Q: laptop (w/ ATI Radeon x300) for May/3dsMax

[rybeck]

Hello all,

Considering to get used laptop, and wondering if it is suitable to use maya (8.0-8.5), and 3dsMax (9.0).

Specs are...
-Thinkpad T43
-Pentium M 2Ghz
-1Gb Ram
-80Gb HDD (5400rpm)
-ATI Radeon x300

Particularly I am worrying about video card part as I've never used ATI line before...
Thinking of doing light modeling and scripting (no heavy rendering) on the laptop at this moment.

Any advise would be appreciated~


Rybeck

[Talon]

Yeah, that should run Max and Maya fine, I'm pretty sure.

[chrizz1]

the processor is good, but 1 gig of ram is ok but not brill (as vista needs one gig to actually run well) but you are probably run xp? still if you can out in another gig, that would make sure your laptop dosent lagg quite as bad when you have heavier file sizes. I know you said light modeling, but THB if you were working on a scene and it began to get big you dont tend to think, "Hmmm maybe I should swap computers".
The hard-drive would be fine and you can always buy a 160 gig portable one for relatively cheap these days.

Not sure about graphics card as the laptop is about 3ish years old but I cant see any major problems

chris

[UnsteadyTeddy]

I ran heavy 3dsmax scenes fine on a win xp 3ghz P4 with 512 ram and ATI x600, if that helps.

[chrizz1]

ah well proves me wrong then, hahaha!

chris

[svelle]

had a x300 before my 2600 pro, works fine with max, had shader model 2.0 is not the best graphicscard but very good for the little money you pay for

i would go with that machine if the price is right

[rybeck]

Talon, chrizz1, UnsteadyTeddy, svelle,

My apology for being such lazy XXX not to response for your suggestion and opinion. I do appreciate all.

Indeed I was intensively busy... except my work, had tried to save as much as, and sold all stuffs I don't use no more, in order to raise $ for new laptop (thinkpad T61p) with following spec... actually I am about to place an order tonight...





For the RAM, I guess I can add 4Gb set as soon as the machine is here.
'DVD-RW' and 'Bluetooth' seems not to be essential so skipped them.

Hope to hear last time suggestion... and I will be back to check up any feedback, I promise..


Thank you


[ADDED] --> Last minute thought, I am think of get 2.4Ghz CPU instead 2.5Ghz, as I am not expecting rendering out of laptop... It saves me 75.00 +/- that I may get 4Gb RAM with them.

What's your opinion?



Rybeck

[Talon]

It's a big leap forward from the last specs you posted. With 4gb ram that'd actually be verging on being as good as my desktop PC.

[rybeck]

Talon,

Yes, it was quite jump. I had two choices either getting highend Quadro or desktop replacement mobile machine. As summer getting hotter, I had to stay out more often, later was easy choice. Glad that I didn't end up with older thinkpad (t43) although some of you guys offer positive answer for it. This would be staying with me for next year or two for sure.



As I am in market to buy RAM for the laptop, here is 3 choices I have.

GeIL 4GB (2 x 2GB)
Newegg.com - GeIL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory - Laptop Memory

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB)
Newegg.com - mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory - Laptop Memory

A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB)
Newegg.com - A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory - Laptop Memory

Spec seems to be shoulder to shoulder, but if someone have good experience with any brands (either from the list or not), I'll be glad to hear.

Thank you,


Rybeck