Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
(OP)
I have just received a reassignment in my company and my new focus will be FEA analysis using several different FEA packages, including ANSYS and Vector Fields. In addition, I will be doing most of my modeling in Solidworks. I need to get a new computer – preferably a laptop, and am trying to put together validation for what I would like to acquire for my new system. Does anyone know of good benchmark studies that have been done on new systems/configurations? I am trying to justify large amounts of RAM and a 64 bit processor, but need some good comparisons, studies, etc.
I will take tips and suggestions for desktops as well.
Thanks much in advance.
I will take tips and suggestions for desktops as well.
Thanks much in advance.





RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
A few months ago (so by definition its obsolete now) I got a Dell M90 h
jt
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
You could check their web-sites for this kind of information.
For example, for ABAQUS v6.5 you can find here some benchmarks:
http://ww
http://www.abaqus.com/products/performance65.html
I am almost sure other FEA software developing companies must have similar benchmarks.
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
Show me a laptop with a 19" display!
jt
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
In my case I found that the CPU spent much less than half the time at 100%, but the disk was running flat out for minutes at a time so I put the money into RAM, 'luckily' my model just fit inside the 2 GB limit.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
FEA performance is directly related to I/O speed. That points to SCSI drives and generally you do not get those in a laptop. Gobs of RAM helps but its the read/write speed of these drives that really permit you run large models. So I'd say go find a desktop with a couple of scsi drives and 4 gig of ram with a fast single threaded processor and an excellent graphics card (and yes the best graphics cards are not found in a laptop).
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
If I had to buy a machine for FEA purposes, my criteria would be ranked:
1. RAM > = 4Gb (Now I am working on a machine with 2Gb which restricts the mesh refinement for my models
2. 2 x CPU > 3.0 GHz (Some FE software may require additional licenses , (i.e. more money) to use multiple processors, e.g. ABAQUS.)
3. HDD > 320Gb, 10,000rpm
4. Graphic card > 256Mb (It may be important for post-/pre-processing, CAD modeling)
......
n. Monitor
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
"hi, I'm from IT; I'm here to help you"
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
With local management support, though... I have a generic IT system for generic email etc type work, a NON-standard laptop and a NON-standard desktop for FEA. Not an ideal situation, but it keeps the IT folks happy - they don't/won't/can't support the non-standard machines and those are not connected to their network so they can pretend they don't exist. The biggest problem with that setup for me is that when its time to print I need to memory stick files over to my generic 'puter to reach a printer.
jt
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
elf
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
Whatever you go for ensure you run some test jobs on it to see if it meets your needs. I've been caught out by having to buy some IT without doing this and never felt I got the best spec for the money that was out there.
xerf has the spec pretty good the only things you need to be careful of are :-
1) Yes, licence costs are much greater when using two or more processors.
2) Memory management across two or more processors can be very poor on some architectures leading to analyses that run little quicker than on a single CPU.
3) The OS can have an effect. I'm benchmarking a multi-processor system (2 x dual-core) at the moment and XP64 is slower than Linux when accessing more than one processor on a physical chip.
I have good support from our IT guy despite the comapny having similar policies to those described above. He is actively interested in this cute new stuff that is about and really does want to help.
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
Dik
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
rtmpxr, I remember a Dell M50 some YEARS ago... I don't think you'd call it a joke... OK, you can joke even with 4GB RAM and 3 GHz processor (remember, it was about 3 years ago...). Of course, on the other side, the power of a desktop workstation is far higher...
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
I will be spec'ing out a Dell Precision 690, XP64, 8GB RAM, I was hoping for two monitors, but where I will be having to rig a Reverse KVM, as far as I have been able to look, I have not found a Reverse KVM that will support two monitors. I am now thinking that maybe just a widescreen will get me the desktop space needed while making the KVM setup possible. Any ideas will be much appreciated?
The laptop is out, for sure.
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
Maybe I was out of luck with laptops. Used just for demos on customer site. I prefer to build my own rig and maximise it's performance. And don't forget he wants to use Solidworks also. No chance with a laptop. I still consider the laptop a fancy toy for a serious engineer.
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA
Solidworks works for me just fine on my laptop. It runs the same problems about 10% slower than my custom built desktop. I prefer the desktop for the real keyboard and display, but prefer to not lug those around when I travel. Guess I'm just not as hard core of a user as some others... Can't say that I've seen anyone checking in a desktop at the airport though.
jt
RE: Computer Performance Comparison - FEA