Laptop shopping

[85_Ranger4x4]

I need to get a new laptop.

I use it a lot for work, the one I have does that ok. It catches a beating and is showing its age (down three keys at the moment)

I also want to do some 2D drafting on my own using Draftsight. Nothing real huge just laying out projects around the house and mocking up parts. The one I have will open it and run it but when I draw something the lines disappear. They are still there you just can't see them (you can snap another line to them)

I don't know if it is my processor or graphics card that is the weak link, I suspect the graphics card has a lot to do with it.

Minimum requirements are a 2ghz processor with a 16 bit graphics card.

My current processor is 2.10ghz... what is bugging me is it is really hard to find a laptop that fast let alone any faster. Most are well below 2. Like I have to get above $600 and usually closer to $1000 to exceed my 4.5 year old $400 machine. I would like to stay in the $400-500 price range if I could.

Did they change something so the ghz isn't measured the same now? What gives?

 

[97RangerXLT]

Check the number of cores.. your laptop is probably dual core. The newer ones are probably quad core and even though they are rated at a lower speed they will run circles around your old laptop.

Also consider the speed of the memory. Newer computers can move stuff through the memory much faster.

You are right on the video card. It will be a choke point especially for graphic heavy applications

AJ

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ok, I wondered if it was something like that. I couldn't see how/why they would go so far backwards on it otherwise.

Yeah, it is a Pentium Dual Core

What would be good to look for in a video card? Or would be it like my processor and pretty much anything is a lot better than what I already have? (intel (r) 4 series express chipset family)

 

[RonD]

I would connect it to a TV, basically a larger screen, and see if it's your screen resolution that is the issue with the disappearing lines.

If computer serves your needs otherwise then I would get a 24"-32" TV to use as a display while drafting, they are cheap.

IMO, upgraded graphics cards are for better fast motion processing(video games), the graphic card does more of the processing.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Well that gave me something to go on.

I turned the resolution down a click... it worked. I thought "this sucks for everything else though" so I turned it back up... still works

It is still slow loading some pages but now I lost my big drive for a new one, thanks