Need help regarding Laptop buy

Hi,

hope you can help...
I need a laptop for Cad work and 3dMax....

I have to decide between these two:

1. HP nw8440 - Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.00GHz, ATI Mobility FireGL
V5200 256MB, 15.4" WSXGA+ TFT 1680 x 1050, 1GB DDR2, 80GB
SATA, battery 6h
Price: 1884$ 3 year guarantee

2. ASUS F3SV - Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.00GHz, nVIDIA GeForce Go
8600GS 128MB, 15.4" WXGA TFT 1280 x 800, ColorShine, 1x 1024MB DDR2
667MHz, 160GB SATA, battery less then HP....
Price: 1808$ 2 year guarantee

PLEASE HELP

 

All else being equal, go for the higher resolution screen, and make
sure SolidWorks' website in the video card area supports the video
card on the laptop. My 3 year old Dell M60 is 1900 pixels and I use
every pixel worth of screen size for my small parts. The 1.7 ghz
processor is antiquated and I won't upgrade beyond Swks 2006 on it.

Can't recommend brands, since I've used only Dell laptops, but
searching prior posts in this group will get you a lot of posts to
read for good info. Laptops are OK for smaller assemblies, but I
wouldn't want to bet on doing truly large assemblies.

Given that these machines are only 2 ghz, you can figure that you are
already starting off a $4000+ 3D CAD program with a limitation by
buying the low end of laptop. I would seriously consider getting the
faster/fastest laptop CPU, since Swks 2008 is not going to be easy on
processing, and you would expect to use the laptop without slowdowns
for a couple years (into SWks 2009).

Bo

 

I have that at home, nice one. And works with SW, FireGL is supported,
GeForce is not.

 

I have the HP nw8440. IT is a great laptop, no problems. I have 100+
part assemblies and it works fine. I do have 2 gig of ram though.

I dock the laptop at work and used dual monitors, at home I use the
laptop display and have no complaints.

I'd buy it again.

Monry

 

Yes, forgot to say 2GB is a MUST! I like the design, it's thin and
looks like a pc that is made for work, not to play. Really nothing to
complain. I have 8240 at work and that is also ok, but it's getting
old.

 

Thanks a lot guys! You've been of great help. I've just ordered HP
with the additional 1gb RAM...