# WXGA HD LED (1366 x 768)
- good
# CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 (2,2 GHz, 800 MHz, 2 MB)
- a little under powered, but at least its dual core. For CAD in general the higher the speed the better, it will run on a multi core system but it is not setup to take advantage of multiple cores. Basicly one core will run Civil the other will be used on anything that happens to be running at the same time.
# HDD: 500 GB, 5400 RPM, SATA
- our CAD machines always run 7200rpm harddrives but I assume this is a
# RAM: 2 x 2 GB DDR3-1066
- This is good, but does it have the option to upgrade later. You should
also look into setting the
3gb switch here (
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=9729516&linkID=9240697)
# ODD: DVD Super Multi
- good
# VGA: NVIDIA GeForce GT310M 512 MB VGA (D-SUB),
- not on the list but at least its a 512mb dedicated card
Not sure about windows 7 (for 2009), but all reviews say windows 7 generally runs better overall. If you have the option to upgrade the RAM later I would go for the 64 bit version; Civil 3D 2009 only runs in 32 compatibility mode but its still better to be in 64 bit mode to alocate any extra RAM to windows.
On a side note are you able to get a student version of Civil 3D 2011, they made alot of internal changes to this release; the resellers at the 2011 kickoff stated it runs about 40% faster. Operates in 64bit mode Windows 7, and accepts a 2.0Ghz dual core.
Edited by: msmith@richardsonfoster.ca on May 11, 2010 9:18 PM