Subject: Re: [PC] Ansys on a Dell laptop Author: Zane Johnson Date: 2008-10-09 17:08:45Christiane Caouette wrote: > ...He told me he could get me > a used Dell laptop (quite recent, but I don't know anything else about it). > > So, would any of you consider solving models of about 100K DoF on a > regular basis on such a computer? These are non linear static > simulations with contact and interface elements, they will probably run > for hours. I think I risk having heat problems (maybe), hard drive > failure (there's only one drive in there, no RAID, so no extra > protection), and it will be slower than a desktop. I think it's a bad > idea, but I need some more evidence.
It will depend on the amount of RAM installed, I think. If you have enough RAM, you can use external USB hard disks to run your simulations.
Hard disk failure? Always a risk, with any computer you use. Be diligent about backing up your data and you'll be fine.
Heat problems? Maybe, but you won't know until you try. Just allow enough space around/under the laptop for air to circulate.
I do plenty of runs on a 5 year old laptop w/ 2 GB RAM and a USB external disk. Just depends on how quickly you need results and how big your models are.
-Zane
-- Zane Johnson North Dakota State University Center for Nanoscale Science & Engineering tel. 701.231.5192, fax 701.231.5306 http://www.ndsu.edu/cnse