Thoughts on a new laptop

[Anonymous]

I'm in the market for a new laptop that'll, I hope, last for at least 3 yrs as far as capabilities of Inventor.

Assemblies avg about 100-200 parts, need for high end animations as well (this is what's killing my current system).

Anyways, I found this system and wanted your take on it:

Alienware M14x R2

• Processor: Intel Core 3rd Generation i7-3740QM Processor (6MB Cache, up to 3.7GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• 1 TB SATA II Hard Drive (5400RPM)
• 12GB, DDR3, 1600MHz
• 14.0 inch HD  (900p/1600x900) with WLED backlight
• 8X DVD +/- RW Drive
• 2 GB DDR5 NVIDIA GeForceGT 650M using NVIDIA Optimus technology

Price of $1600 as it's a refurbish and I'd also have to replace Windows 7 Home with Pro for Business which will add about $300.

I'm also looking at new M4700 or M6700 laptops but those are running around $3000+ and well....in this economy.....

Lastly, I'm not much of a fan of Dell, I'm more of a Gateway person as they've always done me well over the years and still do.

Anyways, your thoughts on this pre-holiday Friday.

[blair]

I have a Alienware (Dell) Mx17 iCore7 with Nvidia GTX660m, 12Gb of memory with dual hybrid drives in RAID0. A solid machine plus it has great speakers. Only use it when I am on the road. It's pretty much a desktop for performance.

The 14 might be a bit small for screen size. 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Blair!

My current Gateway laptop is a 15.6" and I usually connect a second, wide screen monitor for the CAD window.

I've become a bit spoiled working on Inventor on a 42" widescreen...

I just never heard of anyone doing CAD on an Alienware system, even Dell recommends their Precision systems over the Alien for CAD so I was a bit concerned.

[blair]

Used to have Precession laptops but with the move to D3D by ADSK, any good gaming laptop will work. JD has a Mx18 that he uses as well.

I know for the screens, I have a HPZR30w moniter at work, a 30" with 2560 x 1600 res.

[Ryan.Martinez]

Inventor uses direct3d rather than open gl like most other cad platforms. That is probably why dell recommends one of their workstations with a quadro card. I would choose the alienware if I was you if you only use inventor.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, for some odd reason I've always wanted an Alien.

Must be the Dr. Sheldon Cooper in me....

[Anonymous]

I found this one also:

 Precision M6700

    Processor: Intel Core 3rd Generation i7-3940XM Processor (Extreme 3.0GHz, 8M cache, Upgradable to Intel vPro technology)
    Windows 7 Ultimate
    1 TB SATA II Hard Drive (5400RPM)
    512GB 2.5 inch (SATA3) Mobility Solid State Drive
    32.0GB, DDR3-1600MHz SDRAM, 4 DIMMS
    17.3 Inch UltraSharp FHD (1920x1080) PremierColor IPS RGB Anti-Glare, Premium Panel Guarantee
    2x Blu-Ray Burner
    NVIDIA Quadro K5000M with 4GB GDDR5
    Dell Outlet Precision Mobile Workstation M6700 Laptop


    Price: $4,429.00

If I price out the very same system as new, it's $400 cheaper if I drop the 512GB 2.5 inch (SATA3) Mobility Solid State Drive. I'm sure I can do without the 2nd drive but is it worth the extra $400 and being a refurb?

[Ryan.Martinez]

I am always hesitant to buy anything that has been refurbed, but that is just me. IMO the extra 400$ is worth it to get a new one. I would also keep the SSD over the Mechanical drive anyday.

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:
...

Anyways, I found this system and wanted your take on it:

Alienware M14x R2

• ..

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I've been running an Alienware M18 for a little over a year.  I like it.  I don't think I could stand the torture of trying to do CAD on a 14" screen.  I do a lot of work at home, it is hard enough working on the 18.4.  Some things I just hold off on doing till I can get into the office and work on dual screens.