What computer to get??

[pbooth11]

Hi ppl

i am looking at getting a new computer, just wondered what you views are of getting?

Im currently looking at getting a macbook pro or something like that? - just want advice of what graphics card, ram etc would be able to cope with 3d cad work.

Thanks

[ReMark]

Most of us are PC users so advice on a Mac will be somewhat, but not entirely, limited.

What software will you be running?

You are going to get a 64-bit computer right?

What is your budget?

Generally speaking, get as much RAM as you can possibly afford and don't skimp on the graphics card. Do Macs come with solid state drives now? If they do then I'd opt for that too.

[f700es]

Moved the thread to the proper area
Why a mac? I have to ask this question. Unless their is some piece of Mac only software that you need you will be far better off with a Windows 7 based computer if you are going to be doing AutoCAD work. Sure there is an OSX version of AutoCAD now but it does not have all the power that the PC version has and the vertical versions (AutoCAD Arch, Mech, Civil etc..) are not on the Mac. I have not tried AutoCAD for Mac on a system with an Intel HD4000 video card so I do not know how it performs. My advice is to try to get a dedicated nVidia or ATI video solution if you can. All Macs are 64-bit so no issue there.
What software do you want to run on it?

[resullins]

I have to agree with the above. There's not really a reason to get a Mac that I know of for most AC users. I have a Dell Precision 5600 with an nVidia Video driver/card and 12 gigs of ram.

There's nothing that I've ever asked of this machine that it can't do. Now, I just gotta get my boss to get me one of these.... http://www.eve-online-fan.co.uk/wp-c.../2010/04/3.jpg

[f700es]

The Dell XPS15 is a nice alternative to the MacBook Pro. Same if not better specs and less money when spec'ed alike.

[irneb]

I have heard that it's possible to run (some) other ADesk products through Parallels on Mac's - though from my experience using VitrualBox on linux, 3D is not too great when you do so - the software emulated graphics card is by no means equivalent to a bare-metal GPU. Or you could install Windows on your Mac of course. Though as the others have said, you can probably find better and cheaper alternative hardware than you can in a fruit-store, so why would you go that route simply to wipe off OSX? AFAICT if you need the Mac for something else - say there's a program that only runs on Mac (or more probably works better on Mac than Win) - then you need to decide if the ACadMac is sufficient for you (take note it's restricted in the sense that it's somewhere in between a ACad LT and a Vanilla ACad, so you don't get ALL the features you can with a normal blank general purpose ACad, but a bit more than LT). Though if you do go with ACadMac, then I think the MacBook Pro is probably good enough - the Air might be a "bit" too little though.

You've also not stated what industry you're in. That also affects the choice of software and thus also the choice of hardware. E.g. do you need any BIM stuff? If so you're going to find it difficult (to say the least) running such on OSX - especially if you want to use something like Revit. Unfortunately ADesk is so in-bed with MicroSoft that nearly all their useful products are tied to only run under Windows.

The way I see it (and the way I've seen it explained throughout the last 2 decades): First you find out what software are available to your particular needs. Then you choose the packages which you'd prefer using - including any ancillaries like image editing, calculation tools, inter-operation to outside parties, etc. Then you find-out what OS & Hardware combination the whole set of packages you chose can run on. And only then do you even look at the particulars of the hardware - not even glancing at stuff which won't run your tools.