Demands for a laptop

Jorgensen · 28 Feb 2008, 17:04

Hi everyone.

I'm been asked by my company to purchase an laptop for presentations, primary for walk-arounds and showing different views in Sketchup.

Can anyone advise for what to look for. Within reasonably the price dons't matter - but what would one be looking for ? I think that Sketchup is extreme demanded on processor power - and the GFX-card comes in second - is this true ? if so - which processor should I look for ? does Sketchup use multicores ?

Thanks
jorgensen
Denmark.

pmiller · 28 Feb 2008, 18:08

Check out Dell Precision M6300 (on thier small business site, under workstations). Available with Dual core 2.8 GHZ processor and nVidia Quadro graphics. SU doesn't use dual processors, but I don't think anyone makes a laptop with 3.6 Ghz single processors anymore.

Jorgensen · 28 Feb 2008, 20:44

Ok thanks. So look for a powerfull CPU, how about the GFX-card - how importent is this ?

Thanks
Jorgensen

remus · 28 Feb 2008, 21:00

A graphics card is very important for SU, onboard graphics don't have openGL support, which is what SU uses, so by not getting a graphics card you would be severly limiting yourself as to what could be achieved on the laptop.

Gjenio · 29 Feb 2008, 09:02

Go for a Dell Precision M6300 you won't regret.
You can find the review here http://www.notebookcheck.com/Test-Dell-Precision-M6300-Notebook.7906.0.html

syburn · 29 Feb 2008, 15:31

but i thought that SU still does not support open GL.

also doesnt this laptop come with vista - arnt there still SU issues?

I have just been recommended the Precision M2300 - is it not as good?

remus · 29 Feb 2008, 15:41

Im pretty sure SU uses openGL.

Ive never had any problems with vista and SU.

pmiller · 29 Feb 2008, 18:13

Absolutely SU uses OpenGL, always has. It's the Intel integrated graphics that does not properly support OpenGL (i.e. you will not be able to select faces with SU hardware acceleration turned on). And Dell offers a choice (wisely) of Windows XP Pro.

Jorgensen · 29 Feb 2008, 18:35

@pmiller

So this is where the 'not' onboard gfx-card comes in ?

pmiller · 29 Feb 2008, 19:47

@jorgensen said:

@pmiller

So this is where the 'not' onboard gfx-card comes in ?

Yes, but all the Dell precision series offer proper nVidia Quadro graphics. I am not familiar with the nVidia M360 offered on the M2300 but it should be fine.

syburn · 2 Mar 2008, 14:06

in terms of SU do u think there will be much diff between:-

NVIDIA Geforce 8400M with 128mb (on xps M1330 vista machine)
or
NVIDIA Quadr0 FX360M with 128 (256 Turb) (on Precision M2300 with XP)

prob want to play some games on there as well hehehe

Jorgensen · 5 Mar 2008, 19:22

Doh, the manufacturers dosn't make it easy

Does anyone here have a link to a top10 chart for mobile GFX ?

Thanks

remus · 5 Mar 2008, 20:13

If your gettign a laptop with a graphics card, then the graphics cards are the same as those in desktops. So with the nvidia ones, the 8800 ones are the best, 8600 not quite so good, 8400 a little worse again etc. There are of course all the letters that follow the number section of the name, and im not sure whats better in terms of the letters (GT, GTX, GTS etc), but you'll probably be ok if you go by price.

In terms of the quaddro cards, expensive is ususally better.

As for ATI, i dont know, i havent looked at any of their cards recently.

Someone will probably be able to give you a more detailed description than that, but that should do as a rough guide.

Gjenio · 6 Mar 2008, 08:50

@jorgensen said:

Doh, the manufacturers dosn't make it easy

Does anyone here have a link to a top10 chart for mobile GFX ?

Thanks

Here it is
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

Jorgensen · 14 May 2008, 07:14

Now we consider bying a MacBook Pro.

Does anyone here have experience with running windows XP/Vista on such machine ?

Is there any problems running SU on this machine ?

Thanks
Jorgensen

remus · 14 May 2008, 07:23

I dont think you should have any problems with xp/vista/SU on a macbook pro, theyve got a porper graphics card which is good for US, and from what ive heard xp/vista tends to run pretty well on mac hardware.

ScottPara · 14 May 2008, 12:26

I am currently running a Dell M90. It is the laptop before the new M series. I have it completely maxed out and it is a beast. I have thrown everything at it and have not had one issue. It is incredibly fast. It have a quadro card in it at 512mb and makes a work of difference. My only complaint is my back....with the brick of a charging cord it weighs in at over 14lbs! Now add in all the other stuff I carry (magazines, mouse, graphics tablet, etc.) and it is ALOT to lug around. is it worth it? YES, it is just a powerful as most high end desktops. Make sure you get a good backpack or briefcase that will hold a 17" laptop (not a lot of choices). I opted for a backpack as it is a little easier to fit more crap in it;)

Scott