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Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

(OP)
I am a new user of Solid Works, I have 2008. (Ex AutoCAD user). I want to be able to run Solid Works on my laptop. I meet all hardware requirements except for the graphics card. Do any others run on a laptop? What do you find works well. I have heard the NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500M would be a good one to run, yet I am having trouble finding one. Anyhelp would be appreciated.

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

I just got a new Dell Precision M90 yesterday. It has a NVIDIA Quadro FX 2500M. I just loaded SW on it today, so far no problems.

Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-21-07)

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

(OP)
Thanks for the info, any suggestions where to buy just the card? I am having difficulty finding the mobil card, the regular ones are everywhere.  

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

You are new to SW but running on 2008 beta 3?

Go here to see approved cards:
http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/videocardtesting.html
1500 on list, but it comes down to what is compatible with your laptop and how much money you can spend. Quadros do give you the best bang for your buck in my opinion.

RFUS

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

(OP)
Sorry, 2007 is what I am getting.

Thanks for the link. The notebook review was on gaming cards, it is my understanding that gaming and CAD usage are quite different animals. Looing through the recommended list, it appears I have two choices. The NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500M and the ATI Mobility Fire GL. I have heard from one that they did not get very good results from the Fire GL. Any thoughts on this?

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

I have tried both ATI and Quadro in desktops. I prefer the Quadro, less problems.

Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-21-07)

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

(OP)
ok, that is two that say the Quadro is better. you are running the 2500, for the money, you think the 1500M would work with no trouble. The stats do not seem much different, a slightly better per/second rate.

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

The “video card” in laptops are generally custom built by the laptop manufacturer, and are not generally considered a user upgradeable component.  You might be able to work with the manufacturer on getting it upgraded.  Depending on the manufacturer and model there may be no CAD card available for your laptop.  Wish I had better news.

Eric

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

(OP)
Dang, had not considered that. I will look into that. I do remember that is a problem with notebooks. Thanks for the reminder.

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

1500M should work OK, just a tad bit slower than the 2500.

Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-21-07)

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Bear in mind, too, that if you're not running XP Pro, you'll have problems running SolidWorks.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

(OP)
I am running XP pro. thanks. I have heard that Vista is not compatable, guess I won't do that upgrade.

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Go for the Nvidea.  I ran on my Dell M50 with it for 4 years, with all the most current solidworks versions, and the video was solid.  

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Hey Chris, that's the exact system I'm getting soon at work. lol  Let me know whatcha think of it. :)

Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Matt,
So far so good. The one part I don't fully understand ... it's a 64 bit system. I installed SW from the (32-64 bit) DVD. How do I know if it installed to use the 64 bit? It's not clear to me.
It has 4gb RAM and is dual proc, very quick! I can now rotate a very large assy with no problems.

Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-21-07)

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

I'm actually putting together a Req to my manager to purchase a laptop and get rid of my desktop.  As much as I hate to get rid of my desktop, I find myself working from home and the road to much these days.

If anyone could offer up some suggested platforms, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Brian

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

ctopher, does it live in your ProgramFiles(x86) directory?

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Cool  I ordered mine as one of those old fashion 32-bit machines.  :)

Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

(OP)
Thanks for all your advice. That is just dumb that they don't allow most of these laptops to upgrade. Guess I will have to look into getting a new laptop. The Dell M series are suppose to run the program well.

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

I strongly recommend the Dell M90. Overall, it's the best SW running comp that I've had.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

The M90 is what I use now. Very nice! Also a little heavier than others.

Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-21-07)

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

I've got an HP NW9440 with 2GB/FX1500M and it's a very solid running machine.  Although the build quality leaves something to be desired.  If I had to choose now, I'd probably go with the Dell M90.  Also checkout Alienware and Fujitsu for mobile DCC/CAD workstations.

Tony

HP NW9440
2 GB RAM
Quadro FX 1500M (84.88)
Solidworks 2006 SP5.0
Solidworks 2007 SP4.0

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Don't get the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 510M as installed on the HP nx9420. It's not compatible and I'm using open GL as a workaround. Sure wish there was a fix.

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Chris,

I just got my M90 and setting it up.  It is heavy.  But that power cord is much of the weight.  It's practically it's own computer. lol

Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Yes, the power cord can be a headache.
So far the only issue I have had this past week, I use the dual monitor settings. When I install or uninstall any programs, my dual monitor setup goes back to the single monitor and the laptop monitor settings go back to default.
Weird.
I also had to uninstall and reinstall SolidWorks. Somehow during the initial install, the virus program turned on. I had it set to stay off for the day.
Other that that, it's great!

Chris
SolidWorks 07 4.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-21-07)

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

I just ordered a Lenovo Thinkpad T60p for one of our designers:

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo T7200 @ 2.00GHz
Video: ATI MOBILITY FireGL V5250 Pentium 4 (SSE2)

Ran the SpecAPC benchmark and the mobility FireGL V5250 compared very favourably to older Nvidia QuadroFX 1400 cards that we have in a few workstations.

Note that the V5250 is also recommended for graphics-intensive SW 2008...

Screen is smaller than the M90, though it's still a wide screen.  IMO the build quality is better as well...

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Chris,

About the AV...I just completely turn of all AV services through Admin tools, and then use Task Manager to remove the active memory component.  It's best to just get it completely out of memory and action before attempting installs.

Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group

RE: Laptop Notebook Graphic Card

Thanks Matt. ;)

Chris
SolidWorks 07 4.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-21-07)

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