[Enigma7]

I'm going into 2nd year at Robert Gordon University, studying Architectural Technology. Current laptop will still used as a somewhat desktop PC as it's battery life sucks and gets hot due in inaccessible fan (nice one HP.So I use a cooling pad) without ripping apart my laptop. It will be mainly used for CAD work and if I have time, gaming, watching videos etc.

I need another laptop that can also run CAD programs ie; Revit Architecture 3D Studio Max Design, google sketchup, photoshop etc as I will be taking it into class. The new laptop will be for course work, documentations, use outside the bedroom.

Haven't paid much attention at laptop over the last 2 years and kind of forgot what I should be looking for. I really don't want to spend more than £300 if I can avoid it as I'd rather not spend money where I don't need too.

Currently, I've looked at as sort of a start, looks decent.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/acer-a...11784-pdt.html

Would appreciate any advice on other laptops.

Thanks.

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by Enigma7)
I'm going into 2nd year at Robert Gordon University, studying Architectural Technology. Current laptop will still used as a somewhat desktop PC as it's battery life sucks and gets hot due in inaccessible fan (nice one HP.So I use a cooling pad) without ripping apart my laptop. It will be mainly used for CAD work and if I have time, gaming, watching videos etc.

I need another laptop that can also run CAD programs ie; Revit Architecture 3D Studio Max Design, google sketchup, photoshop etc as I will be taking it into class. The new laptop will be for course work, documentations, use outside the bedroom.

Haven't paid much attention at laptop over the last 2 years and kind of forgot what I should be looking for. I really don't want to spend more than £300 if I can avoid it as I'd rather not spend money where I don't need too.

Currently, I've looked at as sort of a start, looks decent.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/acer-a...11784-pdt.html

Would appreciate any advice on other laptops.

Thanks.

To be honest that laptop is going to be slow on such programs,nor should you expect any sort of gaming from it apart from Sims 3 at most.

Ideally to get the smoothest usage on things like CAD, etc you need an i7 processor and they are way out of your price range.
Your budget is very constraining.

[Enigma7]

Guess my best option is to fix my current laptop. Replace the battery, try and find a way to clean the fan without having to rip apart of my laptop. Really wish HP didn't make the casing that made the fan completely inaccessbile.

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by Enigma7)
Guess my best option is to fix my current laptop. Replace the battery, try and find a way to clean the fan without having to rip apart of my laptop. Really wish HP didn't make the casing that made the fan completely inaccessbile.

That should be an outlined bit at the back, but dust build should be around the heatsink, is your current laptop quad core or anything of the likes? and the ram?

[spikeymike]

Running architecture programs will be easier to work with on a higher resolution screen. Surely the university have computing labs to let you use CAD etc?