My wife needs to replace her computer. We’re going laptop this time. We have an absolutely max budget of $2,000, though we’d like to spend less - in other words, we’re gonna have to skimp on one aspect or another of the new machine.
The two main “processor-intensive” tasks my wife will be doing with it are image editing (photography, NOT video - at this time), and AutoCAD (she’s getting her masters in Architecture). I initially thought that this meant (especially the AutoCAD) that she’d need a really good video card - 128MB - but now I’m not so sure. Not putting out money for a high-end video card would let her get other things for the machine (better CPU, more RAM, CD/DVD burner, whatever).
She does NOT play video games beyond the Bejeweled and Mah Jong variety.
So, tech Dopers, what’s your suggestion for the video card?
As long as it will do the resolution and color depth you want/need, everything else doesn’t matter. All the fancy cards give you is better 3D, i.e. games. For photoshop and drafting in AutoCAD 3D really doesn’t matter. Better to spend your money on more RAM, faster/larger hard drive, and CD burner. You can easily get this for under $2000.
A really good video is only helpful for 3d work like games - what you want to do is mostly CPU/RAM dependant. I would reccomend getting one with an Athlon64, as they are the fastest processors around for most current software, and will have 64bit compatibility for the future.
eMachines sells a pretty good laptop, with an Athlon64 3000+, 512Meg RAM, 60gig HD, and 64Meg Radeon 9600 for $1550. Then spend the rest of your budget on a large external harddrive, and maybe a memory upgrade. You can get a 120GB USB harddrive for ~$150
Basically I agree with the others. I just want to add that large video memory is mostly used for storing large textures, e.g. the “paint” on video game 3d objects. This is irrelevant for photo processing and (although I am no expert on that) “serious” CAD tends to use solid colored and shaded objects, unless you are planning to create walk-through simulations to impress some client.
What you might want (especially for the CAD) is a graphics card from a “real” brand with proper drivers, or perhaps the possiblitiy to attach two independent monitors.
For CAD, a “good” video card is hellishly expensive. Ouch!
Rather than texture buffers, frame rates and all the things that get gamers excited, what makes a good card for CAD is precision - proper ability to hide “backsides” of objects and exact placement of objects.
Like the others here, I’d go for processor speed and RAM. Lots of both. (And to think I first learned AutoCAD on IBM ATs with 2 meg of RAM and EGA video!)
And please consider other brands than eMistakes. (oops… did I say that?) Especially for a laptop. Having dropped more than my share of laptops, I can say that the IBM Thinkpads are durable little buggers. Poke around places like AnandTech’s Hot Deals Forum and every so often, you’ll find some good deals.
I just poked around at ibm.com, and for $2000, you’re really not going to skimp much. For example:
ThinkPad R40
2.00 GHz Mobile Intel® Celeron®,
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional,
512.0 MB,
80.0 GB,
6.2 lbs,
3.95 Hrs (with 1 battery),
15.0" XGA (1024x768),
Cisco 802.11b, 10/100 Ethernet,
16MB ATI Mobility RADEON,
CD-RW/DVD-ROM,
Ultrabay Plus
On sale now for $1758. About the only thing I could envision adding is another 512 MB of RAM, and it’s still under $2000. Warranty extension’s also a good idea, especially if this laptop’s going to be doing much moving around.
** got passwords** - that laptop you mentioned is very overpriced. $1750 and all you get is a 2ghz Celeron? :eek: For that price you can get a similary equiped Dell is 2.8ghz Pentium 4, or a 1.7Ghz Centrino, both of which are MUCH faster, especially at CAD type work, than any celeron. Or you get get a Compaq with a 2.8Ghz Celeron, and a faster video chip, everything else the same, for ~$1300. Or the system I mentioned earlier, with the Athlon64 3000, would be much cheaper (abiet, it has a smaller harddrive - but you could buy an external one and still come up cheaper) and it would be faster than any of these systems.
'tis cheap. Last time I worked in CAD, I had a HP 9000/370 ('030 33 MHz) with a graphics “card” that was the size of a small file cabinet and cost about $100k. Of course the 9000/370 was also the size of a small filing cabinet.
Just like to add that you need to think about what you need out of a laptop. If you need to run on batteries, you’ll probably want one with a Pentium M processor (not 4M!). Low power, decent speed.
If all you want to do is take your laptop from one desk to another (or home to office, or …) and you’ll always have a plug available, a “desktop replacement” or “thick” laptop could be better for you, as it will be cheaper and/or you’ll get more bang for your buck. In IBM land, that’s the “G” series thinkpad.
You get what you pay for. The IBM thinkpad series are pretty rugged, and if there’s a problem, IBM will fix it. Dell makes some nice laptops (there’s one sitting 20 feet away from me, 1.6GHz M, 512MB, DVD, etc, etc), but they are a step down from an IBM. eMachines would be a step down from Dell.
I’d also consider the resolution of the laptop display. You can get 1400x1050 resolution on some Dell models, and I think that would be useful in CAD work.
Thanks for all the help so far. I’ll have to ask her about portability and battery needs - she’ll only use the batteries at school, and not sure how much she plans on doing that, or whether while there she can find a plug.
Although I appreciate the eMachines recommendation, I’ve heard too many bad things about that company.
Here’s the best machine I found so far, what do you all think? Dude, it’s a Dell.
Battery life will suck, it is heavy, and the case will get a bit warm (the CPU produces too much heat) so you might not want to sit it on your lap.
However, if you are going from desk at home to desk at school, and there is power nearby, and you don’t envision wandering around all day lugging the laptop, this is a good machine for your needs. If weight is the only issue, put the laptop in a cheap thin laptop case, then chuck the case in a backpack.
If you still have the floppy in the configuration, you should be able to delete it and save $50 or so. There’s not much need for a floppy anymore.
OK, I stand corrected as far as processor speed in laptops. But I’ll stick with my recommendation of ThinkPads because what they lack in style, they make up for in durability.
Durable as in: A co-worker dropped a ThinkPad four feet onto concrete with a heart-stopping crack. The corner of the case that took the impact is scuffed, but the case is otherwise undamaged and there was no internal damage.
At home, a guest knocked their Dell about a two feet from an end table onto the carpeted wood floor. The ethernet jack was damaged, requiring a motherboard replacement and a trim piece popped off. Fortunately, the thing was still under warranty.
As for the Dell Inspiron 5100 detailed above, it looks like a good bundle, especially with XP Pro and Office Small Business. Add a year or two of extra warranty coverage and you’re good to go. Every so often Dell has free shipping deals - might be worth watching for one as they charge something like $100 otherwise. I don’t recommend extra coverage for desktop PCs as they tend to be obsolete before anything breaks, but laptops get moved so frequently that something’s bound to get broken sooner or later.
AutoCAD user checking in. I agree w/ the others to splurge on RAM and CPU speed. ACAD is a voracious memory hog so the more you get, the better.
I’ve also got to warn you about ATI cards. There was a period when ATI drivers and AutoCAD didn’t always place nice together. I experienced the problem, myself, with an old Radeon where the cursor cross-hairs left trails and the screen didn’t always refresh properly. AutoDesk published a so-called fix on their site but it never accomplished anything. I eventually upgraded to a geforce and the problem was solved. I’m sure the issue has been fixed in the couple of years since I had the problem but it’d probably be a good idea to look into the issue first.
gotpasswords: I have seen a general consensus that IBMs are more durable, but worth the cost? I guess it depends how careful you are in some respects. Plus, my current computer is a Dell Latitude CPx that’s gotta be 4 years old, and I beat it up, and it hasn’t caused me a single problem in that time. So I’m kinda partial to Dells - though of course their quality could’ve dropped in the intervening time.
Hodges: great info, though all it really makes me want to do is curl up into a dark cave and cry. I’m tired, I say, tired, of all the research and worry about “is this the right one” and then another issue crops up. But I’ll check it out, since it’s clearly very important. Thanks.