New CAD Workstation Build

**Modulok** · Posted: Thu, 24 May 2007 15:21:42 Post Subject: New CAD Workstation Build

Building a PC for work...Design Dept are using Solidworks and Pro-E for CAD and are currently using Dell Dimensions. Rolling Eyes

One is a 4600 with Intel 3.0ghz and an AGP Quardro, and the other is an E521 with AMD 3600+ and Geforce 7300LE.
Gonna see how much better this new computer will do vs Dell.

Motherboard
CPU
RAM
Video Card
Hard Drive
DVD Drive
Power Supply
Case
Total is around $1,000

Any comments/suggestions?

knight0334 · Posted: Thu, 24 May 2007 15:32:02 Post Subject:

What kinda of CAD work? Basic 2d drafting doesn't really require much of anything.

Even this company's P3 w/8mb PCI video on some of their older systems handle being able to zoom out to see an entire phone exchange 15miles by 18 miles in area - then able to zoom in to the point the size of 1".

The biggest "slowdown" to PC's in the CAD world is loading files or data bases from servers. Our .dgn files are loaded from a server 200 miles away in Ohio.

**Modulok** · Posted: Thu, 24 May 2007 16:09:32 Post Subject:

Both programs do 3D and sometimes zooming in and out is choppy when there are a few components/features in the design.

Jan 06 we bought a dell precision 380 for our heaviest Solidworks user with a whopping Quadro FX3450. We were told that this video card would solve the lag between moving the design around and it really didn't. Adding 4GB of ram (ECC) didn't help either. I believe the CPU was slowing it down, Intel 3.0 DC. Compared to the Dell E521, I think the CPU is quicker than the Precision.

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Thu, 24 May 2007 16:19:07 Post Subject:

Nothing wrong with Dells for CAD. Where I worked we had some for 2D and 3D... Sure they were dual processor, 2GB+, with high end graphics... but still Dells.

**Modulok** · Posted: Thu, 24 May 2007 16:38:41 Post Subject:

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Thu, 24 May 2007 16:41:41 Post Subject:

Maybe for the home... but for a business I want someone to blame and make it their responsibility to repair/replace problems down the road.

**Modulok** · Posted: Thu, 24 May 2007 17:34:16 Post Subject:

ok ok, enough of this off topic stuff Grin

what do you think of the hardware?

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Thu, 24 May 2007 17:50:20 Post Subject:

Doesn't sound like you're building anything better than what you have that apparently isn't good enough.

The PSU seems more about LAN partying than high powered performance.

Why an SLI motherboard?

Are files saved locally? They shouldn't be. So a lil' Raptor seems like a waste of money.

Beige DVD with black case?

Grin

**Modulok** · Posted: Thu, 24 May 2007 18:06:30 Post Subject:

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Thu, 24 May 2007 18:11:18 Post Subject:

Well, even if black is a few bucks more than beige (probably isn't), you might as well make it look professional.

If you do go SLI eventually, it means your choice of video card gets scrapped for two new ones anyway.

Not sure on the PSU. I just don't associate LED bling with business. Might look for stronger 12V rails.