You should have a separate video card. The rest looks good enough to start
learning AutoCAD Architecture. Check with a local shop or Gateway to see if
a separate video card can be installed in your notebook. I would not spend
a lot on a video card for this laptop, but the Intel Graphics Media
Accelerator X3100 is junk. Have a local shop up in the new card if you can
get one. I tried to contact Gateway myself, but they want the laptop's
serial number before I can chat with them.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/148909/upgrading_your_laptops_graphics_card.html
I did not see what operating system you have, but I imagine your laptop is
maxed out on memory so about any operating system will do.
When it comes time earn a living with AutoCAD, give that laptop to someone
else and get one designed for workstation uses like CAD.
Brad
C3D 2010 on Vista Business 64 SP 2
LT 2010 on XP Pro SP 3
<11262096> wrote in message news:6310596@discussion.autodesk.com...
I am a real neophyte when it comes to PC hardware. The minimum requirements
for AutoCAD 2010 appear to be the following:
For 64-bit AutoCAD Architecture 2010
. Microsoft® Windows Vista® (SP1) Enterprise, Business, Ultimate, or Home
Premium edition (compare Windows Vista versions), or Microsoft® Professional
x64 Edition (SP2 or later)
. AMD Athlon 64 with SSE2 technology, or AMD Opteron® with SSE2 technology,
or Intel Xeon® with Intel EM64T support & SSE2 technology, or Intel Pentium
4 processor with Intel EM64T support and SSE2 technology
. 4 GB RAM
. 2.9 GB free disk space for full install
. 1,280 x 1,024 true color
. 128 MB graphics card
. 256 MB or greater, Direct3D®-capable-workstation-class 3D graphics card
recommended (see currently supported graphic hardware)
. DVD drive
. Internet Explorer 7.0 or later
. Network interface card
. WiFi enabled
. 15 in. screen
My existing laptop has the following:
T-6836 Notebook Specifications
Part Number: 1015592RGateway T-6836 Notebook
Feature Description
Processor Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology
Intel® CoreT 2 Duo processor T5750
2 MB L2 Cache | 2.0 GHz | 667 MHz FSB
Chipset Intel® GM965 chipset
Display panel 14.1-inch UltrabrightT WXGA TFT display (1280 × 800)
Memory 4096 MB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (2 × 2048)
Operates at 667 MHz
Total slots: 2 DDR2 slots | Available slots: 0 DDR2 slots
Video controller Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Up to 384 MB of Dynamic Video Memory
Hard drive 250 GB 5400 RPM SATA hard drive
Optical drive 8X Multi-Format Dual Layer DVDRW with DVD-RAM and LabelFlashT
Write maximum: 8X DVD +/-R, 6X DVD-RW, 8X DVD+RW, 2X DVD-R DL, 2.4X DVD+R
DL, 5X DVD-RAM, 24X CD-R and 16X CD-RW discs
Read maximum: 8X DVD-R/RW/ROM, 4X DVD+/-R DL, 5X DVD-RAM, 24X CD-R/RW/ROM
discs
Network 10/100 Ethernet LAN
802.11g Wireless LAN Interfaces .
Three - USB 2.0 ports
. One - VGA port
. RJ-11 port
. RJ-45 port
Expansion slot Expresscard® Type 54
I'm not getting any advise from my schools IT group or Gateway. Can anyone
help me determine if my existing laptop is adequate or am I left to purchase
another? Most likely an HP configured laptop....Any advise on an HP?