Dell Laptops - Which to Buy

whooper · 05-04-2008, 03:03 PM

I am starting my own one-man design company and need a laptop that can handle AutoCAD. I have been happy with Dell in the past and see that Dell Business has some good deals going on right now.

Has anyone had any experience with the Vostro-series laptops? Is the Latitude-series the better way to go? Also, what video card and how much SDRAM would I need for AutoCAD to run smoothly? Your comments and guidance is much appreciated.

B · 05-04-2008, 07:51 PM

look at Sagers you will save a boat load of money and bloat wear

I have this one here custom gaming laptops - Welcome to Sager Notebooks at the time it was the 2070 minus the finger print reader. 2.2ght, 1gig ram 80 gig hdrive @7200 blue tooth and N wireless. It runs mastercam and itunes with no effort at all, photo editing also puts no strain to the system. Big bonus a 3year warrany for the unbloated price of 139. You choose how you want this computer configured and loaded and it is done as you wish.

Harbinger[TG] · 05-04-2008, 07:53 PM

tigerdirect has deals all the time. You want to make sure it has full video card and not shared.

onecaribou · 05-04-2008, 10:42 PM

I too recommend Sager but I have had some good experiences with Dell Latitude notebooks in the past. They are Dells laptop business line and are much higher quality than the consumer models.

Be sure invest in an upgraded video card and add as much ram as much as possible (3-4 GB).

You may also want to pick up Windows XP pre-installed (only an option at Dell on the Latitudes) since Vista is pretty much a dud and very resource intensive.

Harbinger[TG] · 05-04-2008, 10:52 PM

once you kill the useless crap in vista its fine. I always hated XP.

Rayodder · 05-04-2008, 11:11 PM

For AutoCAD? get a independent video card with it's own memory, than max out the RAM.

Kindred · 05-05-2008, 08:21 AM

Most of this already stated but:

1) For autocad you'll need to shell out some more bucks and get a seperate video card w/ it's own memory. Also the SXGA display...but that's usually standard w/ the higher end video cards.

2) We moved away from dell for our laptops a while back, but most of my group still has them. Overall they're good machines, although the physical construction just doesn't feel as solid as some other mfgs.(like IBM) My only gripe about my dell is that the screen hinges seem to wear in a little quickly. (not that the screen flops over, but it is just a little "squishy")

3)
If I remember correctly, Vostro is dell's newer line of laptops, I think they're supposed to be the first step for Dell getting away from seperate home/business lines. Essentially they're based on the Latitude line. (Dells corporate offering)

Azzy · 05-05-2008, 09:22 AM

Video card? Yeah, if you are playing games... AutoCAD is memory and CPU dempendant, unless you get a pro card (like a quatro) that will run with teh settign isn autocad. Other than that, use any old laptop. I run AutoCAD for work on my T64 1.8 witha gig of ram. If you are doing 3d, it might be a tad slower in the regen and renders, but not much.

Save the money and buy an acer or something other than a dell.. your gonna need it for the $6K price tag of ACAD.

05-04-2008, 03:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
whooper MCB Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Georgia, North of Atlanta Posts: 158	Dell Laptops - Which to Buy I am starting my own one-man design company and need a laptop that can handle AutoCAD. I have been happy with Dell in the past and see that Dell Business has some good deals going on right now. Has anyone had any experience with the Vostro-series laptops? Is the Latitude-series the better way to go? Also, what video card and how much SDRAM would I need for AutoCAD to run smoothly? Your comments and guidance is much appreciated. __________________ Get REAL: MCB Feedback MSEP Feedback

05-04-2008, 07:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
B Retro grouch Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lynn, Ma Posts: 2,777	look at Sagers you will save a boat load of money and bloat wear I have this one here custom gaming laptops - Welcome to Sager Notebooks at the time it was the 2070 minus the finger print reader. 2.2ght, 1gig ram 80 gig hdrive @7200 blue tooth and N wireless. It runs mastercam and itunes with no effort at all, photo editing also puts no strain to the system. Big bonus a 3year warrany for the unbloated price of 139. You choose how you want this computer configured and loaded and it is done as you wish. __________________ Paintball is a game of honor, play it that way! Nelson Owners Group RIP Grifyn

05-04-2008, 11:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rayodder Seasoned Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Richmond, British Columbia Posts: 875	For AutoCAD? get a independent video card with it's own memory, than max out the RAM. __________________ $$$ trumps dibs every single time!!! MCB Feedback

05-05-2008, 08:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
Kindred Mod & Underwear Model Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Neshanic Station, NJ Posts: 1,856	Most of this already stated but: 1) For autocad you'll need to shell out some more bucks and get a seperate video card w/ it's own memory. Also the SXGA display...but that's usually standard w/ the higher end video cards. 2) We moved away from dell for our laptops a while back, but most of my group still has them. Overall they're good machines, although the physical construction just doesn't feel as solid as some other mfgs.(like IBM) My only gripe about my dell is that the screen hinges seem to wear in a little quickly. (not that the screen flops over, but it is just a little "squishy") 3) If I remember correctly, Vostro is dell's newer line of laptops, I think they're supposed to be the first step for Dell getting away from seperate home/business lines. Essentially they're based on the Latitude line. (Dells corporate offering) __________________ Strive for that moment when you're only a slice of pizza and a hooker away from paradise. -------------------- Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky tacky

05-05-2008, 09:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
Azzy Mod-O-Rator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Finleyville, PA Posts: 6,338	Video card? Yeah, if you are playing games... AutoCAD is memory and CPU dempendant, unless you get a pro card (like a quatro) that will run with teh settign isn autocad. Other than that, use any old laptop. I run AutoCAD for work on my T64 1.8 witha gig of ram. If you are doing 3d, it might be a tad slower in the regen and renders, but not much. Save the money and buy an acer or something other than a dell.. your gonna need it for the $6K price tag of ACAD. __________________ Bryan "Azzy" Spiegel webmaster - Riverside Renegade Paintball / C.C. S.V.S. Plankowner - LPPC#6 Check out VintageRex.com, the premiere paintball museum "A Patriot and free-thinker with respect to social standards in 1760, is today's traitor and dangerous mind." - incynr8

05-04-2008, 10:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
onecaribou MCB Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Columbia,SC Posts: 187	I too recommend Sager but I have had some good experiences with Dell Latitude notebooks in the past. They are Dells laptop business line and are much higher quality than the consumer models. Be sure invest in an upgraded video card and add as much ram as much as possible (3-4 GB). You may also want to pick up Windows XP pre-installed (only an option at Dell on the Latitudes) since Vista is pretty much a dud and very resource intensive.