BIM laptop?

[Mats_Knutsson]

Hi,

I would like to know where to start looking for a really powerful 15" laptop for BIM? ArchiCAD+other software like Tekla Structures. Lots of IFC.

Any brand better or worse?

I'd appreciate a silent machine as well as a working touchplate. I'm currently on macbook pro but since many of the BIM-applications I will need to use occasionally are windows only I doubt it's worth the hassle of having a mac with windows. I've never seen a laptop even close in "feel" of the macbook pro but there are zillions of laptops out theere and I don't know where in the jungle to start looking.

Very thankful for input!

Cheers,
Mats

[Laszlo Nagy]

Check this video for specs recommendation from GS (talks about both desktops and laptops, both Mac and Windows):

http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/marketing/us/05-archicad_dream_machine/05-archicad_dream_machine.html

For hard drive I can wholeheartedly recommend an SSD drive for your system drive. If you buy a 17" laptop those usually have two slots for hard drives.

[rob2218]

Laz..
Link was not found?
What happened?
did it get deleted?
where can I re-locate the link?

[Laszlo Nagy]

Looks like they changed its location:

http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/marketing/us/05-archicad_dream_machine/05-archicad_dream_machine.video...

[rob2218]

hello Lazslo...
it's December 2011 now...what has changed, increased, got altered since this last posting on hardware requirements?

I know everything changes so fast in the PC/MAC world that January's 2011 "good MAC's" are no longer valid in December of the same year.

Please advise.

[Laszlo Nagy]

I don't think that much has changed.
What I see changed from AC14 to AC15 requirements is that the program mainly needs more RAM and hard disk space.

AC15:
http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/system_requirements/

AC14:
http://www.graphisoft.com/support/archicad/system_requirements/archicad14.html

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I want to buy a laptop to run ArchiCAD ... can you suggest a good brand and model around at the moment...

Many thanks

[Laszlo Nagy]

Do you want to buy a Windows or Mac machine?
Also, what size projects do you work on mostly?
Also, how much and how advanced rendering do you plan to do?

Here is also an article from which you can start:

http://www.archicadwiki.com/RecommendedHardware

[Anonymous]

I want to buy a Windows laptop... was hoping for 17" monitor and a numeric keypad...16GB ram + 4GB video ram ... good resolution etc. etc. Have been looking at the Asus N76 VZ model but not sure if there are other brands that would be as good but better price?? Would also like an SSD if possible... (gosh...is that all???!!)

I work on Commercial projects - mostly small scale but do end up providing modelling and rendering help (partnering) with other firms from time to time on much larger projects.

Many thanks for your input..

[stefan]

I'm quite pleased with the new Macbook Pro with SSD and 16Gb RAM.

So SSD for system & software is wholly recommended, preferably with an additional internal drive for archival & data (can be slower).

Dell has the Precision and Alienware brands, the former for CAD/3D and the latter for gaming (which is also heavy 3D). But I have never used a non-Mac laptop.

FWIW, I can run Revit 2013 through Parallels fairly smooth, while at the same time running ArchiCAD 16 and Solibri Model Checker on the OSX side. But I guess having a native Windows running will get more from the system.

As for 17" monitor > I'd stick with 15" and place a large screen on the desktop when in the office.