Question:
Graphic Arts: Recommended Equivalent to this Dell?
Hello all,
My girlfriend's sister needs a new laptop for her interior design program. She will be using using it for Autocad, Adobe Creative Suite Premium, and Discreet 3ds Max.
Her school recommended the following:
Dell Precision? M90 Mobile Workstation
* Intel CoreDuo T2500, 2.00GHz 667Mhz 2MB L2 Cache, Dual Core
* Microsoft Windows XP Professional
* 100 GB HD (7200 RPM)
* 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM
* NVIDIA Quadro FX 2500M 512MB OpenGL
* Dell Wireless Intel 3945 WLAN (802.11a/g)
* 24x CDRW & 8X DVD+/-RW
* 9-cell Primary Battery
* 3 Year Dell Next-Day Onsite Parts & Labor Warranty + CompleteCare
* LoJack theft deterrent and tracking device locates lost or stolen computers
Final Price: $2,259
Can you guys recommend an equivalent Fujitsu or Lennovo model? I trust their build qualities over Dell.
Any other brand recommendations would be appreciated as well.
Thank you so much!
Answer:
Re: Graphic Arts: Recommended Equivalent to this Dell?
Since screen quality will be important, I think you are wise to steer clear of Dell. I recommend the computer in my signature, the Compal HEL80 from powernotebooks.com. Great support, great computer, great price, and excellent screen.
Answer:
Re: Graphic Arts: Recommended Equivalent to this Dell?
The M90 is a really powerful mobile workstation but I would choose Core 2 Duo instead of Core Duo... but the screen quality probably will not be the best as posted.
Lenovo has mobile workstations such as ThinkPad T60p/z61m but they are 15.4" with less powerful GPUs. Lenovo doesn't make 17" notebooks. HP has the nw9440, which can be comparable to the M90 in terms of graphics power..
It might be other options too but fill out the FAQ first and you will get better replies.
Answer:
Re: Graphic Arts: Recommended Equivalent to this Dell?
THanks guys for the responses. Some more alternative recommendations would be nice.
Is there any difference other than the obvious between getting a 17 inch and 15.4 inch screen?
Answer:
Re: Graphic Arts: Recommended Equivalent to this Dell?
Thats a good lappy for the price.
Answer:
Re: Graphic Arts: Recommended Equivalent to this Dell?
Is there any difference other than the obvious between getting a 17 inch and 15.4 inch screen?
The differences will lie in weight and specs typically. 17" models tend to have much more powerful specs inside due to the extra space allowed for cooling methods.
As for another recommendation, check out the HP dv9000t review in my sig. Its got more than enough power to handle the programs required, and is quite a bit cheaper than the Dell. Not to mention the screen is absolutely gorgeous. The only downside for her use would be the GPU. It is an Nvidia go7600, which is a gaming/mulitmedia card rather than an OpenGL. It will still handle those programs fantastically, as it is a very powerful card, but its not optimized for those things, so the GPU would be slower than the one in the Dell.
Answer:
Re: Graphic Arts: Recommended Equivalent to this Dell?
Thanks for the recommendation.
The HP is interesting but if its 3d card isn't optimized for graphics arts programs I should probably just stick with the Dell.
I wonder if any other laptop brands have as good Open GL cards?
Answer:
Re: Graphic Arts: Recommended Equivalent to this Dell?
There is the Clevo M570U - 17" with NVIDIA Quadro FX 2500M.
Answer:
Re: Graphic Arts: Recommended Equivalent to this Dell?
The HP is interesting but if its 3d card isn't optimized for graphics arts programs I should probably just stick with the Dell.
I wonder if any other laptop brands have as good Open GL cards?
Just because it isnt optimized for it, doesnt mean it won't do the job, plus it will give you better support should you ever decide to game. The dv9000t is just hard to pass up for the money.
HP has business line with OpenGL offerings, and are great choices. Some of the ones I picked out were the nx9420/nw9440/nw8440
Answer:
Re: Graphic Arts: Recommended Equivalent to this Dell?
Just because it isnt optimized for it, doesnt mean it won't do the job, plus it will give you better support should you ever decide to game. The dv9000t is just hard to pass up for the money.
FIY, the Quadro FX 2500M is based on the Go 7900 GTX and is a few light years better than the Go 7600 for anything (including games).
Other than that, the HP dv9000t is nice for a budget notebook but I personally would not buy a 17" notebook with a mid-range card, that's me of course. Also, most people buy 17" notebooks because they need more graphics power, otherwise, there are 15.4" with mid-range video cards.
Also, professional GPUs have their advantages in terms of optimized OpenGL drivers built for maximum image quality and pixel precision, these cards are also certified by the 3D application developers to ensure that they will work impeccably.... In short, you're paying for stable drivers and excellent support and if you ever have any problems you will never be left alone with them, which would be the case with the regular gaming cards. That's way these cards are recommended for professionals because they will save their time, which is usually more important than the money they will spend on the notebook. Other than that, the mobile worsktations have far superior build quality and support compared to budget lines like Pavilion.
Anyways, he asked for mobile workstations so, as I said before:
15"
- ThinkPad T60p (FireGL V5250)
15.4"
- Dell Precision M65 (NIDIA Quadro FX 350M)
- HP Compaq nw8440 (FireGL V5200)
- The ThinkPad Z61p (Fire GL V5200)
17"
- HP Compaq nw9440 (NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500M)
- Clevo M570U (NVIDIA Quadro FX 2500M)
- Dell Precision M90 (NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500M/2500M/3500M)
You can find more information about these cards in the links in my signature.