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    Processor, RAM, or Hard Drive for Autocad?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by MXandSXracer21, Feb 19, 2007.

  1. MXandSXracer21

    MXandSXracer21 Notebook Consultant

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    Hello I am running AutoCAD for school. I am getting ready to purchase a new laptop (HP DV6000t to be exact). Im not sure if i want to get the 1.83 Core 2 Duo or the 2.0 Core 2 duo processor. I could save 100 dollars if I get the 1.83 GHz proc. I am eventually going to upgrade it to 2 GB RAM and a 7200 RPM drive. Which will i see the biggest improvement with for applications like AUTOCAD, Solidworks, Inventor, etc.? Will I see the biggest performance boost with the 2.0 Proc. compared to the 7200 rpm drive and 2 GB ram.Mainly I am trying to find out if I REALLY need the 2.0 GHz processor for great performance. Thanks for your help!
     
    MXandSXracer21, Feb 19, 2007
    #1
  2. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    More memory for autocad really helps with larger models.
    A faster harddrive means less loading time for files.
    Between the two CPU's the 1.83 is fine.
     
    usapatriot, Feb 19, 2007
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  3. jetstar

    jetstar Notebook Deity

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    The RAM and hard drive will have a larger influence on performance.
     
    jetstar, Feb 19, 2007
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  4. Lil Mayz

    Lil Mayz Notebook Deity

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    a CPU upgrade wont change overall speed a lot. You may as well save money by buying the slower 1.83Ghz CPU. You should have a 7200rpm HDD to get the best performance from RAM.

    Also, I would go for a dedicated GPU to run modelling programs.
     
    Lil Mayz, Feb 19, 2007
    #4
  5. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    I would suggest saving the money, I agree with the others. Go with the T5600, it has a good price/performance ratio.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Feb 19, 2007
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  6. MXandSXracer21

    MXandSXracer21 Notebook Consultant

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    the nvidia go 7600 (i think thats the premium graphics card HP offers) is Integrated am i correct?
     
    MXandSXracer21, Feb 19, 2007
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  7. Pureknight

    Pureknight Notebook Consultant

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    Nope it's a dedicated graphic card.
     
    Pureknight, Feb 19, 2007
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  8. MXandSXracer21

    MXandSXracer21 Notebook Consultant

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    oops..i meant to say dedicated....
     
    MXandSXracer21, Feb 19, 2007
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  9. mr_bots

    mr_bots Notebook Evangelist

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    Also before you order realize that RAM and Hard Drives are very easy to change out; CPUs...not so easy.
     
    mr_bots, Feb 19, 2007
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  10. yan

    yan Notebook Consultant

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    If you are planning to do any rendering work, then I suggest getting the faster CPU.
     
    yan, Feb 20, 2007
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  11. MXandSXracer21

    MXandSXracer21 Notebook Consultant

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    What kind of differences will i see with the faster T7200 over the T5600?
     
    MXandSXracer21, Mar 3, 2007
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  12. naton

    naton Notebook Virtuoso

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    the difference between the t7200 and t5600 is the L2 cash. While the t7200 has 4mb the t5600 has only 2mb.

    I'm not sure if the additional 2mb in the t7200 will allow AutoCAD to run any faster / smother!
     
    naton, Mar 5, 2007
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  13. slowdive

    slowdive Notebook Consultant

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    L2 Cache: 4MB or 2MB? Average + 3.5%

    I work with Autocad, Civil 3D and Map 3D (2007 versions) both on different systems (only thing in common is 1GB of memory) and the performance is identical. I'm planning to upgrade to 2GB which i believe will have a huge improvement. Small CPU upgrades were always the worst upgrades i made.
     
    slowdive, Mar 9, 2007
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  14. Mark

    Mark Desktop Debugger

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    Yes RAM helps a lot when modeling. I use Solid Edge at work and they had a minimum of 2GB installed on all computers. The ones they are buying now they actually have four. The program actually runs well, but it does take the model a while to load sometimes (these are very very large models though), and this is on a P4 CPU.
     
    Mark, Mar 9, 2007
    #14