build for AutoCAD

chowder_pants · 03-16-2009, 07:57 AM

To start off, I wanted to thank all of you for the suggestions for my home desktop. I should have the delivery from Newegg on Thursday and I'll let you all know how the build goes.

Anyway, my boss has asked me to look into building new systems for our work to use. We are an engineering firm that uses AutoCAD extensively. In order to keep up with the trends in the industry, we will now be implicating Building Information Modeling (BIM). This involves drawing the building and structures in 3D to integrate with the architects (and all other trades) models. Our current computers just dont seem to be up to the task. We currently have several different "name brand" rigs with an average spec of a
P4 processor with integrated graphics and 2 gigs of ram. We get nothing but system crashes with these. I feel that the processor/mobo combo just cant keep up with the file sizes and refreshes that come with a 3D drawing.

I am aware that AutoCAD is one of the few software types that can efficiently utilize a quad core cpu, but I have no idea which one to get. We would like to use the hard drives we currently have, all of which are sata drives. We would need suggestions on CPU, Mobo, power supply, RAM and video cards. Boss would prefer to keep the cost of each system to around $600. These computers will be used exclusively for work related things (AutoCAD, Adobe, Excel, Word, etc) along with some minor web surfing.

What would you recommend that wouldnt need to be updated every year?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I am forced to use Intel cpu's because the bosses son works for Intel

**wrench97** · 03-16-2009, 01:20 PM

For Autocad their are recommended Video Cards Are you using AutoCad or another program.> http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...os=512&os=2048
For any cad program I would want a Fire GL work station card.

Do you need windows also or do you have VLK's

Do you need cases?

Have a look over this it a work horse.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115041 Q9550 279.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121314 Intel P35 109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2KIT25664AA800 4Gig 800 46.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151027 Sea 550W 89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814195045 F-GL 3350 96.99

623.95

chowder_pants · 03-16-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrench97

For Autocad their are recommended Video Cards Are you using AutoCad or another program.> http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...os=512&os=2048
For any cad program I would want a Fire GL work station card.

Do you need windows also or do you have VLK's

Do you need cases?

Have a look over this it a work horse.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115041 Q9550 279.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121314 Intel P35 109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2KIT25664AA800 4Gig 800 46.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151027 Sea 550W 89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814195045 F-GL 3350 96.99

623.95

thanks a ton for the info. We have the VLK's, not worried about an operating system. We would need the cases, but I'm not too worried about the technical specs on those.

What is the difference between a workstation video card and a desktop?

Is the 256mb video card enough?

**wrench97** · 03-16-2009, 02:47 PM

Workstation is geared more to crisp clean images rather then frame rates this is an entry level work station card the good ones are over $1000 but if using Autocad on 3d objects you need a supported card 256m in a workstation card is plenty.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...122&name=512MB

chowder_pants · 03-16-2009, 02:58 PM

thanks again for the info wrench. I'll bounce this off my boss and see what he says. I know he's not fond of the term "entry level", but would blow a gasket if I tell him the video card alone is a grand. We'll see which one he has more of a problem with!

chowder_pants · 10-28-2009, 07:18 AM

Well, the boss is finaly serious about buy new workstations... Are there any changes you would make to the above system? What about using the i7 or i5 CPU's? I noticed that the motherboard, power supply and video card. has been deactivated... so I could use more recommendations.

**linderman** · 10-28-2009, 07:45 AM

in a "work" office environment I would NOT reccomend the i7's nor the i5's. They both are a new borne platform with plenty of teething to be done!

work stations = STABILITY and dependability first, performance second

with the intel Q9550 you will get maximum stability and near i7 performance.

I have refused thus far to drag any i7's or i5's into our office even though we have 2 or 3 that crave one and are due a system upgrade, but our boss gets very cranky when a system is down or has performnace issues, so I am not about to open that can of worms!

chowder_pants · 10-28-2009, 08:22 AM

Thanks Linderman.. Hows this system look then?

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359

CPU: Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz 6MB L2 Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115131

GPU: ATI 100-505552 FirePro V3750 256MB 64-bit GDDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814195077

RAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145214

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650HX 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139012

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136319

Any conflicts that you can see? Changes you would make?
Not looking for the top of the line, but something that will work well for several years

Thanks in advance

**linderman** · 10-28-2009, 08:39 AM

well done!

no changes, no conflicts

03-16-2009, 07:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
chowder_pants Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 172 OS: XP SP3 My System	build for AutoCAD To start off, I wanted to thank all of you for the suggestions for my home desktop. I should have the delivery from Newegg on Thursday and I'll let you all know how the build goes. Anyway, my boss has asked me to look into building new systems for our work to use. We are an engineering firm that uses AutoCAD extensively. In order to keep up with the trends in the industry, we will now be implicating Building Information Modeling (BIM). This involves drawing the building and structures in 3D to integrate with the architects (and all other trades) models. Our current computers just dont seem to be up to the task. We currently have several different "name brand" rigs with an average spec of a P4 processor with integrated graphics and 2 gigs of ram. We get nothing but system crashes with these. I feel that the processor/mobo combo just cant keep up with the file sizes and refreshes that come with a 3D drawing. I am aware that AutoCAD is one of the few software types that can efficiently utilize a quad core cpu, but I have no idea which one to get. We would like to use the hard drives we currently have, all of which are sata drives. We would need suggestions on CPU, Mobo, power supply, RAM and video cards. Boss would prefer to keep the cost of each system to around $600. These computers will be used exclusively for work related things (AutoCAD, Adobe, Excel, Word, etc) along with some minor web surfing. What would you recommend that wouldnt need to be updated every year? Thanks in advance! EDIT: I am forced to use Intel cpu's because the bosses son works for Intel Last edited by chowder_pants; 03-16-2009 at 08:08 AM.

03-16-2009, 01:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,786 OS: Win7	Re: build for AutoCAD For Autocad their are recommended Video Cards Are you using AutoCad or another program.> http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...os=512&os=2048 For any cad program I would want a Fire GL work station card. Do you need windows also or do you have VLK's Do you need cases? Have a look over this it a work horse. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115041 Q9550 279.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121314 Intel P35 109.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2KIT25664AA800 4Gig 800 46.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151027 Sea 550W 89.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814195045 F-GL 3350 96.99 623.95 __________________ Power Supply and Selection

03-16-2009, 02:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,786 OS: Win7	Re: build for AutoCAD Workstation is geared more to crisp clean images rather then frame rates this is an entry level work station card the good ones are over $1000 but if using Autocad on 3d objects you need a supported card 256m in a workstation card is plenty. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...122&name=512MB __________________ Power Supply and Selection

03-16-2009, 02:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
chowder_pants Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 172 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: build for AutoCAD thanks again for the info wrench. I'll bounce this off my boss and see what he says. I know he's not fond of the term "entry level", but would blow a gasket if I tell him the video card alone is a grand. We'll see which one he has more of a problem with!

10-28-2009, 07:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
chowder_pants Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 172 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: build for AutoCAD Well, the boss is finaly serious about buy new workstations... Are there any changes you would make to the above system? What about using the i7 or i5 CPU's? I noticed that the motherboard, power supply and video card. has been deactivated... so I could use more recommendations. Last edited by chowder_pants; 10-28-2009 at 07:24 AM.

10-28-2009, 07:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,442 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: build for AutoCAD in a "work" office environment I would NOT reccomend the i7's nor the i5's. They both are a new borne platform with plenty of teething to be done! work stations = STABILITY and dependability first, performance second with the intel Q9550 you will get maximum stability and near i7 performance. I have refused thus far to drag any i7's or i5's into our office even though we have 2 or 3 that crave one and are due a system upgrade, but our boss gets very cranky when a system is down or has performnace issues, so I am not about to open that can of worms! __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

10-28-2009, 08:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
chowder_pants Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 172 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: build for AutoCAD Thanks Linderman.. Hows this system look then? Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359 CPU: Intel Core2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz 6MB L2 Cache http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115131 GPU: ATI 100-505552 FirePro V3750 256MB 64-bit GDDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814195077 RAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145214 PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650HX 650W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139012 HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136319 Any conflicts that you can see? Changes you would make? Not looking for the top of the line, but something that will work well for several years Thanks in advance Last edited by chowder_pants; 10-28-2009 at 08:40 AM.

10-28-2009, 08:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,442 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: build for AutoCAD well done! no changes, no conflicts __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial