thanks for your help, im so pressed for time at work, and the info you gave is great, thanks a bunch.

So ill look for a desktop and just keep my current laptop just for the sketchup design then send to the desktop and take it from there.
Thanks again.!!!!!

So Im trying to find a good bang for buck but that can handle octane and take no longer the 20 min for rendering a 1500 x 1000 image. at 150dpi or higher.

i found this laptop
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11622404&whse=BC&Ne=5000001+4000000&eCat=BC|84|56670&N=4047229

But if ...