Looking to update our Computers
Looking to update our Computers
(OP)
We have wrestled our budget money back from our IT department and are looking to get our own new computers. I have been searching for hardware that will last for about 2 to 3 years with the minimum amount of upgrading during that time (RAM will probably be the only thing that will need to be added to). Here is what I have come up with. We do some complicated modeling and are getting into some animations and Photoworks. Any help I can take to my manager is very welcome.
MB: Supermicro X7DA8
HD: 2 WD1500ADFD RAPTORS (10k RPM)
Video card: Quadra FX6500
RAM: 8 Gigs pc2-5300 (2 4 Gig sticks)
CPU: 2 xeon 5365 Quad core
OS: Win XP64 SP2
Case: TT Armor LCS
Monitor: 2 Samsung Syncmaster 204B 20.1 WS
Power supply: Antec TPQ-1000
Thanks
MB: Supermicro X7DA8
HD: 2 WD1500ADFD RAPTORS (10k RPM)
Video card: Quadra FX6500
RAM: 8 Gigs pc2-5300 (2 4 Gig sticks)
CPU: 2 xeon 5365 Quad core
OS: Win XP64 SP2
Case: TT Armor LCS
Monitor: 2 Samsung Syncmaster 204B 20.1 WS
Power supply: Antec TPQ-1000
Thanks






RE: Looking to update our Computers
Also, whatever you do, stick with some version of Windows XP.
Looks like what you've got above will be fairly good if you're prepared to deal with the headaches that come with a 64-bit operating system from Microsoft. I know people with a similar set-up and they've been able to work out most of the bugs in getting peripherals to work properly.
You may get Stefan to comment on this thread, too, which would be a good thing.
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.
RE: Looking to update our Computers
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=190312
Tony
HP NW9440
2 GB RAM
Quadro FX 1500M (84.88)
Solidworks 2006 SP5.0
Solidworks 2007 SP4.0
RE: Looking to update our Computers
The most important part of a new system is the processor speed...Processor speed and the video card...The two most important parts of a new system are processor speed and the video card...and RAM...The three most important parts of any new system are processor speed, video card, RAM...and an almost fanatical devotion to the operating system...The four...No...amongst the most important...I'll come in again...
Dan
www.eltronresearch.com
RE: Looking to update our Computers
RE: Looking to update our Computers
thread559-194992: Dell Precision 490 system specs - any thoughts?
RE: Looking to update our Computers
RE: Looking to update our Computers
Mark
RE: Looking to update our Computers
UGS and PTC will both tell you that if you have an issue with the software, be sure you can duplicate the error on an approved system or they will write the error off as hardware related.
Just something to keep in mind.
"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."
Ben Loosli
RE: Looking to update our Computers
You will most likely end up with the HP Personal Workstation, which appears to be from the old COMPAQ company. Very nice.
Stay away from Dell if you want your machine to last for 5 years or more.
RE: Looking to update our Computers
RE: Looking to update our Computers
I'm not sure I agree with the SAS hard drives. I would probably stay with a SATA raid setup. But Stefan is far more informed than I am on this stuff.
RE: Looking to update our Computers
When the budget is a little less I would definetly go for the ARC-1680 with 2GB, BBU (needed for safe use of writeback cache) and 4 74GB WD Raptors (SATA drives).
CBL is right on the dimms, always use a minimum of 4, since the memory controller can access 4 simultaniously.
Looks like a pretty good config otherwise.
Stefan Hamminga
EngIT Solutions
CSWP/Mechanical designer
Searching Eng-Tips forums
RE: Looking to update our Computers
CBL you are correct thats supposed to read Quadra FX 6500 video card. Was a typo on my part.
Stefan The problem for me is that my company dosent want to even acknowledge that we need more then a single 40 - 60 Gig HD. To get them to go for 4 would take a miracle. What is the difference between SATA 0, 1 and 10?
We use CDW to lease our machines but they have never even gotten the right equipment in them, and then we have to wait for it to either get sent or just live with it for 3 years.
RE: Looking to update our Computers
Here is a RAID explanation from a previous post I made in a different forum:
RAID 10 and 01 combine RAID 1 and 0 and thus need 4 drives.
I would opt for at least 2 drives in RAID 1, if not for performance than for ease of use... You will know what I mean when your single drive crashes...
After you located the backup, found out the assembly you worked on all day is corrupt and the new hard drive wasn't in stock you think "I wish I could have just plugged in a new drive in my 5 minute coffee break..."
Stefan Hamminga
EngIT Solutions
CSWP/Mechanical designer
Searching Eng-Tips forums
RE: Looking to update our Computers
MB: Supermicro X7DA8
HD: 4 SATA WD740ADFD RAPTORS (10k RPM)in Raid 10 config
Video card: Quadra FX5600
RAM: 8 Gigs pc2-5300 (2 4 Gig sticks)
CPU: 2 xeon 5365 Quad core
OS: Win XP64 SP2
Case: TT Armor LCS
Monitor: 2 Samsung Syncmaster 204B 20.1 WS
Power supply: Antec TPQ-1000
Areca ARC-RMD22G Raid Controller
RE: Looking to update our Computers
You would want to have:
MB: Supermicro X7DA8
HD: 4x SATA WD740ADFD RAID 10
Video card: Quadro FX5600
RAM: 8 Gigs pc2-5300 (4x 2GB)
CPU: 2 xeon 5365 Quad core
OS: Win XP64 SP2
Case: TT Armor LCS
Monitor: 2 Samsung Syncmaster 204B 20.1 WS
Power supply: Antec TPQ-1000
Areca ARC-1680 SATA RAID Controller (actually can use SAS and SATA drives, but priced better than their high end SATA controllers)
Areca ARC-RMD22G Cache upgrade (2BG)
Areca ARC-6120 Battery backup (you can do without the 2GB upgrade, but you should always use a battery backup)
Stefan Hamminga
EngIT Solutions
CSWP/Mechanical designer
Searching Eng-Tips forums
RE: Looking to update our Computers