Screen size solidworks 2012-2013

[SanderBash]

Hello, my name is Sander and I'm starting as an engineering student next year. I need to run Solidworks on a laptop and found a company in The Netherlands (where I live) that builds a sort of 'power netbook'. I'm interested in this machine as it would provide a HUGE size and weight advantage over normal sized notebooks.

However, I was wondering if the screen would be adequate for Solidworks (and other CAD software). From reading other posts I figured the other specs would be alright for Solidworks. I'm not really a gamer, I occasionally play legacy RTS'es like AOE II and Red Alert 2 and this laptop would be for school first and leisure second (O, how I hope I'm disciplined enough... )

Specs:

11,6" screen size, resolution 1366x768

nVidia GT 650m

i7 3610QM 2.30 Ghz

2x 8gb Corsair First Class Vengeance DDR3 1600 Mhz

8GB SSD + 750HDD 7200 rpm

external optical drive

Could anyone provide an answer regarding the screen size? Many thanks in advance!

 

[ram1009]

I use Solidworks almost daily and can't imagine running it on ANY portable. I suggest you see what others are doing before you waste your money.

 

[phyco126]

Specs are fine for Solidworks, the i7 is no slouch. However, we are talking about a graphical design software on a tiny, tiny screen. I use the same netbook as you are looking at, and its great for me, but I can't imagine doing any CAD work on such a small screen. Building websites on it is kind of a pain as is (though I bought it mostly as a mobile gamer XD).

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I have a consulting engineering business and we run AutoCAD software on laptops and have been doing so since last millenium. We use it to design wastewater treatment plants. Your screen size however is terrible for any CAD work. We use Clevo custom built laptops exclusively.

17.3" 1920 x 1080 Full HD (16:9) LED
Intel Core i7-3720QM Processor, 2.6 GHz
16GB, PC3-12800/1600Mhz DDR3 - 4 x 4GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M w/1.5GB GDDR5 with Optimus Technology
750GB/7200rpm Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid Drive w/8GB SSD Memory SATA-600 (SATA III 6GB/s)
Windows 7 Professional Edition 64-bit
4x Max. Blu-Ray Reader / 8x Max. DVD±R/2.4X Max. +DL Super-Multi Drive
8 Cells Lithium-Ion Battery Pack 76.96WH
Intel Wireless Lan N2230 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.0 Combo
Full Color Programmable Backlight
Built-In 2.0M Pixels Digital Video Camera
Built-In Fingerprint Reader
Built-In Gigabit Ethernet LAN
Built-In 9-IN-1 Flash Memory Reader(MMC/RSMMC/MS/MS Pro/MS DUO/SD/Mini-SD/SDHC/SDXC)
1 IEEE-1394a Fire Wire
1 USB 2.0 Ports
3 USB 3.0 Ports
1 eSATA Port (USB 3.0 Combo)
1 HDMI 1.4a Output (with HDCP)
1 DVI-I Port
1 Display Port 1.1
1 Kensington Lock Port
Built-in Microphone, 2 Speakers and 1 Sub-Woofer
4 Audio Jacks for Headphone, Microphone-In, S/PDIF-Out, and Line-In
1 100/240V Autoswitch AC Power Adapter

Runs about $1900 US ....double it w/ a NVIDIA Quadro 5010M w/4GB GDDR5

 

[SanderBash]

Thanks for the info! I look into bigger screened laptops. Also, is a Quadro card really that necessary for a student? If I get lots of RAM and a good procesor, will that be sufficient?