more ram, I agree. The slower core 2 duo will not disappoint. And it helps keep the price down for other improvements to the system. So I'm 100% with you on that.