Need help with a custom build.

[Manavz]

So i've recently decided to update my work laptop and custom build one. Unfortunately, I'm kind of a noob with such things so i was hoping you guys could help me out. I have a $1200 budget and my work requires a lot of MATLAB and programming. Any build ideas would be appreciated.

[chazus]

A few things!

1) It would greatly help if you filled out the Build Help sticky.
2) Are you looking to build custom desktop? Or laptop? There really isn't "Custom Laptops", not for any reasonable price. You can certainly configure them, but you can't pick and choose everything like you could a desktop.
3) Just for reference, I don't think MATLAB (at least last time I used it a few years back) requires much power, if any. Nor does programming.

[Vermicious]

Not much you can customize with laptops, other than finding one that fits your needs and buy it. HP and Dell allow you to configure things like HDD vs SSD and the size of them, and/or how much RAM is installed. Otherwise you're pretty well limited to what models they have available.

Matlab isn't nearly as 'power' greedy as it used to be, most CPU's can handle it quite well, for your budget a system with an i5 or i7 will do just fine.

[Manavz]

A few things!

1) It would greatly help if you filled out the Build Help sticky.
2) Are you looking to build custom desktop? Or laptop? There really isn't "Custom Laptops", not for any reasonable price. You can certainly configure them, but you can't pick and choose everything like you could a desktop.
3) Just for reference, I don't think MATLAB (at least last time I used it a few years back) requires much power, if any. Nor does programming.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Budget- $1200
Resolution- 1900x1200.
Games / Settings Desired- Not going to use my laptop for excessive gaming so as long as it would be able to run a game like wow on low-medium, that'd be great.
Any other intensive software or special things you do (Frequent video encoding, 3D modeling, etc): Solid Works
Country: USA
Parts that can be reused: None
Do you need an OS? -Yes
Do you need peripherals (e.g. monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc)? No.

2. It'd be a laptop.

3. The laptop i used previously keeps overheating extremely fast so i'd like to just get a new laptop so i won't have to worry about that.

[potis]

http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Corp-...8587243&sr=1-3

Get this before it runs out ;D

[Fluorescent0]

3. The laptop i used previously keeps overheating extremely fast so i'd like to just get a new laptop so i won't have to worry about that.

If that's the only reason you're upgrading and if it didn't have that problem when it first came, all you need to do is replace thermal paste.

[Vermicious]

If that's the only reason you're upgrading and if it didn't have that problem when it first came, all you need to do is replace thermal paste.

Also a good shot of canned air can work wonders... have you cleaned the air vents and fan in your current laptop?