CAD -system requirements

I am considering purchasing one of the lg notebooks for school. I am in civil engineering and want to have the ability to run CAD. I won't be doing anything too intense with the program....definitly no 3-D. Some people I have talked to have commented about needing separate video card. I don't know too much about all this. I am considering either of these two models from LG (specs below) P1-5001A9 or P1-J001A9. I am leaning towards the P1-5001A9 (mainly due to the price difference) is this notebook sufficient for my occasional use of AutoCAD?

P1-J001A9
Processor : Intel® Core™ Duo Processor 1.66GHz (T2300)
Chipset : Intel® 945PM/GM
Memory : 512MB DDR2 (667MHz)
Hard Drive : 80GB (S-ATA) 5400RPM
LCD : 15.4" WXGA(1280x800), Fine Bright Technology
Graphics : ATI® MobilityTM Radeon® X1400 (up to 512MB *HyperMemory)

P1-5001A9
Processor : Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2400 1.83GHz
Operating System : Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
Chipset : Intel® 945PM/GM
Memory : 512MB DDR (667MHz) SO-DIMM
Hard Drive : 100GB (PATA) 4200RPM
LCD : 15.4" WXGA Fine Bright
Graphics : Intel® 945GM 256MB

 

CAD will run on pretty much anything. Especially if you're not doing 3D. I always use my school's Engineering Graphics lab as an example. Half the computers are only a few years old, but the other half are really old Dells with Pentium 2s, 256MB of RAM and 16MB integrated graphic cards. You'll be fine.

 

My father is an architect and as of less than a month ago he was running AutoCAD Lt 2000 (so no 3d) on a computer from 1999. I can't remember the specs, but pretty much anything you could possibly get new will run it well.

 

I am also studying civil engineering, I use a Aj8m for I like to games.
For CAD, I think it will run on those two PC very smooth, i am using cad 2006 now.
But I think you should take the
P1-J001A9
Processor : Intel® Core™ Duo Processor 1.66GHz (T2300)
Chipset : Intel® 945PM/GM
Memory : 512MB DDR2 (667MHz)
Hard Drive : 80GB (S-ATA) 5400RPM
LCD : 15.4" WXGA(1280x800), Fine Bright Technology
Graphics : ATI® MobilityTM Radeon® X1400 (up to 512MB *HyperMemory
I would take it out of these 2 because of the GPU or graphic card. Maybe CAD dont need it but you never know when you going to need it. T2300 and T2400 is almost the same, not so much differents.
But that just me, I like my notebook with seperate GPU
Hope this help

 

Either of them will work, what I'd recommend is getting more than 512MB of RAM. A gig or so should be minimum on your specs. I'd also agree with going with the first system, the one with the X1400. Intel's integrated drivers are crap for the most part, they won't support sophisiticated CAD GL graphics and such.

 

I would also suggest getting more RAM and going with the x1400 notebook. While you won't need it for CAD, if you get into things like SolidEdge or Solid Works, you will definitely need it. Those old Dells are running AutoCAD LT2k6 btw. Our CAD teacher actually writes the instruction manual for Glencoe over AutoCAD.

 

yep i agree with everyone here, x1400 + 1GB RAM is best. I ran AutoCAD on my celeron 2.8GHZ, 256MB RAM and 64MB integrated graphics - it ran but was as choppy as hell.

 

Also the more expensive one has a faster hard drive - another point in it's favour.