[CT.]

Hello

My boyfriend is an architecture student who regularly needs to use software such as ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, 3DSmax, Photoshop, etc.

He is currently running a 3 year old vista laptop, which doesn't really do the job. So, he's looking for something new and would like some advice.

He's looking for something top of the range, will an i3 or i5 processor be good enough, or is an i7 where we should be aiming? Also, what's the difference between AMD processors and Intel?

If anyone has any suggestions on particulars, or any further advice, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by CT.)
Hello

My boyfriend is an architecture student who regularly needs to use software such as ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, 3DSmax, Photoshop, etc.

He is currently running a 3 year old vista laptop, which doesn't really do the job. So, he's looking for something new and would like some advice.

He's looking for something top of the range, will an i3 or i5 processor be good enough, or is an i7 where we should be aiming? Also, what's the difference between AMD processors and Intel?

If anyone has any suggestions on particulars, or any further advice, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

If it's anything to do with some serious editing like video editing and high usage of graphics, then getting an i7 with it's hyper threading will definitely help very strongly. And having a decent graphics card as well, so it's gonna cost quite a bit.

If your on a tight budget then AMD is good, otherwise Intel wins in many cases, however in laptops I have't seen any maker use the fx-4100, etc chips only the dual cpu and gpu chips.

[Wookie42]

I'll probably get negged for this, but wait a few weeks for the new Macbook Pro's. Also, in my opinion Intel > AMD at the moment.

[Intriguing Alias]

(Original post by CT.)
Hello

My boyfriend is an architecture student who regularly needs to use software such as ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, 3DSmax, Photoshop, etc.

He is currently running a 3 year old vista laptop, which doesn't really do the job. So, he's looking for something new and would like some advice.

He's looking for something top of the range, will an i3 or i5 processor be good enough, or is an i7 where we should be aiming? Also, what's the difference between AMD processors and Intel?

If anyone has any suggestions on particulars, or any further advice, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

It's a fact that Intel are wiping the floor with AMD and have been since they released the core i series of processors (and I own an AMD ).

What sort of money is he looking at spending?

[CT.]

(Original post by Wookie42)
I'll probably get negged for this, but wait a few weeks for the new Macbook Pro's. Also, in my opinion Intel > AMD at the moment.

No negs from us! We're happy for the advice, thanks. I just don't think he wants to readjust to a mac at the minute.

[CT.]

(Original post by hassi94)
It's a fact that Intel are wiping the floor with AMD and have been since they released the core i series of processors (and I own an AMD ).

What sort of money is he looking at spending?

He's been saving for a while, and it's fairly important for his degree. He's looking to spend up to £1000, maybe a tad more if it's something special.

I guess we're looking at Intel then..

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by CT.)
He's been saving for a while, and it's fairly important for his degree. He's looking to spend up to £1000, maybe a tad more if it's something special.

I guess we're looking at Intel then..

Its normal to get a mac especially if your doing architecture.
I suggest he waits around for the new macs with the intel processors in all honesty.
And a i7 will be a must with 8gb ram minimum.

[James82]

(Original post by Wookie42)
I'll probably get negged for this, but wait a few weeks for the new Macbook Pro's. Also, in my opinion Intel > AMD at the moment.

It would be a good choice, but seeing as AutoDesk software (AutoCAD, 3DSmax, etc.) is fairly standard across UK universities and it doesn't support Macs it would be a bit pointless in this case.

[Repressor]

I would be looking at a Lenovo Thinkpad W520. Maybe the new W530 if you're not interested in the business style features that are liked to much by the ThinkPad community. It's probably worth getting the FHD screen. This will be around £1.2k. It does come with 3 years warranty though!

EDIT: ArchiCAD seems to like 6GB+ RAM, so maybe upgrading to 8GB would be reasonable?

[CT.]

(Original post by James82)
It would be a good choice, but seeing as AutoDesk software (AutoCAD, 3DSmax, etc.) is fairly standard across UK universities and it doesn't support Macs it would be a bit pointless in this case.

Yeah, this is the main reason he's looking at windows not Macs..

Thanks for all your help so far. He's got his eye on this at the minute, what do you guys think?
http://www.johnlewis.com/231577620/Product.aspx

We'll check out the Lenovos tomorrow morning. Thanks

[Repressor]

(Original post by CT.)
Yeah, this is the main reason he's looking at windows not Macs..

Thanks for all your help so far. He's got his eye on this at the minute, what do you guys think?
http://www.johnlewis.com/231577620/Product.aspx

We'll check out the Lenovos tomorrow morning. Thanks

Looks alright. 1366x768 on a 17" screen might look a tad strange though.

[Wookie42]

(Original post by James82)
It would be a good choice, but seeing as AutoDesk software (AutoCAD, 3DSmax, etc.) is fairly standard across UK universities and it doesn't support Macs it would be a bit pointless in this case.

Oh wow, did not know that. Not really much point in getting a Mac if you're gonna having to be booting into Windows 90% of the time either.

[CT.]

(Original post by Repressor)
Looks alright. 1366x768 on a 17" screen might look a tad strange though.

Thanks. In what way do you mean strange? We're not great with the fine technical stuff..

What about this one then?
http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/toshiba...06333-pdt.html

Thanks again

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by CT.)
Thanks. In what way do you mean strange? We're not great with the fine technical stuff..

What about this one then?
http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/toshiba...06333-pdt.html

Thanks again

http://www.novatech.co.uk/laptop/ran...tion.html?th=g

Novatech nSpire 2760 - Black Edition - 15.6" Intel i7 2760 Mobile Processor - 8GB DDR3 Memory - 500GB Hybrid SSD Hard Drive - DVD Writer - NVIDIA GT 555M Graphics

£680 without an operating software

[CT.]

(Original post by Iqbal007)
http://www.novatech.co.uk/laptop/ran...tion.html?th=g

Novatech nSpire 2760 - Black Edition - 15.6" Intel i7 2760 Mobile Processor - 8GB DDR3 Memory - 500GB Hybrid SSD Hard Drive - DVD Writer - NVIDIA GT 555M Graphics

£680 without an operating software

Not a make I've heard of, but it looks good, I'll forward that to him. Thanks

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by CT.)
Not a make I've heard of, but it looks good, I'll forward that to him. Thanks

There a company, mainly with large warehouse stores around coastal cities, mainly on-line business, but their very good.