New Laptop Advice

solo

What all do you plan to use it for?

leedeetee

Sorry Solo, just added that to my post.

I will be using it almost exclusively for SU, Rendering (Twilight at the moment) and the obvious surfing the internet etc. I'm not a gamer.

mitcorb

Hi, lee:
Try this link for appetizers(tomshardeware): http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=best%20laptop%20for%20sketchup&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tomshardware.com%2Fforum%2F59420-35-best-laptop-architecture-student&ei=UqEFT5vTOfOpsALb87C7DA&usg=AFQjCNGxU_9D11qF_Wg_CzKDrv7wkacCzA&cad=rja

Gaieus

If that is Twilight (which is rendering inside SU), you won't necessarily need extremely much RAM. I have an Acer with a 2.3 GHz i5 processor, an nVidia GeForce 540M (1Gb) and 4 Gb RAM. Certainly I do not use it as a rendering monster so it runs fine with my models. It was around £ 630 (if I exchange the price). Since this processor allows multithreading, it renders even faster than my 3.0 GHz dual core in my desktop. Maybe it would be nicer to have some more RAM for other apps (and/or if you render in Kerkythea exported from Twilight as it has a 64 bit version and can use more RAM than 4 Gb)

solo

I suggest this: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-VPCF233FX-16-4-Inch-Laptop-Matte/dp/B005JY9MGK/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1325770384&sr=1-4

A few pounds over budget (used a converter)

leedeetee

Thanks everyone, will check them out.

So, in basic terms, am I looking for a good amount of RAM and a good dedicated graphics card?

Thanks again.

Gaieus

And a good processor.

Well, basically what you need to take extra care is to have a good, dedicated card. Many ("cheaper") laptops come with integrated chipsets nowadays. But the tendency is that they only put these dedicated cards into the "more serious" models so if there is one, it is likely that the other specs are also sufficient.

leedeetee

Thanks Gai, much appreciated.

Rich O Brien

I'd save up a bit more and get something that'll stand you good for more than a year or so. HP Elite Notebooks are absolute monsters and competitively priced. They are heavy but they are basically portable Desktops with some grunt.

leedeetee

Unless anyone can violently persuade me otherwise, I'm going to buy this:

http://www.dell.com/uk/p/xps-l702x/pd?oc=n00x7m06&model_id=xps-l702x

Rich O Brien

Looks powerful for such a low price.

I'd like to know how it handles

leedeetee

Well my new toy arrived today! Can't tell you how excited I am! Very impressed so far. Done a few test renders with twilight and it's performing well.

Rich O Brien

@unknownuser said:

Can't tell you how excited I am!

When you manage to calm down you might let us know.

Gaieus

@leedeetee said:

Unless anyone can violently persuade me otherwise, I'm going to buy this:

http://www.dell.com/uk/p/xps-l702x/pd?oc=n00x7m06&model_id=xps-l702x

Wait, I was just going to try to violently persuade you!

Alan Fraser

I got a new puppy recently...and he's not good with stairs...and he likes company during the day, so my upstairs office is kind of off-limits right now. I invested in a Lenovo Ideapad Z570 so I could work downstairs for a while...my Netbook clearly wasn't up to the job.

I was a bit hesitant as it had Intel HD graphics when I was really looking for an Nvidia system; but I have to say it handles all aspects of SU like a breeze...including rendering in Twilight. It's actually faster than my currently abandoned desktop system....and the sound quality is great, if you need to make presentations.
Review here.

tomot

Working 8hrs on a laptop is not fun for any human wrist and hand. I had a 90 day return policy on an Acer i7 with Nvidia graphics
I returned it after test driving it for 60 days. .....My 2 cents