Laptop requirments

Hi im looking to start a civil engineering degree, MEng, this September. I already have a laptop which im hoping to take with me to university but i know there is a lot of IT involved. Does anyone here know what the minimum requirements are for most civil engineering programs, Computer aided design etc- hopefully i wont need to buy a new laptop...

Currently on 2Ghz duel core, 3GB Memory and 256 MB Dedicated graphics. Thx for any info.

Reply 1

Ekpyrotic

13

I'll take an 'e' Carol.

Reply 2

alexyfoot

1

This one looks good for now. If I were you I would buy a new laptop in a couple of years as this is more than enough for what you need in first two years. Well, if you want to play high graphic games then you could buy something with better processor and some new good graphic card but for everything else thats enough. In two years todays technology is gonna be half price probably so I would really wait :smile:

Reply 3

kai4321

Post some more specs? That laptop looks great though, I have a desktop and it's 3GB Ram and 256mb but like 2.66GHz I believe. What GFX card do you have?

Reply 4

bluenoxid

13

chessaholic

Hi im looking to start a civil engineering degree, MEng, this September. I already have a laptop which im hoping to take with me to university but i know there is a lot of IT involved. Does anyone here know what the minimum requirements are for most civil engineering programs, Computer aided design etc- hopefully i wont need to buy a new laptop...

Currently on 2Ghz duel core, 3GB Memory and 256 MB Dedicated graphics. Thx for any info.

It looks good. The most advanced programs cost money and my new laptop only has a gig more than yours. To spend money on a new laptop would probably be a waste.

Get some flash drives to back up your work. Now they will save you.

Reply 5

chessaholic

OP

Hi thx for the replies. I don't plan on any major gaming, my worries were more on how complex the engineering software would be. But you've put my mind at rest, guess i'll have an extra few hundred pounds now for food/beer :smile:

Reply 6

carrotboy

2

chessaholic

Hi im looking to start a civil engineering degree, MEng, this September. I already have a laptop which im hoping to take with me to university but i know there is a lot of IT involved. Does anyone here know what the minimum requirements are for most civil engineering programs, Computer aided design etc- hopefully i wont need to buy a new laptop...

Currently on 2Ghz duel core, 3GB Memory and 256 MB Dedicated graphics. Thx for any info.

I'm doing the same course. Its mostly autocad, a maths programme (maple or matlab) and others like visual basic etc. I'm buying a new one soon and it has the same spec as yours! So i'm sure you're fine for now!
Out of interest, where have you applied/going?

Reply 7

chessaholic

OP

I originally applied to Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, Sheffield and Southampton. I have been given an offer of AAB from Sheffield and have an interview with Liverpool Mid-February. Bristol sent me a rejection letter *Sob* but no word from Cardiff or Southampton yet. Application only went off about four weeks ago. Yourself?

Reply 8

alexyfoot

1

chessaholic

Hi thx for the replies. I don't plan on any major gaming, my worries were more on how complex the engineering software would be. But you've put my mind at rest, guess i'll have an extra few hundred pounds now for food/beer :smile:

They may get complicated in your last year when you have projects and once you graduate. First two years graphics and projects are not so demanding so no worries :wink:

Reply 9

shuvle

12

bluenoxid

Get some flash drives to back up your work. Now they will save you.

+1 back up, back up , back up. Just had my HD fail on me and lost most of my lab reports. :s-smilie:

Reply 10

thefish_uk

14

For proper specialist programs you can expect to be able to use computers owned by the department - CAD software is so expensive you won't have a license to use it on your own computer anyway! The most complex thing we've been expected to use on our own laptops is Matlab / Octave which is effectively a big calculator, ie. nothing like the kind of realtime fun CAD or whatever would throw at it.

Reply 11

alexyfoot

1

thefish_uk

For proper specialist programs you can expect to be able to use computers owned by the department - CAD software is so expensive you won't have a license to use it on your own computer anyway! The most complex thing we've been expected to use on our own laptops is Matlab / Octave which is effectively a big calculator, ie. nothing like the kind of realtime fun CAD or whatever would throw at it.