AutoCad Computer Help

[Mehen]

Spec'ing one out for at work.
Will be on 64bit OS.


Need to know:
Quad/Dual core support?
Does it need lots of RAM, or TONS of RAM?
Does it it need a powerful video card?

[Chucky Cheese]

...is there a budget maximum?

C

[Mehen]

whatever can fit into a P182

Well, not sure exactly. It is whatever I can tell them is "worth it." Maybe 2.5k?

[Dr Mordrid]

Dualie/Quad: for AutoCAD 2009, yes (trialware here)

Memory: 2G is the sysrec for 64 bit, but it really depends on the complexity of the design. That said more is most always better

GFx card: workstation card with 128+ MB, OGL, D3D, True Color, 1024x768 minimum, but I'd probably exceed those by not a little.

[Chucky Cheese]

sweet!!

http://www.cadcomputer.ca/index.htm

C

[gt40]

AutoCad supports multiple core and 64 bit O/S. I would suggest 4Gig Ram, and if you are doing any serious solids work, something in the FireGL or Quadro series.

[Dr Mordrid]

Below....

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700
Cooler: Zalman 9500A cooler (38C @ idle/56C @ 100%)
M/B: XFX MBN790IUL9 nForce 790i Ultra SLI
GPU: 2x XFX PVT94PYDE4 GeForce 9600GT Extreme 512MB (SLI)
RAM: 4G Crucial DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel
Power: 1 KW Enermax Galaxy
Audio: TB Santa Cruz + M-Audio FireWire 410
Boot: 500G PATA (Seagate)
DVD: 2x LiteON SATA Super-Multi's
Export: 500G (SATA3 Seagate)
USB: 500G (Seagate FreeAgent)
Working: 1 TB RAID-0/1 (SATA3 Seagate)
Network: 1 TB RAID-0/1 gigabit NAS (SATA3 Seagate)
OS: WinXP Pro (primary), WinXP Pro (media creation), WinXP Pro 64 bit, Ubuntu Studio 8.04

[Mehen]

2x2GB DDR2 kits are reasonably priced, so that should work. Leaves the option of going to 4x2gb later.
Considering the prices now, maybe a Q6600.
ASUS P35 board.

What about AMD vs. NV? Either way I'd probably want to get something that is cool and quiet if I don't need too much horsepower. edit* just saw gt40's post, I'll look into the FireGL/Quadros.

[Dr Mordrid]

I'd suggest those too for a work environment.

[Mehen]

Whats the actual difference between the workstation and non-workstation cards? (Quadros vs Geforce, etc)?

[Mehen]

So this is what I'm thinking:
Q6700
2x2GB DDR2-1066
ASUS P5K-E
8800GT
Corsair HX620
Antec P182
LG DVD-RW
500GB WD

[Dr Mordrid]

Whats the actual difference between the workstation and non-workstation cards? (Quadros vs Geforce, etc)?

Quite frequently built-in special features for programs like AutoCAD, Photoshop, 3D Studio, MAYA and many other "pro" programs. That and they usually support multiple cards (for more monitors), often more memory (FireGL V8650 has 2 gigs), latest versions of OpenGL etc.

[Marshmallowman]

I think your quadros are a nice bit faster for cad, they optimise the firmware/drivers for cad drawing...eg shaders performance is probably sacrificed for more basic drawing performance (well theyu sued to anyway)

[UtwigMU]

AutoCAD is basically the same for more than 10 years, they only change file formats every 2 years to force people to buy new version and support rampant piracy among students to lock them in once they start working. PII and G400 were fine for AutoCAD. I see no bottlenecks when autoCADding on my T42p (1.8 Centrino, R9600/FireGL T2, 2GB RAM, XP, 250GB, 1600x1200 display)

So my recommendations:
Get dual or quadcore reasonably costing CPU (you can get OEM HP/Dell box)
2GB of RAM is minimum for Vista, maybe start with 4GB (since it's cheap, not since AutoCAD is that memory intensive)
Get a lowend Quadro or FireGL since drivers support hardware AA of lines and this speeds up 3D. Again you don't need a monster card, Parhelia was great already, you just need driver support. Otherwise a lowend Quadro will usually outperform a gaming card, though if you just use AutoCAD (no other 3D apps) and want also to play a game, a gaming card is also OK.

The most important for AutoCAD is monitor (having 3-4 viewports, less panning zooming) real estate, so dual 22-30" monitors is where I'd put most of my budget.