Hi, everyone,
Although I've historically been a mac guy, I need a Windows laptop for Solidworks. I realize that laptops are not ideal for this kind of work, but I need the portability to be able to take my work with me and don't currently have the money or the space for a desktop.
I'm currently looking at different editions of some of the older HP Pavilion DV7 laptops. The 17" screen size is appealing, as is the full size keyboard. I'm not set on the numpad, but the qwerty layout needs to be full size.
I'd like to stay around $350. I get that this isn't a lot to work with, but that's where I am. I know that, with at least 6GB of RAM, the i5 3210M would probably work fine with solidworks, as will the more common AMD Phenom II M880G.. What I haven't found much on is the graphics requirements for solidworks.
I must admit, I don't really know the difference between the types of power generated from the CPU versus the power generated from a graphics card or integrated graphics.
So, for my question...between the i5 3210M integrated graphics and the ATI Radeon 4250 graphics, which will work better? Overall, between the HP Pavilion DV7-4060us and the HP Pavilion DV7-7243nr, which would be a better design laptop?
If there are better (17" preferred, but I know that narrows my options a lot, so whatever you got) laptops in that 300-350 price range (used is obviously fine), what favorites do you guys have?
Thanks for all your help!
--Calvin
Although I've historically been a mac guy, I need a Windows laptop for Solidworks. I realize that laptops are not ideal for this kind of work, but I need the portability to be able to take my work with me and don't currently have the money or the space for a desktop.
I'm currently looking at different editions of some of the older HP Pavilion DV7 laptops. The 17" screen size is appealing, as is the full size keyboard. I'm not set on the numpad, but the qwerty layout needs to be full size.
I'd like to stay around $350. I get that this isn't a lot to work with, but that's where I am. I know that, with at least 6GB of RAM, the i5 3210M would probably work fine with solidworks, as will the more common AMD Phenom II M880G.. What I haven't found much on is the graphics requirements for solidworks.
I must admit, I don't really know the difference between the types of power generated from the CPU versus the power generated from a graphics card or integrated graphics.
So, for my question...between the i5 3210M integrated graphics and the ATI Radeon 4250 graphics, which will work better? Overall, between the HP Pavilion DV7-4060us and the HP Pavilion DV7-7243nr, which would be a better design laptop?
If there are better (17" preferred, but I know that narrows my options a lot, so whatever you got) laptops in that 300-350 price range (used is obviously fine), what favorites do you guys have?
Thanks for all your help!
--Calvin