Does an architect grad student need a desktop computer?

I'm in my second semester of a 3 year M.Arch program. I have a laptop computer - Lenovo Ideapad y510p with 8 gigs of RAM and decent hard drive. I'm a little concerned about the graphics card though. I need it to run programs such as AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, InDesign etc (usually multiple programs at once) and I'm nervous that my current laptop won't be able to handle the renderings of Rhino. It meets the "system requirements" except for the video card (because I don't know how to compare those)

I'm not 100% sure what graphics card is in my laptop (not sure how to check), but from the lenovo website, my options when buying were:
Select models of the Y510p feature dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 755M 2GB graphics with use of Ultrabay.

I highly doubt I paid for the most expensive one… Whichever that is.

I have found a custom built "gaming computer" for sale, but is it necessary for me to get a desktop?
PS: The desktop has a MSI R9 270X HAWK Radeon R9 270X 2GB 256-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card.

http://v5.rhino3d.com/page/system-requirements

Added (1). Specs online state the graphics as: NVIDIA® GeForce® GT755M 2GB

Not sure how that stacks up to OpenGL 2 capable video card

http://shop.lenovo.com/...tech_specs

Thanks for the advice! Other architecture grad student's input (or even professionals) on the necessity of a desktop vs laptop only would be appreciated as well!

Guest

Allow me to first explain what your real issue is.
I won't look it up again, by many Autocad and Adobe based programs require Windows Professional or Ultimate versions, and the Home Premium version of Windows may not run correctly.
There are also workstation graphics cards whose drivers and circuits are made for cad, and system is certified. Consumer level graphics cards are cheaper, and higher in gaming performance, but not as cad interactive performing.

Your other issue is a small display. You may be used to seeing tiny on a cell phone screen, but architecture detail will require a large display run by hdmi.

Rhino is not an issue. GT 755M is OpenGL level 4.3
http://www.game-debate.com/...0GT%20755M

Your Y510p should have a quad core i7 and that should be adequate. The entry model has an i5 that is not as strong and slows down processing. You have a SATA bay. It either has an optical drive, SSD or second HDD, fan, or a module containing a 2nd GT 755M and that would then become GT 755M SLI.
http://www.ebay.com/...1783636016

http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php
GT 755M shows G3D score 1650. SLI raises it 50 to 70%.
Quadro K3000M1598
Quadro K2000D1638
Radeon HD 7750 1638
GT 7401584
appx also R7 250X.

You would be better off building your own gaming PC, or buying best value. Show me full specs and I could evaluate it.
How to build a pc? Find video instruction:
https://www.youtube.com/...1UV8jCvIHA
http://pcpartpicker.com/
shopping+compatibility, and a permalink, or save a list to share.
My 15 year old nephew built a PC. Even 13 year olds can build a PC, but there are 20 year olds that can't hammer a nail straight or tie a tie.
R9 270x is a 4515 score, but cpu and ram counts a lot, and an ssd also helps a lot.

So, the Y510p may be adequate - not the best, but adequate, and can get upgrades.
My background in this - I worked at IBM and Lenovo, in Procurement Engineering and was involved mostly in Thinkpads, which included a workstation model, and I dug into what makes that one different.

Andy L