Intel HD 4000 for Solidworks

[TheGreatSkott]

I want to know how good the hd4000 GPU is for CAD applications like Solidworks and Autodesk inventor. The laptop I'm looking at (thinkpad x230) only has the hd4000 graphics available and I need a laptop for school. Keep in mind that the resolution of the screen is 768x 1366. This computer will be used for modelling and NOT rendering. I also don't particularly care about "pretty" things like nice textures or lighting. If anyone has any experience running either autodesk inventor or Solidworks on a computer with hd4000 I'd like their say.

 

Basically what are the minimum system requirements to reasonably run Solidworks and Inventor.

[megadarkwood]

I would say get an APU laptop with either a A8 or A10.

[TheGreatSkott]

I would say get an APU laptop with either a A8 or A10.

Any 3d CAD program requires a lot of single threaded performance and, in a laptop of this size, AMD simply can't match intel. Not to mention I haven't been able to find any laptops to match the x230 in terms of durability, usability or battery life in it's size category. The only reason I would change the laptop is if it simply can't do what I need it to-which I'm very worried about because it is a big investment and pretty weak hardware.

[mgsstar]

Solidworks 2012 on a Macbook is running pretty smooth with the Intel i5-3210M so I would think that it would be able to work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZqv6AbOxxI and the screen size for it is 1280x800: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2411324,00.asp

 

Not sure about Autodesk since I couldn't find any results about it.

[TheGreatSkott]

Solidworks 2012 on a Macbook is running pretty smooth with the Intel i5-3210M so I would think that it would be able to work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZqv6AbOxxI and the screen size for it is 1280x800: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2411324,00.asp

 

Not sure about Autodesk since I couldn't find any results about it.

Thanks, this looks like it would be pretty much fine for what I need. I've been scouring different forums but never thought to see actual footage of it (I feel kind of dumb). I found a bunch of different forums where the question was discussed but it never led to a conclusive answer.

[xinsight]

On 9/12/2013 at 8:31 AM, TheGreatSkott said:

Thanks, this looks like it would be pretty much fine for what I need. I've been scouring different forums but never thought to see actual footage of it (I feel kind of dumb). I found a bunch of different forums where the question was discussed but it never led to a conclusive answer.

Upto which version of Solid works were you able to use on HD 4000? I have a machine with HD 4000 and I might have to find an older version of SW to run on it. 

 

Looking at 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 - Just look for some perforated sheet metal design stuff like this - https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=IChGRqJBscY