Architecture Majors: Laptop?

archdrew
Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:55:04 +0000

So Ive been studying architecture at Ventura College for a few years and I also was just recently admitted to Cal Poly Pomona Architecture, and from what I’ve done at VC the better the computer you have the easier your life will be. The programs you will be using are much more graphics intensive than the programs like sketchup that I have been using. I have a hp laptop with intel dual core 3 gigs of memory and a 300gb hard drive. The 3d modeling/rendering I did with my laptop took tons of time, so a 6 gigs of memory would really help a lot. If not more. Not to mention a dedicated graphics card would be nice.The 9gigs of memory in my desktop does the job fine so between 6 and 9 gigs of memory would work well.

300gb hd will fill up fast especially if you have music or video and pictures on it. The standard is getting larger and larger so I would get at least 500gb

But you need an external drive also so 300gb and the external drive 300+ gb will do you just fine.

The most important aspects you need to look at are the graphics card ( or dedicated graphics memory and the ram

Intel integrated graphics suck same with any integrated graphics chipsets, so I would go with an ati graphics card or Nvidia, which is what I have in my desktop, which I will probably upgrade.

Also intel quad core i7 processors are really fast, and the laptop versions have great battery life.

Also my laptop is a 15 in screen, which is kinda small especially for 3d modeling , cad and photoshop so try to get a 17 in

Hp has a really great refurbished store online but you have to call them to find out thier products.

I got a desktop intel i7 processor, 1000gb hard drive, 9 gigs of memory, 22 in monitor, with shipping and warranty for less than $700, and they have great laptops.

hope that helps!