Best Notebook Configuration for AutoCad?

I am interested in replacing a desktop (Celeron) and a notebook
(Thinkpad T21) with a new notebook computer for my daughter who uses
AutoCad. I would like to know what size hard drive and how much memory
would make AutoCad (2006 or later) run well.

Alternatively, I'd be interested to know if perhaps it's not a good
idea to run AutoCad on a notebook. If this should be the case I'd like
to know what desktop configuration would be best for AutoCad.

Thank you.

mailto:

 

I ran my business for the first 2 yrs on a laptop which was a pentium 2
333mhz, 96megs of RAM, 6 gig HDD with a 13.3" screen and a 16meg onboard
graphics card (not even 3d accelerated). I ran autocad r14 and although it
wasnt great with my 3d work, I had no problems at all running, at times,
some quite big 2d drawings.

Any new laptop will easily run autocad (2d & 3d), your best bet is askin her
what else she wants to use it for, if its gaming you know to get 1 with a
descent graphics card etc.. Otherwise just set yourself a budget and get the
most for your money, can't go wrong .. Ohh and a big screen never hurts

 

Thanks, Remo. Somehow I thought AutoCad required lots and lots of
memory, at least 1GB, and a good fast CPU.

 

vanilla autocad doesn't absolutely HAVE to have high end equipment, BUT
3d modeling with autocad, and various vertical market variations do want
the extra power. Also just because it is possible to work with a minimal
machine doesn't mean it is desirable. Stretch the budget as far as is
practical and relax since whatever you buy will work, but a cheaper
system will work slower.

 

Given the choice would you opt for a 17 inch wide screen notebook or a
desktop with a 19 inch wide screen? Or are wide screens not a good
choice for AutoCad?

Thanks for all your help.

 

No problem with widescreens. Would choose desktop since get more power
for the money.

 

If you plan to run newer versions of AutoCAD, such as 2007, you really need
to consider the video card and speed of the machine (consider that you will
have the laptop for at least 3 years). AutoCAD is becoming serious
bloatware. To give them credit, it won't hog memory with smaller files,
however, it does hoard memory as you edit the file and never gives it back
unless you close out of AutoCAD and reopen. 2007 now requires high
performance video cards if you get into the 3D walkthroughs.
-S

 

Many thanks for all who've pitched in and helped me out on this
question.
I've decided to go with a desktop and am now trying to get a grip on
how it should be configured, i.e. CPU, amount of memory, graphics card,
etc. Don't want to spend more than I have to, but don't want to spend
significant dollars and fall short on performance for my little girl.
Am also wondering if a regular or widescreen 19" LCD monitor would be
best. Her line is interior design/decorating. While the wide screen are
wider (surprise!), they are not as high as the regular 19" screen. So,
for her application, which is better, wider or higher?

Thanks again.

 

The usual answer... "It depends."

I work in a cabinet shop where many of our drawings are sections of tall
cabinets or furniture pieces. Many floor plans are more-or-less square or
vertically oriented as well. I use my monitor (Dell 19") rotated to
portrait which gives me a square drawing area after all the tool and menu
bars (which really means I'm equally limited for room in both directions.),
because landscape severely handicaps vertically oriented drawings, and as
you've noted, widescreens make that worse.
Of course for only another $700 or so Dell makes a beautiful 24" widescreen
that is slightly tallerr than my rotated 19". ;-)

Joe