Technology Help Needed!

[oobiecoo]

I need a new computer but it looks like what I need doesn''t exist. The main thing I''m looking for is a laptop with a 3GHz processor to run some CAD and animation programs on... but it looks like laptops don''t go that high. The fastest I''ve seen was something like a 2.8 but it was definitely over the budget. Does anyone know of ANY laptop with a 3.0 processor?

My next question is this... my husband feels like I should get a desktop to run my CAD on and use my current laptop to remotely access the desktop so I can work away from home. I''m worried that I''ll have internet issues and my home computer won''t be online to log into or something. Does this sound like a good plan? He is a computer tech so he does know about alot of this stuff... but I also know he can be *cheap* at times so I don''t know if this is just his way of saving some dough... or if maybe he hasn''t even thought through this all the way and there may be some issue he didn''t consider. My current laptop kinda sucks but he says it can handle drafting remotely. The programs I will be using specifically are versions of AutoCAD and Revit along with SketchUp.

I''d appreciate all insight on this wether you''re a techie or architect or whatever. Thanks!

 

[strmrdr]

A 2.4GHZ core2duo is faster than 2x 3.2GHZ p4.
The quads are even faster.
Either will be fast enough for what you want to do.
Make sure you get a 7200rpm hard drive and 4GB ram min.(8GB preferred)
Also make sure it has a separate video chip on board and isn't using shared ram.


The faster core series chips are to hot for laptops even the 2.8 will throttle back under heavy use in a laptop.

Buy a laptop cooler/stand for long renders.

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 1/30/2009 2:57:56 AM
Author: strmrdr
A 2.4GHZ core2duo is faster than 2x 3.2GHZ p4.
The quads are even faster.
Either will be fast enough for what you want to do.
Make sure you get a 7200rpm hard drive and 4GB ram min.(8GB preferred)
Also make sure it has a separate video chip on board and isn''t using shared ram.


The faster core series chips are to hot for laptops even the 2.8 will throttle back under heavy use in a laptop.

Buy a laptop cooler/stand for long renders.

Thanks for the really fast response! DH wants me to get a quad desktop if we go that route... what is "p4"?
I''ve been looking at getting one with 3GB that can be upgraded to 4 since we can do that on our own later. I''ll have to look at the rpm of some we''ve been looking at... haven''t really paid attention to that before. I know the shared RAM is bad...

So what would you do? Get a laptop with around a 2.2 core2duo or get a quad desktop?

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 1/30/2009 3:12:25 AM
Author: oobiecoo

Date: 1/30/2009 2:57:56 AM
Author: strmrdr
A 2.4GHZ core2duo is faster than 2x 3.2GHZ p4.
The quads are even faster.
Either will be fast enough for what you want to do.
Make sure you get a 7200rpm hard drive and 4GB ram min.(8GB preferred)
Also make sure it has a separate video chip on board and isn''t using shared ram.


The faster core series chips are to hot for laptops even the 2.8 will throttle back under heavy use in a laptop.

Buy a laptop cooler/stand for long renders.

Thanks for the really fast response! DH wants me to get a quad desktop if we go that route... what is ''p4''?
I''ve been looking at getting one with 3GB that can be upgraded to 4 since we can do that on our own later. I''ll have to look at the rpm of some we''ve been looking at... haven''t really paid attention to that before. I know the shared RAM is bad...

So what would you do? Get a laptop with around a 2.2 core2duo or get a quad desktop?

Ok is that Pentium 4?

So if I need a 3.0GHz pentium 4 to run AutoCad, then whats the *minumum* core2duo processing speed I could get?

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 1/30/2009 3:18:30 AM
Author: oobiecoo
Ok is that Pentium 4?


So if I need a 3.0GHz pentium 4 to run AutoCad, then whats the *minumum* core2duo processing speed I could get?

yes,,, a single core p4 3GHZ is roughly a single core in the core2 at 2.2-2.4 so with a duel core 2.4 it would put you well over the p4 by a large factor because autocad will use both cores.
Go as fast as you can right before the big jump in price.
You will notice small jump small jump small jump large jump in price.
Buy one or 2 steps below the large jump.
I don't recommend running cad remotely if it is critical that it be available.

A friend of mine runs some hefty cad work on a core2duo 2.4 so that or better should be fine.

 

[strmrdr]

I would recommend:
15 or 17 inch screen laptop
core2 2.4 or better.
as much ram as possible
7200 RPM hd.
no shared ram video

 

[strmrdr]

Here is the specific system I would recommend on a 2k budget...
Total: $1,985.75
note the upgraded warranty and protection at the end:

ThinkPad T500 - 1 Yr Depot Warranty
Edit 2081CTO $1,724.00 1 $1,724.00
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2) 1
Operating system : Genuine Windows Vista Business with Windows XP Professional Downgrade**** 1
Operating system language : Genuine Windows Vista Business with Windows XP Professional Downgrade US English 1
Display type: 15.4" WSXGA+ TFT, w/ CCFL Backlight 1
System graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 3650 with 256MB 1
Total memory: 4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM) 1
Keyboards: Keyboard US English 1
Pointing Device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) 1
Hard Drive: 160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm 1
Optical device : DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA) 1
Card Reader: 7 in 1 Media Card Reader 1
System expansion slots : Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot 1
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN 1
Wireless card: Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) 1
Mobile Broadband: Integrated AT&T Mobile Broadband (3G) 1
Battery: 9 cell Li-Ion Battery 1
Country Pack: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 90W AC adapter 1
Language pack: Language Pack US English 1
Accessories and options:
3 Year On Site Upgrade with 3 Year ThinkPad Protection 41C9338 $261.75 1 $261.75

 

[strmrdr]

Then I would add a case and an external 250GB or so 2.5" usb drive for backup and storage.

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 1/30/2009 3:56:57 AM
Author: strmrdr
Here is the specific system I would recommend on a 2k budget...
Total: $1,985.75
note the upgraded warranty and protection at the end:

ThinkPad T500 - 1 Yr Depot Warranty
Edit 2081CTO $1,724.00 1 $1,724.00
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 6MBL2) 1
Operating system : Genuine Windows Vista Business with Windows XP Professional Downgrade**** 1
Operating system language : Genuine Windows Vista Business with Windows XP Professional Downgrade US English 1
Display type: 15.4'' WSXGA+ TFT, w/ CCFL Backlight 1
System graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 3650 with 256MB 1
Total memory: 4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM) 1
Keyboards: Keyboard US English 1
Pointing Device: UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad) 1
Hard Drive: 160 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm 1
Optical device : DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer, Ultrabay Slim (Serial ATA) 1
Card Reader: 7 in 1 Media Card Reader 1
System expansion slots : Express Card Slot & PC Card Slot 1
Bluetooth: Integrated Bluetooth PAN 1
Wireless card: Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN) 1
Mobile Broadband: Integrated AT&T Mobile Broadband (3G) 1
Battery: 9 cell Li-Ion Battery 1
Country Pack: Country Pack North America with Line cord & 90W AC adapter 1
Language pack: Language Pack US English 1
Accessories and options:
3 Year On Site Upgrade with 3 Year ThinkPad Protection 41C9338 $261.75 1 $261.75

This is a Lenovo, right? Would you recommend that brand over Dell, Sony, HP, etc? I''ve been wondering where they fall into the mix.

 

[strmrdr]

stay away from dell and sony.
hp business line is good.
The thinkpad T series is consider bulletproof in the business world.
Some of the low end consumer lines are just as bad as the same lines from dell/sony but the business line is top end.

 

[arjunajane]

Strm - I need your help over in RT !! Please ...