Laptop Help

[FireboltEric_MA]

Need some advise on Laptop.
Should I buy a new one or build the Dell Inspiron 6000 into something I need?

I need a "Gaming" type laptop for school. I use Revit & it needs a lot to run the projects I do. I been looking at the Dell Alienware M14X & M17X. Expensive for a non- working school dude.

I am up for any suggestions on other laptops also. There are 3 laptops in this house, non of them can even run a simple project never mind once it gets advanced.

I am also open to buying a used one, maybe someone wants to upgrade there current one?

Thanks All!

[jasnmar]

I'd say new, primarily because I've never found upgrading a laptop to be cost effective.

Get all the memory you can afford. Get more (and fast) memory over processor. Get Win 7 64 (not 8, but get a free upgrade to 8).
Consider a solid state drive. I've not tried one, but I've heard great things (especially running large Revit project) about performance (especially when things start paging).

Make sure that the video card is not using shared memory, but you don't need to go "all out" on an expensive OpenGL card. Revit uses DirectX rather than OGL.

See http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...&siteID=123112 for some recommendations as well (these won't tell you what you need in detail, but will give you some hints).

Internally there is more testing done on Revit using HP laptops than any other brand.

[rice_rocket]

Wirelessly posted

I totally agree with the above post. Upgrading a laptop is pointless...upgrading a desktop is worth it for decades!

[aldend123]

Does it need to be a laptop? Your dollar will go further with a desktop unit. When trying to compare two computers for total performance, it is more than just one single number that matters. In fact two computers can have identical processors at identical speeds, but one could be quite slower than the other at certain tasks because of slow memory, or slow bus speeds. You can try to find benchmark results run on each laptop configuration to try and compare apples to apples. Building up laptops is typically dif

If you find buying something with lots of RAM adds considerably to the cost, you can buy plenty of newegg. However, you'll probably violate your warranty terms doing that.

If you're looking to save, used seems like a good idea. Probably the largest risk there is battery "condition"/life, but otherwise just re-install windows when it arrives and it should be nearly good as new.

[FireboltEric_MA]

I ended up going with This One A little overkill but I have some big projects that need to run quickly & rendering on other programs. I don't mind spending a little extra as long as it will last me.

just need to get Windows 7 and some software for it so I can use PDF, word...etc..etc..

I wanted a Dell or HP, but this seemed to have decent reviews & was a decent price...

Anyone have any experience with MSI, hope I didn't get a shitty computer...

[SRTie4k]

Ouch, you got screwed. That's a LOT of money for some mediocre components. A 64GB SSD in a nearly $2000 computer? LOL!

[FireboltEric_MA]

Well I still have time to return it if I am not happy, can someone point me in the right direction to a killer laptop in the 1000.00-2000.00 range?

I'm no computer expert by any means, but need to get something for school & run the programs I need ASAP....

Suggestions?

Thanks!

[TheIglu]

I like the Lenovo W530 series. They are built well.

[rice_rocket]

Mmmm Yeah I have to say that looks a little pricey... although the video card being 4mb is nice. Toshiba is having a gaming laptop sale.. although they don't come with a 4mb video card option.. it has everything else and at half the cost. Msi makes cool laptops, although usually only found by my friends in asia. They make good motherboards, so I think you're good. But.. just to show you some other options (although maybe too late)...

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...dmyC0_WiiF9QTQ

Lenovo has one here at:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/c...E=dealnews.com

Again, video card not as good... but for the over $1K in savings.. you can buy yourself an SSD if you feel it isn't fast enough.. and even more ram if you think that it is not enough. I think most people always get lured into the overkill than what they actually need...

[TheIglu]

You are looking at consumer grade laptops when he said he needs it for doing work. If Lenovo, go with a business class laptop, Thinkpad series. A well equipped W530 will be about the same as he paid for that MSI knock-off craptop.

[FireboltEric_MA]

I should say my wife is a graphic designer, so she would also use it from time to time, she has a computer she uses now and it definitely bogs down when she is big projects. My son will use it also for his games, and I need to do rendering & fly by's/walk through's in Autocad 3d & Revit.

I just tried to get as much performance as I could for a *somewhat* fair price, Laptops never last very long with us. 2-4 years at best. This will be my first NON-Dell laptop. I just didn't want to spend the cash this time as I am laid off at the moment.

[TheIglu]

I can't help you then. You want to not spend a lot and get an expensive laptop, then have your kid play games on it (usually bogging it down with installed crap) and let your wife use it for her business. Keep business and play apart in computer world unless you really know what you are doing.

- - - Updated - - -

And as someone mentioned, a desktop would be significantly cheaper and would do all the things you need it to do better than a laptop.

[Doc]

I just built a pretty good desktop for $700. i5 2500k cpu, 2gb video card, AS rock z77 extreme 4 mobo. 500gb HD, 8gb ram, small SSD, DVD drive, case, etc...

Get a desktop if you are not using the computer out of your home for business.

[FireboltEric_MA]

We will be getting a desktop next. I need something portable at the moment.
I will be using it most of the time, but I will also let my family use it as needed.
Just need something to get the job done for now, that won't kill the bank.
I'll probably give it to my youngest once I get back to work & get what I reply want, assuming I don't like it or it don't do what I need it to.
Guess I will take it for a test drive and see what it does performance wise.

[aldend123]

Sounds like your game plan should be to get a mid-grade laptop that focuses more on mobility. Which often means slower performance in trade for lower heat, longer battery life and smaller profile. Then build a monster of a PC for your intensive tasks like your son's gaming and your own high-demand work.

You can probably do both for the $2k budget. $800 on the PC, and $1200 for a laptop.

Your dilemma is not uncommon. Metaphorically is like trying to get the fastest hypersport bike that rides smooth and has goldwing-like comfort/features, AND not be $1million. Oh, and it should be good in the dirt too :p Also, if you're fed up with your own aging gear, you may be surprised what modern midgrade equipment can do. If these devices are 3+ years old, you probably want to put your fist through them.

[tsorfas]

didnt want to start a whole new thread. I want a laptop for the track. watch videos from the gopro and use it with the lap timer. nothing crazy will be done to it.
maybe use it here and there for windows although I havent had any limitations with the Mac yet.
Clayton I hope you come to the rescue. I want to spend the least possible amount.

[rice_rocket]

Wirelessly posted

I saw staples.had a nice core i5 for $430 a month ago when as student asked me... I've seen a core.i5 go for as little as $400 which is where I'd settle in for.

[TheIglu]

http://www.staples.com/Asus-K55A-RHI...product_180804

Done.

[Awesome]

Use your cheap laptop, vpn into a built desktop that's upgradable.

[aldend123]

Use your cheap laptop, vpn into a built desktop that's upgradable.

VPN isn't technically correct. I think you mean remote desktop. I'm not trying to nitpick, I just think some of these guys might not realize that's what you meant. And while that's a good idea, there may be bandwidth concerns when you're mobile in both response time over remote desktop, AND file transfer times. Transferring your GoPro video trackside to your home PC is going to take a while.

[Awesome]

VPN isn't technically correct. I think you mean remote desktop. I'm not trying to nitpick, I just think some of these guys might not realize that's what you meant. And while that's a good idea, there may be bandwidth concerns when you're mobile in both response time over remote desktop, AND file transfer times. Transferring your GoPro video trackside to your home PC is going to take a while.

I was under the impression this was needed for intense work/school processing not transferring gopro videos.

[aldend123]

didnt want to start a whole new thread. I want a laptop for the track. watch videos from the gopro and use it with the lap timer. nothing crazy will be done to it.

I was under the impression this was needed for intense work/school processing not transferring gopro videos.

I think I see what happened. You were responding to the OP, I was responding to Sav's post and I misunderstood.

[Awesome]

I think I see what happened. You were responding to the OP, I was responding to Sav's post and I misunderstood.

I see, things like that will get missed when you're tired of users trying to sell you AT&T services.

[tsorfas]

I see, things like that will get missed when you're tired of users trying to sell you AT&T services.

to you specifically I would happily point out every store in MA before want you in mine. as a matter of fact you can try other carriers, hopefully you are using another carrier.

[tsorfas]

http://www.staples.com/Asus-K55A-RHI...product_180804

Done.

thanks Clay, just ordered it