What configuration of laptop should I buy? 1

[Deon7]

What configuration of laptop should I buy to run Solidworks Premium?

I will be traveling from a corporate office to the manufacturing plant on a weekly basis (my position is the only engineer for my division). I have been asked to spec out a laptop and docking stations. Desktops are more flexible concerning their configurations, but laptops are not and i understand why, but my employer has set the direction on this issue so i just need to know what to spec in a Dell and an HP to give an option to the powers above.

TIA!!

 

[JMirisola]

I use a Dell:
Dell Precision M90
Intel 2 Duo Core 2GHz Processor
60GB Hardrive
2GB RAM
nVidia Quadro FX 2500M PCI Express w/ 512MB memory
CDRW/DVD

The NW9440 from HP is comparable to the M90.
You'll need to determine what your base needs are first. How big are the files you're working with? What sort of processing power are you going to need? Little things like that...



Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[Deon7]

Thanks for the info. Our assemblies (mechanical machinery) are pretty demanding on our desctops with 2 gig ram, pentium duo 2GHz and 512m vodeo (256+256 nvidia cards with cooling fan). would it help to go to 4 gig ram on the laptop eventhough the video card would stay at 512m?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

4GB of RAM would certainly help ... providing the laptop configuration allows full usage of it. Not all configs do.

Also make sure you get XP and NOT Vista. Are you planning on using x32 or x64 SW?


SW07-SP3.1
SW06-SP5.1

 

[Deon7]

which one is recommended? i know there are always trouble withe new versions of software and hardware technonogies. i was leaning towards the 64.

 

[JMirisola]

If you get 64bit, definitely go with 4 gigs or RAM. If you end up with 32bit, then I'd only get 2 gigs of RAM but enable the /3Gb switch in windows.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[symjim]

Be careful with x64 on notebooks. The Dell M90 is one of the very few that supports it, but even then, support for add-on peripherals is severely lacking. Keep in mind, too, that x64 not only allows SolidWorks to address more RAM, it requires more RAM, too. 4GB on a 64-bit system is about the same as 3GB on a 32-bit system.

I'd configure the system with 32-bit Windows and 2GB RAM (or 3GB if you can swallow the high cost) and set the 3GB switch.