Laptop to suit CAD

mad m · 12-09-2021 04:57PM #1

Mature student. I’ll be doing some CAD work plus writing up assignments etc. I’ll be doing 2 x evenings a week online for the engineering course I’m doing plus I’ll need it when I do labs at the college. All recommendations are appreciated.

mad m · 22-09-2021 07:20AM

I'm leaning towards a Mac book pro 13" as with a discount I have plus my work will give me money towards it also. Chip is M1 with 512GB HD and 8gig unified memory whatever that means (probably soldered). I forgot to mention Ill be doing some CFD (computer fluid dynamics modelling). Just a bit apprehensive to go to Mac OS as I've always been with windows.

I see the Acer 3 swift has been mentioned a good bit. I looked on Acer website and there is a bundle of them.

Acer Swift 3X Ultra-thin Laptop | SF314-510G | Blue | NX.A0YEK.006

I can get 15% off the above

22-09-2021 03:32PM

This acer swift x with the amd 5800u and rtx 3050ti is seriously powerful and portable

this model is not on the acer website (inferior older model there for 1300 pre discount)

This one would come in at 1150 landed to Ireland.

only the plug end would be different. you could just swap the mickey mouse connector cable that goes to power brick with the plug with one you have already or cheap buy on amazon etc

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-SFX14-41G-R1S6-Creator-LPDDR4X-Keyboard/dp/B093TK1PXF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=acer+swift+x&qid=1632320688&sr=8-1

mad m · 22-09-2021 05:00PM

@glasso

what about warranty if anything were to go tits up.

22-09-2021 05:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117924958#Comment_117924958

amazon warranty as normal

get onto their webchat in advance and ask them what's covered and / or when you'd have to rely on Acer's warranty.

same item listed for £1600 (1862 euro) on uk site!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-SFX14-41G-R1S6-Creator-LPDDR4X-Keyboard/dp/B093TK1PXF/ref=sr_1_3?crid=YD3FY1OB8Q2A&dchild=1&keywords=acer+swift+x+3050ti&qid=1632328056&sprefix=acer+x+30%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-3

hoganj · 22-09-2021 05:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117922320#Comment_117922320

Don't want to put a downer on things but doing intense college work and CAD on a 13" screen will be tough on your eyes. Eye strain could be an issue. I would have at least a 15" screen, 16GB RAM and 256GB minimum. You can always cart around an external drive if you need more space.

Maybe using a cheaper desktop machine at home and using lab computers in college would work using usb keys/portable drives for storage.

mad m · 22-09-2021 05:49PM

Yeah, the mince pies need glasses these days just for reading😀. Thanks for the recommendations Glasso. @hoganj have you any recommendations especially the 15” screens.

mad m · 22-09-2021 05:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117925126#Comment_117925126

I wonder why it’s not on the Acer Ireland site.

shanec1928 · 22-09-2021 05:57PM

Have you actually looked up the minimum specs for the likes of autocad etc? That will give you a starting point. What I will say speaking from past experience in a previous job. We set couple of people up on high spec laptops for autocad and within 6 months they had all moved to desktops due to the laptops not being up for the task. You’ll also want an external display or you’ll be forever scrolling or zooming around.

22-09-2021 06:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117925242#Comment_117925242

Don't know - if it's not there, it's not there.

Sometimes in smaller and less competitive markets they don't offer the full range, especially if supply is short.

That laptop cpu and gpu exceeds the recommended requirements of Autocad (3050ti has bandwidth capability of 190 GB/s)

https://www.mysolidbox.com/autocad-hardware-requirements/

mad m · 22-09-2021 06:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117925270#Comment_117925270

@shanec1928

Thanks for that I appreciate the feedback. I do indeed know where you are coming from with regards to screen size. I’ve done some projects on my old Lappy using CAD and it can be tiresome. It’s just I won’t be doing it all the time possibly for one or two projects. I’ll certainly now look at getting a monitor that’s more suited from work and use it at home with possibly the laptop linked to it.

22-09-2021 06:51PM

A reasonable 24 or even 27 inch monitor can be had for less than €150 so not a massive outlay really

hoganj · 22-09-2021 08:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117925237#Comment_117925237

Unfortunately i've only got a dell 13" at home here, so can't recommend a particular make/model. Decent laptop but too small for daily use. It's hooked up to 2x24" screens for my job.

In the past i've had 2 Lenovo Thinkpad's and they were excellent, especially for their connectivity and long term maintainability. They are business laptops so you pay a bit more for that luxury.

22-09-2021 08:40PM

Here is a decent 15 inch option

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-G513IE-7-4700H-NVIDIA-GeForce-RTX-3050Ti-Windows/dp/B09B478WV4/ref%3Dsr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=asus%2Bg15&qid=1632339304&sr=8-2&th=1

metal build also

3050ti will run at a higher power wattage than in the Acer so will be more powerful

4700h is a powerful cpu

but not as portable as the Acer and the Acer has a better screen

22-09-2021 09:59PM

this has more powerful components and a better screen - 5600h and the RTX 3060

does not look too "gamery" with the keyboard led turned off at all

very good value at £870

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08WPXKMGJ/ref%3Dtwister_B08TJXJDBL?th=1

the chassis is plastic but well built

a good laptop

available to order but out of stock currently

Laptop to suit CAD

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