XPS 15 - Good for 3d modelling?

I really would like to get a xps 15 or 15z, with 6gb RAM, i5 or i7 processor and the 540m graphics card, FHD screen. My one question is: Are any of the users out there currently running Solidworks 2010 / 11 on their machines without problems? I'm not playing with massive assemblies or complex geometries and I really can not justify (afford) the cost of a workstation. Just fairly simple models, assemblies <50 parts.

I know there were some problems with optimus, and I don't know if they have been fixed, does it affect CAD software? Are there any other higher end modelling programs that you guys are using that works without a problem?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

I use Pro/E 5.0 on my XPS 17 in sig. It works fine. Not as well as a workstation maybe, but no worries. And I have some pretty heavy assemblies I have opened. We're talking like 500+ parts, some large some small with complex geometry (think McMaster-Carr rendered screw threads).

Mine runs Pro E using the NVidia card by default. I could force it to use one or the other, but I've had no need. It runs fine.

I also have Solidworks on this system as that is what we use at work, but I've been having issues with the home use license activation so I haven't actually used it yet.

 

Just got a 15z a couple days ago. I'm hoping Solidworks will work well, in engineering school right now so need it on at laptop for while at school. Need to wait until school starts back up in September to get a code to activate it though so won't know until then.

 

Keep in mind, I ran Pro/E 2.0 and 4.0 on my old Inspiron 1150. With a P4 2.8 CPU, 2GB of RAM, and 64MB integrated graphics. It ran fine until I got some large assemblies where it noticeably slowed. I know Solidworks is a little funny with hardware, but I imagine it will run fine. Not as great as on a Quadro card, but fine, and WAY cheaper...

On a slight side note, this system blows through some pretty crazy simulations pretty quickly. I haven't done a direct comparison, but I'd say it is comparable or better at crunching those numbers than my desktop...I'm impressed!

 

Yeah, I have a rather average laptop currently and it ran Pro/E 3.0 with no drama at all on 32 bit vista, but it struggles with solidworks 2010 on 64 bit win7, despite everything else running faster. By the looks of all the benchmarks SW should run better than Pro/E, a bit confusing!

I was mostly just concerned about all the optimus drama I guess, and well, still a little concerned about it running at all, but that's pretty reassuring.

Plus I don't expect nor require it to be anywhere near as good as my work pc with an i7 extreme, 12gb Ram and FirePro V5800, it's just unnecessary for my needs at home.

That's a shame you haven't tried it Xerxos, I would fork out a little more for a 15z, although would think if the others can handle it then there is no doubt that the z would too.

 

According to the reviews of the GPU's on this site, the 525m and 540m cards perform better in solidworks than the 555m. Anyone know the specific reason? Anyone with one of those two cards running Solidworks or other CAD around to comment?