This is very important.

Find out what CAD platform he will be running, that CAD platform will have a list of reccomend machines. The key is that the video card must be compatible with the CAD software.

As an example...
https://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/systemrequirements.html

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-Autodesk-Inventor-2018.html

Your best bet is the certified hardware for the software package he will be running. A gaming machine is not the same as a CAD machine.

I run Solidworks, Inventor, and Fusion 360 as a mechanical engineer.

My low buck HP ABook is compatible with all 3 and runs them fine. I’d also suggest a 14” machine with 1 or more larger LCD monitors which he plugs into at home. The smaller machine is lighter and easier to pack around.

I purchased this for my son for school. I just looked and the ram can be upgraded to 16GB.

$770

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BP9QG2J/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza


If you feel like spending some money, I own two of these now, one at the office and one for home / travel, they are monsters. The office one is a 2011 model still running strong. The home/travel one is a 2014 version and still like brand new.

$1230

https://www.amazon.com/Gaming-8th-Gen-i7-8750H-Processor-Windows/dp/B07BPB3FL5/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=Asus+ROG&qid=1553513643&s=elec tronics&sr=1-4


BTW - I am running autodesk Land Surveying software on mine. It does not even tax my machines they were built for hard gaming, 3D modeling makes them laugh.

I have 2 Lenovo laptops and 1 MSI laptop.
MSI is a very good, highly spec’ed out unit. A little on the “cheap” with keyboard and case though.
Lenovo is one of if not the best made laptops ! Great hinges, good keyboard.

most likely programs are Revit, sketch up, and other 3D graphics programs

Recommend Laptop - Architecture Student
 

Not sure it is limiting but if that’s really where his passion lies, there’s no way around it.

Again, like me, he may find that he enjoys the process of putting buildings together more than designing them and there are plenty of opportunities there.


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Last year he was undecided between pursuing architecture or dance. He applied to a bunch of schools in each, got into some good ones, then we suggested he take a gap year. So this year he got trained and certified as an EMT; that was his idea, he wants to be able to work during school at something other than fast food. He's spending the rest of his gap year dancing with a local company; it is a paid job and after umpteen years of dance training, its nice for him to achieve the goal of being a professional dancer for a while. This summer he'll work at the summer camp again, and start school in the fall.

When it came to applying for college this time around, he decided to drop dance and only apply to the two architecture schools that admitted and were willing to defer him last year. So that's Cal Poly SLO and Univ of Oregon.

I understand that SLO may have the better architecture program, but my preference is UO because it is a large university with a broad set of programs. If he decides architecture isn't his thing, there will be many other programs to choose from. If you quit the arch program at SLO, not sure there are as many alternatives. Plus his sister will be finishing her college at UO and she's looking forward to showing him all the ropes. Including, she informs me, all the party places.

He plans to major in architecture and, if at UO, minor in dance. The dance will keep him fit and, I'd like to think, be a release from hours hunched over a model.

If I had my druthers, he'd also minor in bus admin and intern for a summer in a development company. I keep telling him that the developer and bank have more control over the design than the architect so he needs to speak their language. He doesn't get that yet.

Thanks for all the computer help. It makes sense to go with a PC laptop workstation. I priced some out and it will cost $1-2K less than the MBP15 route. Also, he's wanted for some years to have a PC - not sure why, but he's the only family member who actually wants to peek outside the Apple ecosphere.