Surfacebook i5 without graphics card?

[sohnrog]

Hi guys,
I'm about to buy a laptop for work/school.  I mainly plan to use it for MS office, but I would like to be able to do Fusion360 projects as well.  Do I need to get the GPU model or would the onboard i5 graphics be adequate? 

My choices:

surfacebook 128 gb intel core i5 with 8gb ram ($1500)

OR

surfacebook 256 gb intel core i5 with 8gb ram and dGPU ($1900).

I appreciate your advice.

Roger

[PhilProcarioJr]

@sohnrog

You will need the GPU, with that said how well Fusion will run depends on which GPU it has in it. Intel GPU's won't cut it.

[sohnrog]

It looks like they have the NVIdia Geforce dGPU.

[PhilProcarioJr]

@sohnrog

Well it will still depend on which one it has as to how much you can do with Fusion, but it will also depend on what your modeling in Fusion and how complex your designs are.

It should be ok for most stuff, but again it depends on what your doing with it.

[sohnrog]

Thanks for that info.  I'm just curious.  Isn't most of the computing done via the cloud?  How much of fusion is computed at the local computer level?

Roger

[PhilProcarioJr]

@sohnrog

The only computing I know of that is done by the cloud is (cloud renderings and file conversions). Everything else is done by the CPU and the GPU.

Fusion is not like OnShape...

Fusion is actually a local app that uses the cloud for file storage and management and sharing features.

They are working on a version that is a full cloud browser app but it is not out yet.

http://projectleopard.com/

[sohnrog]

Update: I bought the surface book with i7 processor and nvidia GPU. It runs great. The touch screen and pen are really well suited for designing. I like how I can orbit the object just by using a finger on the screen. No delays seen so far!

[sohnrog · Accepted solution]

UPdate:  I have been using the program for about a week now.  I definitely have slow downs and delays.  Oddly, it's not predictable when it will happen.  It seems like the internet connection speed seems to affect things for some strange reason.  The computer is a bit glitchy and I'm not sold on it.  Maybe I should have stayed with mac....

I have 30 days to evaluate this so I"ll give it a chance.

[cekuhnen]

@sohnrog

How important is it for you to have a mobile computer?

While I like the idea of the Surface - I find the small size being a problem.

I have a student who runs a SP 3 and I think he also has Fusion on it. I can take a look at it tomorrow.

The slow downs can be the computer but also Win10.

Maybe try Fusion for some hours in offline mode and see if that changes anything.

Fusion360 because of the 3D display is a bit picky with what you give it to work with GPU wise

but even on my rig I have all extra effects simply turned off.

Did you adjust your settings?

[sohnrog]

How do I adjust my settings? How do I work offline?

Sent from my iPhone.

[cekuhnen]

Settings in preferences: graphic section

Offline icon is upper right corner close to where your name is in one of the menses -there