Is Graphic Card Necessary?

**rmks2000** · #1 12-27-2011, 06:33 AM

So, my ancient Dell laptop's 20GB hard drive died. Since there are several other things that no longer function on it, such as the lan card and the battery interface, I'm thinking of getting a new (or newer) laptop, rather than just replacing the hard drive.

If and when I get a new laptop, I would most likely get another Windows-based one, with the Intel I5 chip. The question is, is a graphic card necessary for designing? The design tool would most likely be Sketchup. I don't do any gaming so no need for a card for that specific purpose.

Mind you, due to lack of funds I may need to purchase an older laptop for the time being. However, I'd like to be informed for when I do buy a brand-new one.

**Alcides** · #2 12-27-2011, 07:20 AM

Of course the main question is if you are going to use or not a 3d program. In this case the graphic card is a great difference.
I've an "old" desktop computer a Dual-Core Pentium with 2GB of RAM and an Gforce Nvidia with 512 MB of RAM.

When I bought the last year a new Dell Inspiron with an I5 with 4GB of RAM I tought with the embedded graphics card could be enough.
That isn't the case. I use Rhinoceros and sadly the old desktop round circles around the new laptop. I can use it but it's slow against the "old" one.

My advice is if you buy a new laptop buy one with a good graphic card.

Regards
Alcides

**rickstef** · #3 12-27-2011, 08:37 AM

one of the pieces of advice I used to give my customers when I sold computers, buy the best machine in the price range you want to spend.

Currently the laptops, if you want to go that route, will have decent(not screaming fast) video cards, but they will allow you to run Sketch Up or similar programs.

If you want to go with a desktop, you will find that most if not all will come with 512 MB or 1 GB video card, and if you care to build your own, multiple cards is pretty much standard fare.

It all depends on how much you feel like spending, and how much built in capacity you want.

Keep in mind, usually you can only change out the hard drive or memory on a laptop, the graphics card/processor is part of the motherboard.

**rmks2000** · #4 12-27-2011, 08:45 AM

Thanks guys.

**cgutzmer** · #5 12-27-2011, 09:01 AM

You can replace any part if you have the knowhow! For me that means ram and hard drive

Ricks advice is sound - I got my last laptop (an acer) from walmart, great deal and much better power wise than a similar priced dell. I have had zero problems with my Acer - same for the other three Acers we have in the house. No idea if tech support is good cause I never had to call them

Chris

Zathros · #6 12-27-2011, 09:09 AM

Build a desktop. If you go to Tigerdirect.com, you should be able to put together a screaming 6 or 8 core AMD CPU with a 1 Gig Memory card, dual DVI, 4T's of hard disc space x 2, I like MSI board, rock solid military grade components. Laptops are convenient, but you can't keep rebuilding them. My 7 yeat old ASUS K87SE Deluxe has 512MB of Separate Video Ram in an ATI Video card, 5 T's of hard disc space 8G's of Ram and still runs very fast, and can run Rhino very easily. It actually runs many programs that the new machine I purchased a little faster as it is an 32 bit system, where my new machine is 64 bit and has to Run Rhino in an emulated form.

I agree with Rickstef, spend as much s you can on the basic components, Power supply, 700Watt, A real good board, SATA Hard Disc, and separate Video card. You can ad frills later. I just cannot do what I need to do with a Laptop. I realize that is not the case for others. I still have to buy one because my son's school (6th grade) has just made it a requirement. Make sure you get a Win 7 64 based machine, and try to get the Professional version of Windows7, it is usually not much more and let's you do more.

I too am getting an ACER for my son, this one, http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...726&CatId=4938 FREE SHIPPING 1yr, parts/labor.

A Quad Core machine that is a great bang for the buck. $399, ATI/ AMD Radeon HD 6520G, good graphics, 500G Hard drive.

**Alcides** · #7 12-27-2011, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickstef

Currently the laptops, if you want to go that route, will have decent(not screaming fast) video cards, but they will allow you to run Sketch Up or similar programs.

That's the problem with my Dell, the video card is decent but not good enough to run fast Rhino :(

Zathros · #8 12-27-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcides

That's the problem with my Dell, the video card is decent but not good enough to run fast Rhino :(

More, and I mean maxed out Ram, with a new video card, would probably help. If I knew the model and serial of your machine, I might be able to find out some options. Mandame un P.M., si quieres, Amigo!

spaceagent-9 · #9 12-27-2011, 10:21 AM

since you mentioned finances,
try
bluehippo

200.00 down, maybe a hundred or so a month, and 6 months later you can have it shipped to you, and it will be the latest average stuff to date. i think they use dell.

Zathros · #10 12-27-2011, 12:30 PM

Well I just bit the bullet on this. The school is requiring it for the students (6th grade, what a con!). I purchased the accidental kid drop 3 yr. warranty for 3 years for an additional $99.00. Man are we broke now!!

Acer Aspire AS5560-Sb653 LX.RNT02.057 Notebook PC - AMD Quad-Core A6-3400M 1.4GHz, 6GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, DVDRW, 15.6 Display, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, Black at TigerDirect.com