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Computer question...recomend me baller notebook

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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
Pretty simple. I am a Civil Enngineer, and will be doing some side jobs in addition to my full time job's workload. I need a laptop that can run AutoCad, solid Works, and other modeling software, and run it well.

A large screen is preferable, as is 500+GB. If there is a cheaper laptop that only needs 1 or 2 aftermarket parts to make it a baller laptop for fairly cheap id be interested.

And links to locations for buying would be awesome as well.
Nov 27 2012 11:05PM
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shibby
Posts: 7088 - Karma: -19
macbook space. gogogo!
Nov 27 2012 11:07PM
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Spagett+
Posts: 3499 - Karma: 14,884

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Baller Laptop?

Nov 27 2012 11:11PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
top
Nov 28 2012 12:36AM
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sirskizalot
Posts: 4370 - Karma: 161
Whats your definition of 'fairly cheap'. I mean everyone has a boner for macs but if you're going to be using autocad and such i think you have to run that in a thing like virtualbox or whatever on the mac for it to work so if you dont want that hassle i would steer clear of them. *im not really sure if its a hassle to download and use the virtualbox thing for using autocad though, thats just what ive heard from a couple mac users.
Nov 28 2012 12:55AM
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sirskizalot
Posts: 4370 - Karma: 161
although also autocad runs slow and shity on my dell laptop, but my laptop is cheap anyways.
Nov 28 2012 12:57AM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Lenovo makes some of the best non-mac laptops I think. Especially the heavier business ones that can withstand anything.
Nov 28 2012 1:19AM
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Bread_Fish
Posts: 760 - Karma: 71
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Nov 28 2012 1:36AM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
up
Nov 28 2012 11:29PM
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
if your running Autocad or really any engineering programs, you have to bootcamp a mac, which is fairly easy but its a hassle. just get a dell, ive had solid results in the past
Nov 28 2012 11:32PM
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cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
i like my lenovo, was reasonably priced
Nov 28 2012 11:35PM
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Dr.Gonzo
Posts: 2552 - Karma: 87
Get a thinkpad, or a MBP
Nov 28 2012 11:36PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
I am a computer idiot. Recomending me a brandname doesnt help me all that much.

Remember, i am using this for buisness purposes(surfaces, 3d modeling, hydrology models, etc) so if upgrading saves me time running software, that is money saved.

Any models, or specs that i should be looking for?
Nov 28 2012 11:41PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
hp dv6 quad, I got mine a year and a half ago, basically the same specs as a 15" macbook pro but half the price and a better graphics card.
Nov 28 2012 11:42PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
I also got one of those hybrid ssd hard drives for like $100 and it boots up waaay faster.
Nov 28 2012 11:45PM
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Errl
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 451
Running Windows on Mac is relatively simple.. but I would say save yourself the money and don't buy mac. As posted above, you can get get way better things such as but not limited to graphics cards in pc's than you can in macs.
Nov 29 2012 12:20AM
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cornholio
Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057
do you have a particular budget?
Nov 29 2012 10:17AM
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Anti_Steeze
Posts: 1465 - Karma: 81
just bought one of these (Samsung Chronos), such a sick laptop, quad core, 8 gigs ram, 1tb hard drive, etc etc. Everything you need and more powerful than a mac for $1000

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Nov 29 2012 11:47AM
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squashmosh
Posts: 632 - Karma: 565
MacBook Air

Nov 29 2012 11:56AM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
less than $1500 would be nice.

Again, i need something that can do some fairly complex models. I cant have it seize up or run stuff slowly.
Nov 29 2012 10:17PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/asus-asus-15-6-3rd-gen-intel-core-i7-3630qm-windows-8-laptop-g55vw-dh71-english-black-g55vw-dh71/10231960.aspx

Dat one, I have a quad core 2ghz processor, 8 gigs of ram, and a 2gb ddr5 graphics card and my laptop hasn't been laggy doing any solidworks(except when it was set to the integrated graphics, but I fixed that)

That one has a better processor, more ram and a slightly better graphics card, it'll do you good.
Nov 29 2012 10:45PM
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585.
Posts: 4059 - Karma: 77
Honestly just get a MacBook Pro
Nov 29 2012 10:47PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
Honestly for what he needs that would just be stupid
Nov 29 2012 10:50PM
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tds103
Posts: 679 - Karma: 74
Get a Thinkpad T530; get a better processor than what is stock, upgrade the graphics card, and the screen.

After you buy it, buy memory of Newegg instead of buying from Lenovo because quite frankly Lenovo overprices it so much.
Nov 29 2012 10:52PM
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Jewschoolers
Posts: 1785 - Karma: 1,142
anyone who says macbook either knows nothing about computers or didnt read the op
Nov 29 2012 10:55PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
Could i just throw this into a $600 laptop, and come out with a super good computer?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819111023

Or do you have to upgrade everything around it as well?
Nov 29 2012 11:25PM
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tds103
Posts: 679 - Karma: 74
It should work but it is a lot of work that you can just make the factory do.
Nov 30 2012 7:54AM
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corona
Posts: 12752 - Karma: 32,259
I wouldn't do that when for the 1,000 you'd spend you could get a laptop with that and other improved hardware already installed.

plus if you're using graphics programs and do a lot of rendering and such then you definitely want a dedicated video card. You won't generally get that in a $600 laptop. But 800-1000 you can, with an i7 quad core
Nov 30 2012 8:06AM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
You're gonna want a lot of ram and a good graphics card for any modelling, not just a processor. Also it'd be decently difficult to do, prolly void your warranty and you'd have to make sure the motherboard supports it.
Nov 30 2012 3:34PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Most RAM upgrades don't void the warranty, and are super easy to do.


Nov 30 2012 3:39PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
don't get one with an integrated video card.
Nov 30 2012 3:42PM
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dreadyboy
Posts: 2306 - Karma: 34
Yeah ram is super easy, guy wanted to swap processors tho, thats hard and most probably voids the warranty.
Nov 30 2012 4:21PM
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Peach.
Posts: 3879 - Karma: 933
I'm a mac whore and I think he shouldn't get a mac. Did you read what he's using it for?
Typed from my macbook pro....
Nov 30 2012 4:22PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,844
I have a Mid/high end Lenovo and its awesome
Nov 30 2012 4:23PM
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MLJ
Posts: 1849 - Karma: 3,649
Im using autocad on my mac right now, there are a few compatible versions.
Nov 30 2012 4:25PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
Im not getting a mac. I need something for as cheap as possible that will run AutoCad to the fullest of its capabilities, flawlessly. It also needs to be able to run hydologic models involving huge amounts of data...
Dec 1 2012 12:02AM
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