Hello to the Sketchup Community! I’ve been reading in the shadows for awhile, but have ran across a more specific question I would like to ask. Little run down on my experience level, so far I have been using Sketchup Web to design a few furniture projects and small cabinet jobs as a woodworker. Seeing if I like it and want to implement it into my regular work flow. Well I’ve gotten to that point and would like to expand into Sketchup Pro and extensions. I’m currently using a 10 year old laptop that I’ve got an external monitor rigged to. I know very little about computers, especially when it gets more in depth.
I’m looking to get into a new desktop to start my sketchup pro journey, after doing some research I realized I know less about computers than I thought… I think I was understanding the recommendations on the website, here, and a few youtube videos about the RAM being important and not looking so much at the amount of processors but the size? Then when it got into the graphics cards and discrete graphics cards I was completely lost. Understanding the overall concept but the details I don’t understand. My main question is, I don’t plan on using the computer for anything other than sketchup and a few everyday tasks (ordering parts, music, etc). Within sketchup I don’t plan on or see myself doing anything other than designing cabinets and furniture (whole house set of cabinets at most). Plan on using open cutlist and possibly fredoscale from the research I’ve done. Don’t plan on making big models, or using any fancy rendering or vr. I’m just a woodworker looking to up my productivity a bit. Am I overthinking this graphics card/computer situation since I plan on using such a small amount of sketchups capability’s?
Side note, when I say full house set of cabinets, ill probably just draw the cabinets, no walls, doors, furniture, if anything just walls and a floor to make modeling easier. Kitchens and bathrooms don’t even need to be in the same save/file. Dual monitors is one thing I would like to keep, all my experience (other than iphone) is with with windows as well.
Sorry for the long post, but I know specific questions get specific answers.
Thanks you all for your time and help on the subject!!
Rhett
On your profile you put that you’re using windows 10, if your knowledge about computers is minimum and you don’t want to invest time and energy on this kind of stuff, I recommend and also think it’s the best option for now, is to get a basic M4 Mac mini, it is super powerful, it’s incredibly small and cheap for the performance it offers, you don’t have to be worried about gpu drivers or installing an OS, just unbox it, plug it and it’s done.
My dad was a windows user for decades, he’s knowledge about computers or anything related to technology is somehow less than 0, he just told me that switching to macOS was the best thing he has done, or was forced to do I would say, it’s very intuitive, and you don’t have to care about viruses, drivers, or any of the problems that come with a windows PC.
I would install SketchUp on your 10 year old laptop and get to work.
By that I mean, try it out on the hardware you have and see how it goes.
People often try to buy there way out of issues by getting real fancy hardware when often they just need to better their skills.
It’s a bit like learning to ride the balls off a small motorcycle rather than thinking a bigger one will make you a better rider.
If it works on what you have then you have a benchmark from which to upgrade.
And if the models you have been making with the online version are like the ones you will make when you “really” get into it, and the online performance has been adequate, your present setup might work. The online version uses your computer too for its weight-lifting.
Thanks everyone for the responses, I really appreciate the input and honestly never thought about just trying it on my current set up. Will it be a licensing issue to install it on a new computer if I do decide to switch in the future, I’m sure new computers are a common thing and there is a work around?
I did look into the M4 Mac Mini. It has really grabbed my attention. Seems like a great bang for your buck. The switch to Mac is something I’m somewhat worried about, but I switched to an iPhone and couldn’t be happier, so optimistic nevertheless.
You basically sign out of one and sign into the other. You could actually still use both.
There can be issues where you need to jump through a few simple hoops to deauthorize other devices, but generally it is simple.