[Garret]

Avoid anything that relies on NVidia GeForce Graphics Cards for CAD. Those are specifically gaming graphics cards, there is a difference. I cannot run Inventor or even Google Sketchup when I use the GeForce graphics card. It could be my computer but I really would recommend going for something with the Nvidia Quadro Graphics card, the Quadro is the Nvidia graphics card designed for CAD specifically.

I run Inventor off the integtrated graphics on my Dell XPS with an i5 560 (2.67 gHz, turbo up to 3.3 gHz, 4 threads, 3M cache) processor and it runs incredibly fast even with large assemblies and rendering. I would recommend going for lots of RAM as well, I have 6 gB which is plenty.

My dad runs solidworks on his Dell Precision with an NVidia Quadro Graphics card and it works fine.

I like DELL for the warranty but I do not have any experience with anything other than DELL and HP. Except for my graphics card (I like it for games not CAD) my DELL XPS runs CAD great. With full warranty (+$300-$400) my XPS cost around $1500. I can only recommend Dell because I have only used Dell but they have served me fine.