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(Repost) I am going off college beginning of august. I'm looking for windows laptops with at least a 30 series card, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. This laptop needs to have good battery life for when I am out and about using various CAD programs, capable of running video games at decent speeds (probably when plugged in), good cooling, and a relatively small size. I would preferably like to stay in the $1200-$1800 range with around $2000 being my absolute cap. I know that finding a laptop with all these requirements is a little tough and if sacrificing one of them is needed, then so be it. Thanks in advance for the help!

Hye, ive used inventoer for over 6years in my studies. but now that it comes to an end, my inventor licences does so to. i need a good and free replacement for my hobby (3d printing parts) i try freecad but i dont understad the layout etc. i could spent time to learn it but, i first want to see what is around. mabby you guys have some better options. fingers crossed.

Hi all, I'm new to the forum, familiar with the content of Linus. I'm an mechanical engineer in Holland and have a lot of experience with solidworks and Inventor. Looking at all the game pc builds I started to make some plans of making one for myself to replace my old crappy laptop. Although I also want to be able to do some 3d modeling on it. Now in the experience I have the most parametric cad programs can only run calculations on 1 core (because solving a model happens sequential). I have recently worked on a pc that was equipped with a p2000 gpu, but when the model was struggling the gpu had a 3% load. So I thought, is a gpu a requirement for 3d work? Do I need as many cores as possible for CAD work? Hope the community can enlighten me a bit on the requirements for CAD programs as I don't see the use for many cores and gpu power ( except when rendering images of course) Aldo never saw a video about cad stations which I would like to see ;) Thanks in advance,

I am taking an inventor class for college and we had to pick an item that has at least 10 pieces. I chose a Lego mini-figure plus some accessories for it. The only problem is I do not have the exact measurements of the figures. I tried to dimension them myself but some are nearly impossible to get. Does anyone know any site that lists all the dimensions and pieces of a Lego mini-figure?

I recently downloaded AutoCAD 2018 and Inventor Pro 2018 for school. I downloaded AutoCAD on my SSD and Inventor Pro on my HDD. Inventor Pro opens faster than AutoCAD does and this confuses me. It's a larger program that does primarily 3D modeling and it is on my slower drive. AutoCAD is smaller that does primarily 2D modeling and is on my faster drive. How is this? My SSD is fine, I know so because I've moved games to it from my HDD with drastic improvements. Could this be an optimization thing? CPU: Intel i5-6500 (Skylake) GPU: 1060 6GB RAM: Kingston HyperX Fury 8GB DDR4 SSD: Adata SP550 128GB HDD: Western Digital Blue 1TB

I am currently stuck between two laptops, the MSI PS63 and the Acer Aspire 7. The Acer Aspire 7 has an "8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H 6-Core Processor (Up to 4.1GHz)" while the MSI PS63 has a "Processor: Intel Core i7-8565U Quad Core Processor (8MB Cache, 1.8GHz-4.6GHz) 15W." I plan on using a laptop for Unity, AutoDesk programs like Inventor, programming, and some light gaming. The PS63 is lighter than the Acer aspire 7, which is why I'm leaning towards the PS63 more. My only problem is that the PS63 has a lower wattage CPU and is only quad core while the Acer Aspire 7 is 6 core. I wanted to ask if it would make a huge difference for me in performance if I were to go with the PS63 instead of the Acer Aspire based on the programs I use.

My job is 3d modeling CAD components/parts using Autodesk Inventor. I have been doing fine with my computer (specs below) until recently. Recently a customer gave me a 860mb assembly file that contained +1700 parts and it destroyed my machine. It takes 40 minutes to open from STEP and 5+ to open from native IPT. When it does load, it takes several seconds+ to zoom, rotate or edit. It almost makes it impractical for actual use due to the time I'm waiting for the computer to catch up with the desired operations. It may not sound like much but just imagine playing a game with seconds per frame instead of FPS. During use the processor is usually under light load 50% or less, and I float around 15Gb ram usage (~50%) for this particular model. If anyone has any insight to what may cause an issue like this the advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Hardware CPU Type Intel Core i7-3770 @ 3.40GHz CPU Measured Speed 3.39 GHz [Turbo: 3.79 GHz] Motherboard 0NW73C Memory 32GB , Crucial Technology BLT8G3D1608DT1TX0. Video Card Tested Radeon R9 290X / 390X Hard Drive Tested Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB (1 TB)

So I've been planning to build a new PC for awhile now but have but am having trouble picking the cpu, and what form factor to go with in general. My biggest problem is I am an engineer that does 3D CAD and computing intensive programs like MATLAB. I've had trouble figuring out exactly where to throw my money in this build mostly because I'm not sure which parts these programs will stress I.e. do I ball out on a 6 core cpu or will a quad be just fine? Is it worth the money for hyperthreading? Each of these choices are the difference in a few hundred dollars so I wanna make sure I'm not overspending. Lastly, if it is worth balling out on a cpu where else could I save money without sacrificing quality (psus, ssds, etc.)? Thanks!

Ok so ,like everyone im sure, i have done alot of research and have chosen the pc parts i want for my build. They are as follows. CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009O7YUF6/?tag=pcpapi-20 CPU Cooler: Cooler Master V8 GTS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103189&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-PCPartPicker,%20LLC-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID= MoBo: ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00906DHLE/?tag=pcpapi-20 Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J8E8Y5C/?tag=pcpapi-20 SSD: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A1ZTZNM/?tag=pcpapi-20 HHD: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005T3GRLY/?tag=pcpapi-20 GPU: MSI Radeon R9 390 8GB - http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=MSI-390GM8&c=CJ Case: NZXT Phantom 820 - http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=CA-PH820G1&similar=31 PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G2 80+ GOLD - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IKDETOC/?tag=pcpapi-20 Optical Drive: LG WH14NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer - http://www.outletpc.com/jy9361-lg-wh14ns40-internal-14x-bd-r-drive.html?utm_source=jy9361-lg-wh14ns40-internal-14x-bd-r-drive&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=pcpartpicker&utm_content=LG%20Electronics%2B-%2BDVD%2FCD%2FBlu-Ray%20Drives%20%3E%20Internal%20Blu-Ray%20Drives So basically my main concern is will i be able to use AutoCAD and Solid Works with this set up as well as gaming. im not a hardcore gamer but i like fallout and minecreft. I know that the higher core count and the higher frequency will help. There just isnt any good references online that discuss this or give solid info. Thanks in advance.

Why are you upgrading? I had a hp dv6-3200 laptop. They are prone to overheating. Unfortunately, recently my dedicated gpu died on me. After i fried dedicated gpu, performance in programs i use on daily basics dropped down, as to as low as getting couple of frames per second in showcase. I'm a member of one of the University Rover Challange - and guess what? As a mechanic, I'm doing most of the modelling and simulations, also my CAM fu*ks up on integrated card so i cannot write programs for my CNC mill. So I'm looking for a cheap way to get back into working, asap. I'm not think about getting new components. All used. Budget: Poland, budget of maximum 1200 PLN (currently about 300 USD), but want to go as low as possible. Aim Mostly Inventor modelling, stress FEA in simulation mechanical, rendering in showcase (not final quality, but for a decent preview). I also do some video editing in premiere, but its like 1080p, so it's not so heavy comparing to showcase rendering. Peripherals I need nothing. I already have a couple of spare monitors, keyboard and a mice, speakers with woofer. Build: CPU: Athlon x4 860K Quite sure about that, i can buy one for 72$ Mobo: MSI A68HM-E33 That something I'm not quite sure of - i want it to have at least 1 USB 3.0 port, additional RAM slots would be an advantage, as well as OC ability. As for now, it's about 35$. RAM: whatever cheap 8gb DDR3 stick will come cheaply, im thinking about 26$. I don't want to buy 2x4, so i can quickly upgrade. GPU: Now that's what's troubling me. I was thinking about: ASUS HD 7790 DirectCU II 1GB GDDR5 OC XFX Radeon HD 6870 2GB AMD Radeon Gigabyte Windforce 3x HD6970-2Gb Each one about 75$. PSU: Not worried, have some spares. Same with the case. Guys, Im not a "build custom pc all the time guy", but a mechanic - so can you help me? Appreciate it big time.

Hi all! This is my first post, and I figured this forum is the place to go for anything PC related. Sooo, here is the task at hand fellas! I'm a design hobbyist, I’ve built my first 3 workstation computers in the past year and recently graduated in mechanical engineering, so I'm not a noob with the subject but also not an expert. Now, a friend of mine that owns a private engineering company has asked me to build him a workstation that will flex the capabilities of his firm. His definition of "flexing" is raw power, as well as being visually/aesthetically robust, with the goal of attracting new clients and contracts by creating the perception of potentially higher ceilings and expanded capabilities. Long story short, I have until the launch of the new 10-core, Intel i7-6950X in early Q2 of 2016 to get all components of this workstation ready for ordering, after which I will build this bad boy myself in their headquarters! He has already approved the case I've chosen to build on and given the machine a name, appropriately, JARVIS. http://thermaltakeusa.com/Chassis/Mid_Tower_/Core/C_00002732/Core_P5/design.htm I'm not trying to spend $10K on this build, but if that turns out being the case, so be it.... If you catch my drift! We want to save where we can but not at the expense of pure quality. That being said, I have a strong feeling my greatest dilemma will be choosing which NVIDIA graphics solution to equip. OK... now to the fun part. For starters, the 3 workstations I've built (first WS build was mine, next 2 for college buddies and each more and more powerful) have ALL been optimized for SolidWorks 2015 CAD with occasional sims and rendering. All Windows 10 now, i7, Quadro K4200 and M4000. SolidWorks uses OpenGL, therefore, Quadro. JARVIS will be outfitted with Linux Mint and potentially Windows 10 Pro, using the new Autodesk Inventor 2016 suite with Navisworks, among other add-ons, which from now on will be updated constantly, rather than new-year models of the software being launched. Seems to be the trend these days! I have no experience with Linux. This company’s current time agenda: large assemblies of all types, including large thermal systems, consumer product design, plant and factory design, and validation, as CQ is an engineering consulting firm with close to 100 clients. 90% CAD, 10% FEA, ANSYS flowsim, rendering, etc. As well, converting parts/assemblies or STEP files to and from other software like SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, etc. More rendering could be plausible, though. From what I’ve seen, presentation and appearance are extremely valuable to gaining favor and can be the difference in convincing a client to shell out more than they expected by showing them a glimpse of the light… From what I’ve read, Inventor doesn’t use OpenGL, so many users claim Quadro is unnecessary. I have no idea. I have heard good and bad ends of this spectrum, though most things I’ve read are dated. I use SolidWorks so the choice is easy for me: most Quadro you can afford. Autodesk is not SolidWorks, though. The M6000 and the Titan X are competitive on the stat sheets. I’ll customize the liquid cooling for this build so heat is not a concern. Should I go Titan X, this is the candidate: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XEW3Y40?refRID=RW0BFZ44EFNDMMF3CEFS&ref_=pd_ybh_a_21 For me to select gaming graphics, I’m going to need some solid guarantees that it will not only handle everything thrown its way, but do it in a manner superior to a competitively priced Quadro M4000 or M5000, and close to equivalent of the M6000. Due to lack of experience with the software, I cannot confirm whether Autodesk is capable of taking advantage of SLI or Quadro Sync. As well, with each subsequent WS I've built, I chose to max out the mobo's RAM capacity as I (and my buddies as a result) am an advocate of 3Dconnexion's SpaceMouse Pro. This allows you to free up your standard 2D mouse for selection and commands while seamless navigating the view port in 6 axes/directions, simultaneously… If you’ve got the ram to prevent lagging. This, of course, is also dependent on the size/complexity of the part/assembly at hand. Some say 16 GB is enough RAM and 32 is overkill. Not the case when this hardware is in use. Given a large assembly around 2000 parts, on the best WS I’ve built so far, (which has 64 GB of HyperX DDR4 @ 2333 MHz on ASUS X99-A mobo, i7-5960X, Quadro M4000 and all OS and programs installed on 4 x Intel 730 SSD’s in RAID0) all I have to do to max out the RAM is turn on ambient occlusion and rotate the assembly with the 3D mouse. This is why, in any scenario, 128 GB of DDR4 RAM will be equipped, most likely to this mobo: https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/X99E_WSUSB_31/overview/ Unless there is a better option. Which is why I’m here! I would love all the input I can get from those with some unbiased opinions! Here are the other component options I'm looking at so far: PSU: Corsair Professional Series AX 1200i Watt Digital ATX http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Professional-Digital-Modular-Platinum/dp/B008Q7HUR0/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1450397536&sr=1-6&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_two_browse-bin%3A6906988011 RAM G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 3200 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232090 Probably both of these: Intel 750 Series AIC 1.2TB PCI-Express 3.0 x4 MLC Internal Solid State Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167363 Samsung 950 PRO M.2 512GB PCI-Express 3.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2W03JY5023 Cooling: Thermaltake RL480 Radiator http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Pacific-Cooling-Radiator-CL-W014-AL00BL-A/dp/B00ZUPLZH2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_147_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41VR-stehdL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1A6BGFTPVXT769MNSPTP XSPC D5 Photon 270 Reservoir / Pump Combo http://www.amazon.com/XSPC-Photon-Reservoir-Pump-Combo/dp/B00FJHFREI/ref=pd_sim_147_7?ie=UTF8&dpID=41LkFODg2-L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1DVSNEJ7YSQR7VEPP87A XSPC RayStorm Pro WaterBlock (CPU) http://www.amazon.com/XSPC-RayStorm-WaterBlock-Intel-Blue/dp/B0178T25WG/ref=pd_sim_147_43?ie=UTF8&dpID=41uF6mb0dXL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0SSSKG9TPEG1WEZK7EKH Cooler Master JetFlo 120 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E20SSZ8?refRID=HVE44DKVDK74DJ66A7HZ&ref_=pd_ybh_a_22 Antimicrobial .999 Fine Silver Strip http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Coils-Antimicrobial-999-Strip/dp/B00A66HMRC/ref=pd_bxgy_147_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0GK80MB3Z1FAZTJ69K04 tubing, connectors, cleaning agents, etc. GPU: Quadro M4000 http://www.amazon.com/PNY-Video-Graphics-Cards-VCQM4000-PB/dp/B014J7QXS2/ref=sr_1_7?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1451255304&sr=1-7&keywords=quadro+m6000 M5000 http://www.amazon.com/PNY-VCQM5000-PB-NVIDIA-Quadro-M5000/dp/B013W9NGQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450352182&sr=8-1&keywords=quadro+m5000 M6000 http://www.amazon.com/PNY-NVIDIA-Quadro-M6000-VCQM6000-PB/dp/B00UXHQHJS/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1451255304&sr=1-1&keywords=quadro+m6000 All of which, graphics NOT included as that is a fresh can of worms, is currently totaling approx. $4,550 Thanks everyone! I look forward to my future on these forums!

Click bait alert :huh: :rolleyes: Obviously it isn't going to work like a phone, that's a given, but I've modelled a 1:1 replica of the S6 Edge+ and linked the files in the video description, free to all to do with as you please. Included the original Inventor model, x2 STL files with screen and without screen and a STEP file. I haven't picked a suitable 3D printer yet so I haven't tested this, open to suggestions/alterations from anyone who can print it. If you do decide to head over and watch the video, please do excuse and feel free to skip the introduction, the explanation intro is for the benefit of existing subscribers.

Here we are! My soon to be build! What do you think? It's going to be used for 3d design work (inventor/3DS max/Maya/blender) as well as 3d and 2d animation on Maya, blender and other software. I will also be coding and doing digital art on it (this includes webdesign and photoshop). I will also be doing a bit of video editing to try it out. I also can't forget gaming. I will be gaming on whatever titles I can get cheap (MC/CS:GO/GMOD/TF2/Raze/skyrim/etc). I may also be trying out Music creation on audactity etc (anyone know any good software for it!) All on a budget of £500! PCPartPicker part list Price breakdown by merchant CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor (£130.94 @ Aria PC) Motherboard: MSI H97 Guard-Pro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£51.03 @ Amazon UK) Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (£55.93 @ CCL Computers) Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£35.94 @ Aria PC) Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280 3GB WINDFORCE Video Card (£137.99 @ Amazon UK) Case: BitFenix Comrade ATX Mid Tower Case (£33.59 @ Aria PC) Power Supply: Zalman 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (£39.13 @ Amazon UK) Total: £484.55 Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-01 13:14 GMT+0000

Well, it's finally the time to put the cash up for buying a new CAD rig... but, I'm after a little check over the parts selected & maybe a few ideas on some little bits. (sorry for the obligatory wall of text I tend to do) The main usage is going to be 3D CAD software - primarily SolidWorks, but I'm able to get Inventor from work, so I'll probably have that on it as well. Games are probably going to be kept away for the most part, but I need to fix this gaming rig, so there will be some on it for a little while. Space is limited, so I already bought a 250D case with the aim of installing the new ASUS Impact VII and a 4790K. The graphics will be handled by a Quadro K4200 (refreshed K4000) - after speaking with an Nvidia rep, running it at PCIe x8 should be OK - hence the M.2 in the parts list... Current plan is: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/xXDeltaXx/saved/c8xTwP Main queries: CPU cooler - CM Glacer 240L SHOULD fit in the 250D according to some sites, but after checking on the CM Nepton 240M, I cannot see the Glacer on CM's website... So, Glacer / Nepton / something else? RAM - not a clue on RAM TBH; 2x 8GB sticks is all that I know I'm after... Storage - 2x HDDs in RAID 1 for bulk / long term storage, 1x SSD for programs / files I need fast etc, 1x M.2 for the OS and a few programs... or if performance really sucks at PCIe x8, the SSD will have the OS, and the M.2 will have to go. Not sure on the SSD or the M.2 drive. PSU - probably overkill, may look for a Corsair RM450...? Peripherals: Keyboard - not sure, I want to go to a mechanical one, and from the way I smash the keys on this thing, I'm wondering about Green switches (I've got a little sampler thing and they seem OK). Greens limit the market, so maybe the CM Storm... Mouse - I'm using a RAT7 at the moment & I've got used to it / like it... but the main switches suck & develop a double click over time, so I don't know if I'm willing to give them another try. But, nothing I've seen so far grabs my attention... Headset - I was thinking the Func HS-260, but then Linus reviewed the HyperX Cloud & I kind of like it. Monitors - I am after 2x 27" 1440p IPS panels, preferably matte... the ASUS ones are good, but expensive. I know Logan uses some cheap Korean ones, but not sure of whether they are the best way to go... Thanks for reading. If you made it through the lot, have a cookie

Hey, I have recently been trying to get Autodesk Inventor (I may or may not have tried eight times already) and every time I try, it just comes up with the Communication error, so please help, I really REALLY want this piece of software. Thanks for you time, Cheers.

I found this gpu. Sapphire Dual-X R9 280 Graphics Card - 3GB GDDR5, 384-bit, PCIe 3.0 - 11230-00-20G Would it be able to operate Autodesk Inventor, be able to render 3d objects quickly, and be able to play high end graphic gaming?

This is my first build ever, so, of course, I want it to be the best possible without breaking the bank. My budget is about $1000, but obviously, the cheaper, the better. I'll mostly be using this for 2D/3D modeling in progams such as Autocad, SolidWorks, and Inventor. I also want to be able to game comfortably. This is what I have chosen so far. PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3BsN0 Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3BsN0/by_merchant/ Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3BsN0/benchmarks/ CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($269.99 @ Micro Center) CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 65.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($71.95 @ Amazon) Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($124.99 @ Newegg) Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg) Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($94.99 @ Amazon) Storage: Western Digital BLACK SERIES 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($145.99 @ NCIX US) Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 760 2GB ACX Video Card (Purchased For $0.00) Case: NZXT H440 (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ NCIX US) Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.90 @ Amazon) Total: $981.79 (Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.) (Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-05-02 01:21 EDT-0400) I'm really debating between the 4770K and Xeon E3-1230, I don't know which would be better for me. I'm open for suggestions though. I chose that mobo because I might want to SLI later down the road, I just don't have enough money for a second graphics card. And I already have the 760, so there's no getting around that. Thanks in advance.

Not sure where to post this but this is my best guess. I am planning a new build. Now before you go down and comment that this is the wrong sub forum hear me out. I want to do some minor modding to the case and to visualise any changes I plan to make I want to create the system in Autodesk Inventor. The only problem being that I do not have the skill to make the parts. I would link the part list now but it changes often. What I am asking is if there is anyone autodesk smart willing to help me with this task. Or if you could direct me somewhere where I would get the same help that would also be great! The only thing that would be difficult to get around is that I only have access to Inventor on my school's computers during class. I'm way ahead anyway so I'm practically doing nothing the entire time and School get's out in June. Any questions please ask!

I'm planning a build and the case I am planning on using isn't exactly adequate in all areas. My plan is to mod it to fit my needs but I am having trouble "visualizing" the process. I was wondering if there is a website where I could download 3D models of my computer parts for Autodesk Inventor so I could build the system and edit it utilizing the program. If no such website exists then is there anyone who could help me accomplish this? My Inventor skills are good enough so that I might be able to do this on my own but with some difficulty, especially without exact and detailed dimensions. If anyone knows of such a place or is willing to help it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

I've been asked to help a friend of mine build a computer for him for school. He's going into Mechanical Engineering and he primarily uses AutoCAD and Inventor(?). I've never really done much 3D modeling (outside of school) and I was wondering how I can optimize the build for him. He doesn't do much demanding gaming (League of Legends, Starcraft 2, etc). The budget is about $1000 (USD). He needs everything including a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and he also wants Windows 8.1. I can very easily create a parts list for the build but I just need to know how I should optimize the build for his needs. Do his needs justify more cores, more GPU horsepower, Cuda vs OpenGL, etc. Any tips would be much appreciated! Any thoughts @WoodenMarker ?

Ok, recently I have tried multiple times(without success) to install Autodesk Inventor 2014 on to my HP Pavilion g6 laptop. Yes I know it doesn't have the system requirements but I have installed this on it before and it worked fine. I am trying to reinstall it because I had to restore the thing to factory defaults. Anyway I have tried time and time again to instal it and each time it fails. I have tried deleting all autodesk files both manually and via uninstaller and it still doesn't work. I am using a 3 year free student licence from autodesk.com and windows 7 home prenium witch is up to date. It would be really helpful to have this on my computer so if you know of any solution please help. Thanks.

i am building my pc (i use inventor and 3ds max the most), i wanted to know in terms of performance what would be better between amd or nvidia , and which one of these has the last bugs/problems with windows 8.1 or 8 or/and with the softwares(inventor/3ds max) my budget is around 150-250 , P.S :i want to use that Graphics card to play games too