How much RAM?

[john.uhden]

I finally have to upgrade my 2010 Dell I-7 laptop to Windows 10, but I also want to really be able to run Civil 3D 2020.  With my current 4Gb of RAM, it's next to impossible.  How much RAM should I have?  Of course it may be that my motherboard won't take much more in which case I'll have to replace the machine.  I dunno.  That's why I'm asking.

[rkmcswain · Accepted solution]

Our "typical" CAD PC, for running C3D, has either 16GB or 32GB, depending on when it was ordered.  Are you saying the PC is a 2010 model? If so, you're going to benefit much more from an upgraded MB and Processor than you will with more RAM on that old equipment. Look for a processor in your price range with the highest single thread rating.

[braudpat · Accepted solution]

Hello @john.uhden 

+1 with @rkmcswain 

16 Gb is a minimum ! And maybe 32 Gb for large / huge projects ...

Then the FASTEST possible Core i3/i5/i7/i9 with 4 Cores (or 6 Cores today) !?

THE HEALTH (Stay Safe, Stay Home, Stay Live), Regards, Patrice (The Retired Old French EE Froggy)

[ronjonp · Accepted solution]

I would not invest anymore money in a 10 year old laptop. If you have the resources buy a new laptop 🙂

[john.uhden]

@rkmcswain 

@braudpat 

@ronjonp 

All you guys a great for contributing your advice.  Many thanks!

Now it's a matter of budget, which is diminutive.  There's the $500 variety and the $1,300 variety from Dell. the latter being all this crap below from some apparently Scottish fellow.  I have a feeling it would be better to spend the $500 on a replacement than tune up my current Model T, but that I should better spend the $1,300 to be certain that C3D can run.  Hmmm, maybe I can buy it on time.  That would be only like $120/month, right?  I mean I can always push my dying car to work; it's only 10 miles one way.

Please cast your vote right here, right now.  I ain't taken no provisional ballots with dangling chads (whatever they were).  Vote early and vote often!

Agent (Mohd_Nayeem): "We can go with the New Dell G5 15 gaming laptop that comes with : 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-10750H (12MB Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 6 cores) Windows 10 Home, 64-bit, English NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6 15.6 inch FHD(1920x1080) 300nits WVA Anti"
&nbsp	-Glare LED Backlit Display(non-touch), 144Hz refresh rate<br>16GB DDR4-2933MHz, 2x8G<br>512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive<br>Killer™ Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2x2) 802.11ax Wireless and Bluetooth 5.1<br>4-Cell Battery, 68 Whr (Integrated)
11/02/2020 10:56:32AM	Agent (Mohd_Nayeem): "$1,299.99 $1,389.99 Est. Value You Save $90.00 (7%) Free Standard Delivery"
11/02/2020 10:56:35AM	Agent (Mohd_Nayeem): "Before taxes"
11/02/2020 11:00:50AM	Agent (Mohd_Nayeem): "It comes with a numeric keypad on the right and has a dedicated graphic card that will help you to run CAD applications"

[Kent1Cooper · Accepted solution]

[Not a Customization question.  Should this be in the regular AutoCAD Forum?  Maybe in Installation (& Licensing, but that side wouldn't be relevant)?]

[john.uhden]

You are probably right, as usual. But I like to ask questions of the smart
people I know.

[Sea-Haven]

I have laptop, I7 8750, 16GB ram, Nvidia GTX 1050, 128 ssd & 1Tb disk the 128ssd holds system files programs Autocad etc and I nearly ran out the other day of room cleaned up etc put stuff on D drive which has projects but is like 30Gb total,  the reason to mention this is a 512 SSD should be ok for some time.

Oh yeah runs CIV3d ok. Opened cloud projects etc like 200mb las files.

[hak_vz]

@john.uhden  It is definitively true that your 2010 laptop is not suitable for further upgrades.

I would suggest you something a bit different. Instead of buying new "gaming laptop" that has some features suitable for CAD users, I would go for a mobile workstation models (if you really need a laptop) . They are expensive but there is a catch, why not try REFURBISHED MODELS sold directly from producers with extended guaranty.

Here are Dell precision models   There are also HP and Lenovo models

[pbejse]

Just finish setting this up

Fundraising for the people and causes you care about.

It's the least we can do for you @john.uhden 

[braudpat]

Hello @john.uhden 

You are on the Left or on the Right ?

THE HEALTH, Regards, Patrice

[john.uhden]

What are you talking about? It's not like I'm homeless and starving. In
fact I'm overweight and have a beautiful house and property.

[john.uhden]

A "mobile workstation" sounds like a drafting table on a trailer, but they
look pretty good. Thanks for the advice!

[ronjonp]

---

@hak_vz wrote:

@john.uhden  It is definitively true that your 2010 laptop is not suitable for further upgrades.

I would suggest you something a bit different. Instead of buying new "gaming laptop" that has some features suitable for CAD users, I would go for a mobile workstation models (if you really need a laptop) . They are expensive but there is a catch, why not try REFURBISHED MODELS sold directly from producers with extended guaranty.

Here are Dell precision models   There are also HP and Lenovo models

---

I use to buy Dell Precision work stations until I started building my own computers (desktops). The Dell's are definitely well built and last a long time but I've gotten much better bang for my buck as well as performance with overclocked I7's and speedy NVME drives. Disclaimer ( I only work in 2D ). 🍻

[hak_vz]

---

@john.uhden wrote:
A "mobile workstation" sounds like a drafting table on a trailer, but they
look pretty good. Thanks for the advice!

---

Yes it is.

I've recently changed my old computer, because it was final time to get rid off Windows XP.

Since money is always a problem, option was to buy new computer with average specs, or three-four years old

one with top performance for that period, factory refurbished and affordable  price.

So at the end  I manage to get strong system (HP Z series fact refurbished) with Quadro graphics and top notch monitor (EIZO) for half the money I was willing to spend. I only added fast NVME SSD as primary boot disk and software running platform.

[hak_vz]

@ronjonp 

I use to buy Dell Precision work stations until I started building my own computers (desktops). The Dell's are definitely well built and last a long time but I've gotten much better bang for my buck as well as performance with overclocked I7's and speedy NVME drives. Disclaimer ( I only work in 2D ). 🍻

---

My last computer is my first "brand name". Before that I would always build up my systems.

[ronjonp]

---

@hak_vz wrote:

@ronjonp 

I use to buy Dell Precision work stations until I started building my own computers (desktops). The Dell's are definitely well built and last a long time but I've gotten much better bang for my buck as well as performance with overclocked I7's and speedy NVME drives. Disclaimer ( I only work in 2D ). 🍻

---

My last computer is my first "brand name". Before that I would always build up my systems.

---

So what is your opinion on the performance of your first brand name computer vs the built ones?

[hak_vz]

---

---

So what is your opinion on the performance of your first brand name computer vs the built ones?

---

I'm very satisfied with its performance. If I opted for built one it would probably be even better since all

components would be as I like. Current refurbished HP Z station has all the components I need, but as you  stated in

previous post, there are no options for overclocking (actually there are some but not with a lot of gain).

When I have written down  the specs I would want to have it was way to expensive for my current budget, so I am satisfied with what I have managed to buy.

[john.uhden]

This thread has been idle for a while while I've been pursuing options.

It may just be that my local computer hardware mechanic might find/refurbish a used laptop that meets most of your (plural) specs at an affordable price.

Working again has certainly changed my financial condition.  I'm even looking forward to be able to rent an inexpensive waterfront camp on Great Pond in Maine in 2021.  Except for last year, we've been going there once a year since 1994.  Now my eldest daughter has the 17' boat to bring up (if I can convince her to come and play with us).  Then again, she is only about an hour away across the river from Wiscasset (where Red's Eats is), so we could stop by on our way and take the boat with us <nyuh nyuh nyuh>.

You guys are great!!

[john.uhden]

Almost there.

Thanks to all your advice and suggestions, I had my computer mechanic find me a $2000 Lenova 17" laptop (512Gb, 16 Gb, I-7) for only $800, all diagnosed with negative results for COVID (Caught On Video Infecting Drive).

I'll pick it up tomorrow afternoon.