Graphics Card

[NevHallam]

I'm about to purchase a new laptop and want to know if the graphics card was suitable for running Autocad LT 2018

NVIDIA GeForce 940MX 2GB GDRR5

Please could you let me know any thought on this.

Thanks

[pendean]

Most video cards work well, but if you want a guarantee of sorts, this is the place to find the list http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/syscert?siteID=123112&id=18844534&results=1&stype=graphic&produ...

[NevHallam]

That's not a big list, and it definitely doesn't list any of Lenovo's currently used graphic cards in their laptops.

I had issues with my NVIDIA GeForce so it looks like Lenovo isn't a good option with Autocad.

[pendean]

My personal 'upgraded' suggestions for 90% of users out there (you can always add more if you feel you can justify it):
Laptop: i7-6820HQ, 16GB (minimum), 512GB SSD (minimum), Quadro M2000M or FirePro W5170M (minimum)

[NevHallam]

I was under the impression its very difficult to have your gx card upgraded in a lenovo laptop?

[pendean]

Not sure what you mean, I did not mention anything about Lenovo, you did.
I'm only providing you with general guidelines for your search for a new laptop, no brand loyalty here.

[NevHallam]

The actual laptop we were thinking of was:

http://www3.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/thinkpad/t-series/Thinkpad-T470p/p/20J6CTO1WWENGB2/customize?

This has the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX 2GB GDRR5 16gb ram 

Intel Core i7-7700HQ Processor (6MB Cache, up to 3.80GHz)

1 TB Solid State Drive OPAL2.0 PCIe-NVMe

You didn't state the laptop brand, I did. 

This graphics card isn't listed on the Autodesk website, I wasn't sure if it was suitable.

[pendean]

You stated:
>>>...I had issues with my NVIDIA GeForce...<<<
Yet you keep going back to it. I wonder why. I tend to stay away from items that give me trouble.

FWIW No one around here is going to approve a brand or make/model of a laptop for you: we can provide you with guidelines, but you get to make the ultimate decision on your own.

Good luck.

[NevHallam]

Good question, however I wasn't sure if it was the graphic card that was causing the issue or Autocad, the technical support never got to the bottom of it, we use this laptop as its very good for everything else we use, hence the forum post. Was hoping maybe someone was using one.

[pendean]

What is the issue exactly?

[NevHallam]

Well, whilst working on some drawings when panning and zooming in and out it staggered and was jerky, I turned off the hardware acceleration which sometimes fixes the issue but it doesn't appear smooth with this off, it doesn't do it on all drawings just some.

I went into this with Autodesk help and they had me list the build spec and my GX Card spec, they had me install an update or 2, drawings and jobs were completed and moved forwards, not had many issues since however it still happens on occasion, id had no definite answer on what was the cause.

My boss has requested a new laptop, off the cuff suggested the Lenovo, wanted to rule out the gx card issue before spending £1700 on a new machine.

I'm pretty sure £2700 will fix this issue, however i don't think he wants to spend that, and he likes Lenovo laptops.

[pendean]

As a general rule, if a problem doesn't Happen ALL THE TIME in all files it's not Likely to be a system issue, but rather a file issue or a particular conflict with another running application at that moment only.

So can you open one of these problem files now and experience the problem as you state it?

[john.vellek]

Hi @NevHallam,

Dean provided the certified/recommended hardware page for you.  You will notice that the GeForce cards are not listed.  This does not mean that this card won't work for you however.

I found this review of the card to help you understand its capabilities. It is a bit older card but might be adequate for your use.  If you have the option of testing it, you might install it and run AutoCAD LT 2018 to see if there are any issues such as enabling hardware acceleration.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[NevHallam]

Thanks for the reply, I've had some good advise from another post which was most helpful.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/recommended-graphic-card-for-autocad-2017/m-p/7341741#M...

[steven-g · Accepted solution]

Just to add in my tuppence worth, and this is no endorsement for anything, but just a personal note, I have a Lenovo yoga 700 and have not had any issues running Autocad LT for the last year (well maybe a couple of freezes), but on many occasions I have found it better at handling some things than my professional workstation at work. I have some pretty hefty Excel programs that I run and leave my workstation standing there eating dust. As I say purely a personal opinion, whatever you end up getting, some people will love it and others will hate it.