PC or laptop

[LTb1ow]

Well I think my laptop is on its way out... dies/freezes up when it wants to, ran an AVG full scan, got nada...

So I am stuck between getting a new ish laptop or just building a PC. I do not need a good graphics PC, just something I can run AutoCADD at most on.

Ideas? And I have a nicer creative sound card that is making me want to get another laptop so I can re use it....

[BigAls87Z28]

laptop. I dont know why I would ever buy a desktop unless I was gaming.

[LTb1ow]

Ok, is there anyway I can get a new one that runs XP?

[BigAls87Z28]

Craigslist?

[LTb1ow]

Nope, want it to be new. It has to last me two years or so

[BigAls87Z28]

Im sure you could just reformat with XP? I dunno, my laptop is still in suck-mode...

[LTb1ow]

I just need something that runs AIM/interwebz/itunes and maybe autoCADD type programs... nothing fancy.

[sweetbmxrider]

def laptop.

[LTb1ow]

OK, well any advice on brands?

I have a monitor so it can be small, just needs to not suck.

[sweetbmxrider]

honestly i don't really know. lots of guys on here know their ****. i would go window shopping then look up reviews. hit up best buy and stuff to just to get a hands on feel.

[LTb1ow]

Yea, thats what I was thinking. And I have no idea wtf my current laptop is up too... this is a record long time without it dieing on me...

[Knipps]

Reformat your current laptop, it should fix all your problems. opening it and cleaning it couldn't hurt either.

If you're looking into new laptops Acer and MSI are pretty good deals. Check out newegg.com

[NastyEllEssWon]

get a pc.

[LTb1ow]

So I have no idea wtf is going on now... its been doing fine since I made this thread... has yet to crash...

Erm?

[Knipps]

When's the last time you ran disk cleanup?

[LTb1ow]

A while, running itunes/AIM/internet its around 65% CPU usage... thats not good right?

[91chevywt]

Dude honestly, even though Vista sucks, you should stick with it instead of going XP. yes it can be annoying, but it is definetly the future so it would be good to be accustomed with it.

If all your going to do is run simple programs, just about any laptop on the market can do that. I picked up a brand new Acer for not too much money...and it does just about anything i can ask of it. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending one. I run Itunes, Aim, and 3-4 tabs in internet explorer with no problems whatsoever.

[Knipps]

Dude honestly, even though Vista sucks, you should stick with it instead of going XP. yes it can be annoying, but it is definetly the future so it would be good to be accustomed with it.
W7 is the future. :lol:

http://i25.tinypic.com/1hz0gx.jpg

[Knipps]

btw try malware bytes to clean up a bit too

[sweetbmxrider]

what about google's OS?

[Knipps]

google's OS?

[Tru2Chevy]

google's OS?

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html

Not out yet though....

- Justin

[deadtrend1]

Knipps, that pic had me cracking up. Fix your current computer, and buy a laptop

[Jam]

HP HDX?... macbook pro?

[WildBillyT]

A while, running itunes/AIM/internet its around 65% CPU usage... thats not good right?

No. Download process explorer and see what's what.

[jims69camaro]

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html

Not out yet though....

- Justin

i've been using it exclusively for months...

[HeadlessNorseman]

autocadd programs can be ram and CPU intensive depending on what your are doing. And would tend to make a laptop run very hot. I personally hate laptops. I dont ever find myself needing to move my computer either so no need for me to have one. You can build a decent PC with all brand new parts for 500 bucks or less if you shop around, one that will let you run and render whatever cadd software you want. and do anything else. Ive never had a problem with windows xp and im going to keep it for a long time just because its what i know already. I would still like to run win 2000 if it didnt have such bad stability issues. Super low memory and cpu usage tho

[LTb1ow]

English?

[Knipps]

English?
You can build a decent PC with all brand new parts for 500 bucks or less if you shop around, one that will let you run and render whatever cadd software you want. and do anything else
there ya go

[qwikz28]

I saw on Dell's website that you can still order with Windows XP when I was ordering mine

[LTb1ow]

So I think my sound card died and was causing my problems...

I had been leaving my iPod unplugged after the first mishap out of fear of losing my music on it... so I played music off youtube etc.. never connected the two... whenever I started to play music through the card, after like 10 minutes the laptop slows down and eventually freezes....

Does that make any sense?

[Kojak]

AutoCAD uses a lot of resources and in order to work properly I don't think that you should combine it with a PC or laptop filled with other software. If cash isn't much of an issue try buying a laptop for whatever use you desire and a PC crammed with memory and a decent processor for CAD.

A decent graphics card with a dual monitor setting is also a great idea for CAD. You could have one monitor devoted to tools viewers and whatever and the other your data view.

[LTb1ow]

Well I am a PC newb, if you have not caught on yet...

If you had to build a PC for under 600, what would you use?

[foff667]

Windows 7 is a free upgrade on many computers now so yes you'd need to suffer through vista for a year or so but then would be able to upgrade to a similar version of 7 once available & it really is alot better AND faster than vista.

[LTb1ow]

Well, if I were to build a PC, what are some specs I should be looking for?

Nothing crazy, maybe a sound card and video card to run two monitors but no intense gaming etc.

[Tru2Chevy]

i've been using it exclusively for months...

Google Chrome Web Browser, sure.....but not their OS.

- Justin

[Knipps]

Windows 7 is a free upgrade on many computers now so yes you'd need to suffer through vista for a year or so but then would be able to upgrade to a similar version of 7 once available & it really is alot better AND faster than vista.
what? where? free?

[Tru2Chevy]

what? where? free?

They did the same thing with XP / Vista before Vista officially launched. They sold new systems with XP installed, and a promise of a free upgrade to the comparable version of Vista when it was released.

- Justin

[LTb1ow]

what? where? free?

Yea, talk to your schools tech guys.. I know I can get it for free.

[HeadlessNorseman]

Well I am a PC newb, if you have not caught on yet...

If you had to build a PC for under 600, what would you use?

talking tower and all accesories?

If you need everything from the ground up, your not gonna get a whole lot but its very possible to build a decent system for that much


pick up a generic tower and power supply - 100 bucks
make sure it has a atx12v plug on it.

Pick up a decent socket am3(amd) or intel board that can handle quad cores <100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153149

something like a core 2 e8500 or q6600. Or for amd something like this (i have one) $100-200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

any pci-e video card will do fine...you get what you pay for. $<50-350
I have a radeon 4870, its extreme overkill for what im doing right now
Most have support for 2 monitors, just make sure first.


generic sound card, SATA hard drive, wireless network card if need be, etc ~100 depending on capacity.

[LTb1ow]

Ok so I decided to get a laptop.

However... I really don't know whats "good" and whats a scam


Heres the question for ya guys.
If you had to get a lap top for 900 bucks, what would it be and if you could, why?

[Knipps]

I showed you the MSI one, I'd probably get something similar/better