Used Laptop ??

[FTI2007]

Im looking to buy a used laptop to run mastercam at home. Mainly for home learing/training etc. I was looking at ebay and Im just wondering what are some minimum specs I should look for. I know about a dedicated nvidia grahics card. are there any cards to stay away from? Will most "gaming" machines run mastercam? Im trying to stay under $400. Is there anywhere else to buy good used laptops besides ebay?

 

here is one example of what I was looking at. what do you think??

 

DELL PRECISION M6300 Core 2 Duo 2.20GHz 4GB 320GB Nvidia Quadro FX1600

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360834127740?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

Thanks in advance.

[GoetzInd]

4 gigs is pretty low even for light home use.

 

Mike

[Roger Martin from CNC Software]

I noticed a link in this recent post... New computer

 

I am running a similar system as this $300 system ->

Dell M6500

http://www.offleasea...et/Detail?no=52

 

 

My setup ->

Not a rocket, but it works for most tasks.

That said, this M6500 is definitely much faster than my previous system, which was a M6300

 

Dell Precision M6500

Intel® Core™ i7 CPU Q 740 @ 1.73GHz

8GB RAM

Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro FX 2800M (1GB)

250GB SSD drive

500GB Std (spinning) Drive

[FTI2007]

so would a i7 at a slower speed be better than a i5 at a faster speed? whats the minimum nvidia graphics card I should consider?

[jeff]

so would a i7 at a slower speed be better than a i5 at a faster speed? whats the minimum nvidia graphics card I should consider?

Not necessarily.

The i7 2600K was basically the same thing as the i5 2500k... more or less.

And in some instances the i5 outperformed the i7.

 

As for minimum card, well it all depends on your budget.

Stay away from any Nvidia X50 cards. they are garbage, go with the X60 or higher cards such as the 660, 760, etc...

if you go Quadro,I think the Quadro 200 is the entry level card but I'm probably wrong on that one. Someone else can answer that.

 

I have the GTX680 card in my work pc and it's really nice, granted I don't do molds or have massive files, that's where you'd want a Quadro.

[Jayson Kramer]

FTI2007 that is a good deal . I had a m6300 it was real good to me. I would get it and later update the ram to 8 gigs. At that price you could get the ram updated and stay in budget.

[FTI2007]

Another question. Is there a noticeable difference between the core 2 duo and the i5/i7. Or will either do the job for me

[FTI2007]

Or this one

 

Dell m6400 8gb. 2.4ghz. Fx2700

 

http://m.ebay.com/itm/181302845701?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1

[Jayson Kramer]

Buy this one as there is allot more option including updating supports more ram and dual drives one Sata and one Msata along with full keyboard.

I would get it now that is cheap.

[FTI2007]

What do you mean by dual drives? I don't see it

[FTI2007]

Is the resolution ok? 1440x 900

[crazy^millman]

That model has the ability to put 2 drives in it. Also you can get Memory to upgrade that to 16 gigs and maybe even 32 gigs. I would that the one that come with it and clone it to a SSD. Then once you make sure all if good then you swap the drives making the SSD your main drive then take the one that came in it your secondary drive. Now you got better speed with better memory. Also if going with the SSD look to Samsung or Intel for the SSD, but make sure you go with the PRO from Samsung and not the EVO.

[FTI2007]

Only thing I'm not sure of os the screen resolution does it need to be 1920x1200 or is the 1440x900 ok?

[crazy^millman]

That screen rexxxxion should be fine if not do like I do at home where I run 2 screens from my Laptop and only look at the screen when I am at a customers.

[Colin Gilchrist]

1920 x 1200 is a much better screen size for working with Mastercam.

[FTI2007]

Thanks for confirming that. That's what I was thinking. I found a couple m6500 are close to my budget that have everything I need/want.

[Jayson Kramer]

Ok I was off some by the M6400 in the larger version and supports to full size laptop drives were say a M4600 will support a standard drive and a Msata drive.

Were a M6600 or M6700 will support 3 drives.

Are stuck on the 17" or are you also looking at the 15.6 models to.

 

the 15.6 models are nice to I own 4 of them two M4600 and two M4700 and looking to get most likely two more of the M4700 this year.

[FTI2007]

I like the idea of the full keyboard with number pad of the 17"

[FTI2007]

I guess I see they make the full keyboard with number pad also on the 15". Either is fine with me.

[Jayson Kramer]

All this did now for you is give you more options. Maybe you can get a newer 15" as they are usually less in cost.

[Fred @ Slate Industries]

Late arrival here...Anything Lenovo Think pad with a Nvidia chipset.

And your good for home.

I ran a $ 5,000. new, Dell precision whatever in 2010

And a $5,000. + new Sager last year and guess what my lowly Lenovo T61 think pad

"For use at home" costing me $400.00 used off ebay STILL in 2014 gets it done.

Sure the Dell and Sager rocked! on running multiple sessions of SW and MC etc. but for home on a budget

Think pad with a Nvidia Video card.

[FTI2007]

I am looking at other brands including the thinkpads. I just have not found one that meets everything Im looking for yet. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[jeff]

Another question. Is there a noticeable difference between the core 2 duo and the i5/i7.

 

Night and Day difference.

[jeff]

I am looking at other brands including the thinkpads. I just have not found one that meets everything Im looking for yet. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

Acer and MSI make some good laptops in the $1,000 price range as well.

[Jayson Kramer]

Another question. Is there a noticeable difference between the core 2 duo and the i5/i7.

 

Then there is a difference just in the I5 that most do not know. What most do not know is that the I5 comes in two core configurations one Dual core and the other of Quad core.This also the same for I7. then things I look for is how much cache does it have.