New Laptop Specs - Good Enough?

[ruthmassias]

Hi All,

I need a new laptop, only for occasional use when I am away as I have my desktop for normal use. I may be rendering on it but only rarely.

I need to use sketchup, vray, 3dsmax and autocad 2011 on it. I am clueless with computers so would the following spec be ok:

 

DELL VOSTRO 3560

 

Core i7 - 3632 (2.2 Ghz) 1ZR

4GB memory

500 GB hard drive

Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD 7560M 1GB discreet

monitor 15.6" Full High Definition (1080p) LED

Windows 8 operating system

 

(£750 - approx $1100)

 

thanks!!

[Dimitris Tolios]

The RAM @ 4GB is a bit low for anything but Sketchup (SU is still 32bit so it cannot use more than 3GB anyways, the rest will be reserved by the OS).

 

The discreet GPU is ok for light use (I think you won't really get anything better before you go to expensive Quadro/FireGL mobile cards).

 

I have read mediocre reviews on Dell Vostro line.

 

If you need 1080p 15" class laptops, take a look into the IBM/Lenovo Y500 line.

 

For around $850 you get faster i7 CPU, decent GT 750M GPU (though I think Radeon's are better for sketchup/openGL, the rest + games should run better on the Geforce), a good WiFi card @ intel, an "ok" 1TB HDD and 8GB Ram which should be enough for a casual user.

 

The slightly more expensive model @ $930 adds a 16GB Caching SSD which should speed up the system response noticeably, and 12GB Ram.

 

Keyboards is backlit in all models, and they say Lenovo laptops in general have a great keyboard feel - maybe the best for PCs atm.

The design is subtle and more elegant than most Dells - but that's personal.

 

Direct ordering from Lenovo.com gives slightly better pricing than through Amazon atm.

I don't know pricing / offer availability in your country.

[notamondayfan]

If you can stretch a bit further you can get something vastly superior such as this for £888 -

 

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_V3-771G_Core_i7_Windows_8_Laptop_NX.M7REK.009/version.asp

 

16gb ram, bigger screen, better graphics, and something like this will last a few years, where as the one you specd will feel and become dated very quickly.

 

Dean

[Dimitris Tolios]

Tho proud owner of an 3 yo Acer 17.3" laptop, I will have to say that bigger is not "better" all the time.

This Acer has the same 1600x900p screen mine has. Vastly better than 768p, but still leaves stuff to be desired.

 

IMHO 1080p 15" are a bit small (toolbar buttons get too hard to aim for in some programs, and I am an "ok+" fps gamer ), but I would get the biggest usable resolution I could any-day (not upscaling Retinas like those on 1600/1800p laptops, I like usable real estate, not AA on my UI, thank you).

 

I have to disagree (tho I have praised Acer in the past) that this is a "good value" machine, at least not in comparison with those Y500 linked above that are offering faster graphics and CPU, along with a better screen and being lighter for similar price.

 

Again, for me size is not a big issue, I prefer working on a 17" 1080/1200p over a