Laptop for CAD

Posted by: TJE Yogi

Is a Solid State Hard drive so much better?

Will 500GB be enough for Windows 10 and CAD software?

We're needing a new computer and any insight will be helpful.

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Thanks

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Definitely get a SSD preferably M.2 if you can. I wouldn't buy one without one. You probably would have enough in 500GB as long as you are not doing any laser scanning. Get a discrete graphics card also and as much memory as possible.

I just picked up an ASUS gamer laptop that absolutely screams. 64 Gb RAM, 1 Tb NVME with an 8Gb Nvidia graphics card. It handles 3 and 4 gb dwg files effortlessly.

If you are going for a high end laptop, get one that is being made as a specific model. Things get very unstable if you push the boundaries with your own combination...

Posted by: Totalsurv

Posted by: TJE Yogi

Is a Solid State Hard drive so much better?

Will 500GB be enough for Windows 10 and CAD software?

We're needing a new computer and any insight will be helpful.

?ÿ

Thanks

?ÿ

Definitely get a SSD preferably M.2 if you can. I wouldn't buy one without one. You probably would have enough in 500GB as long as you are not doing any laser scanning. Get a discrete graphics card also and as much memory as possible.

To be more specific, I suggest you a PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD - with read up to 3500 MB/s and write up to 2100 MB/s

SATA M.2 SSD has read up to 545 MB/s and write up to 525 MB/s

You will see a difference in speed, and in price.

Posted by: thebionicman

I just picked up an ASUS gamer laptop that absolutely screams. 64 Gb RAM, 1 Tb NVME with an 8Gb Nvidia graphics card. It handles 3 and 4 gb dwg files effortlessly.

If you are going for a high end laptop, get one that is being made as a specific model. Things get very unstable if you push the boundaries with your own combination...

What model, where, and how much?

Thanks?ÿ ??ÿ

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Below is what I'm thinking about it's a Lenovo which I've had in the past with not many problems.

It's $60 cheaper with 8GB RAM

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• Processor: Intel Dual Core i5-7200U Processor (2.5GHz - 3.1GHz, 3M Cache)
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro x64
• Display: 15.6" HD Screen (1366x768); Graphics Card: Intel HD 620 Graphics
• Features: 16GB RAM, 500GB Solid State Drive, Fingerprint Reader, DVD+/-RW
• RAM and Hard Drive Upgrade* - View Product Description for complete details and notes

You will need a graphics card, the intel onboard graphics card is not sufficient for cad work.

?ÿAlso you will want an i7 processor

Look at gaming laptops or dell precision laptops.

Got mine through computer central in boise for about 3200 with docking station. We needed it fast so I suspect we overpaid. Not an issue as it paid for itself almost immediately.

I am extracting data from a 4gb dsm right now and it has zero lag...

When I was still doing CAD, I bought an Asus 17.3" ROG gaming laptop with all the bells and whistles. It was worth every penny and blew away every desktop PC in its path. It was a monster, but I could indeed take it with me and work pretty much anywhere, except maybe on a plane.

I had a custom built done by a computer shop.?ÿ

Win 10 Pro, I5, he said I wouldn't see benefit of i7 for the money, 16gb ram, 500gb SSD (Samsung Pro) but I put more money into a Quadro video card ( specs not with me) <br/>I have another Samsung SSD and an old drive installed also. <br/>I'm more than happy running Cad (Bricscad & Microsurvey) Manifold GIS, Canvas GIS, handles 300mb aerials.

Does grunt a bit at Lidar stuff.?ÿ

I was always told to steer clear of gaming machines for Cad. Forums I've read don't advocate them. ?ÿRealise that contradicts other comments.?ÿ

That's my 2 bobs worth.?ÿ

I bought a used Dell M4800 with Windows 10 x64 from eBay in June when I started my business. It has an i7 quad core, 4gb graphics card, 24gb ram and a 500gb ssd. It powers up amazingly fast and civil 3d works better than ever before. I can't believe how much time I wasted opening drawings before this laptop! All for $650.

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Gregg

?ÿI could indeed take it with me and work pretty much anywhere, except maybe on a plane.

You can take a 17" laptop on a plane. You can use it on said plane if you're normal sized. By normal I mean you wear a t-shirt smaller than XL. Or, if you get a seat with extra leg room the 2xl folks can draft.?ÿ

Otherwise, you will be pinned by the seat ahead of you pressing into the back of your laptop thence pressing the laptop into your xyphoid process trying to cut ya in half.

Steve

Normal sized, smaller than XL? As I look around me on a daily basis I think smaller than an XL would be some freak of nature. ??ÿ

I've switched to a Microsoft Surface when away from my work station.?ÿ Until recently I was using a Pro 3 with I5 chip, 4 gb of memory and a 126 gb hard drive.?ÿ While not a screamer, it would handle C3D and Microstation as well as all of my survey software.?ÿ It would even handle point cloud data in Infinity.?ÿ The small size makes it real handy and I have no problem with it on an plane (I'm 6'2" and 240 before Xmas).?ÿ When I'm out of town I take along a 27" monitor that makes CAD a lot nicer.?ÿ Due to a tragic on the job load shifting incident, my faithful Surface is no longer with us.?ÿ I have replaced it with a new Surface Pro with I7 chip, 8 gb of memory and 256 gb of storage.

As for the SSD, I would not consider anything less.?ÿ In addition to the speed gain, SSDs are not susceptible to mechanical shock in a rough world that spinning disk drives are.

I've got an 8088 processor with a 10trigabyte solid state hard drive. It works really slow, the answer may come up in the middle of the night but it'll find it sooner or later. It's encased in a hermedicaly sealeled case which sustain over 9 g's I'm told. I've never checked it out. Never reboots, loses power, or shuts down for up dates. There's some kind of wifi, but I don't know what it connects to. Answers to vocal commands and something like Bluetooth. Great audio and visual system. It's wasn't made by Dell or Microsoft, or Hp. Herb and Wilma built it. It gets more powerful the older it gets. I take it absolutely everywhere with no problems.

Posted by: Skeeter1996

I've got an 8088 processor with a 10trigabyte solid state hard drive. It works really slow, the answer may come up in the middle of the night but it'll find it sooner or later. It's encased in a hermedicaly sealeled case which sustain over 9 g's I'm told. I've never checked it out. Never reboots, loses power, or shuts down for up dates. There's some kind of wifi, but I don't know what it connects to. Answers to vocal commands and something like Bluetooth. Great audio and visual system. It's wasn't made by Dell or Microsoft, or Hp. Herb and Wilma built it. It gets more powerful the older it gets. I take it absolutely everywhere with no problems.

WOW...an 8088? I thought that all of those were in a museum (or my garage) by now. You're having fun with us, right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_8088

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It's probably older than an 8088, but that's all I got in the query. I hate you fact checkers.

I bought this computer last spring and couldn't be more impressed. I have no problem running multiple instances of CAD along with myriads of other programs and haven't ran into any issues.?ÿ In office, I have a docking station with two 27" monitors but it's tough and lightweight enough to travel with, even in the field. Definately an investment but well worth it in my book.?ÿ

Microsoft Surface Book

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0163GNS5S/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That is a pretty impressive computer and reasonably priced. Have you had it long enough to determine how it interacts with Windows 10 yet. I got a Dell with similar specifications, but it crashes alot due to what I suspect is Windows 10 driver problems.