Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
(OP)
Hi,
I have a budget of $5-5.5K for a new computer (including the monitor) that will be running Autocad. It has to come from Dell and it has to run Windows (Vista or XP?). Our current PC reads like this...
System:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 2002
Service Pack 2
Dell Dimension 8300
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.19 Ghz
1.0 GB of Ram
The video card is...
GeForce FX 5200
128 MB
AGP 8x Bus
How outdated is our current set up? Where should I be spending my money? Can Autocad take advantage of a dual core processor?
I priced out a 3.00Ghz Dual processor, dual core set-up with 4 GB of RAM but only with their 256 Video card. I thought this would be a nice upgrade for our designer but I don't want to spend a bunch of money and have it run as fast as our current one.
Thanks for any help.
Dan
I have a budget of $5-5.5K for a new computer (including the monitor) that will be running Autocad. It has to come from Dell and it has to run Windows (Vista or XP?). Our current PC reads like this...
System:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 2002
Service Pack 2
Dell Dimension 8300
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.19 Ghz
1.0 GB of Ram
The video card is...
GeForce FX 5200
128 MB
AGP 8x Bus
How outdated is our current set up? Where should I be spending my money? Can Autocad take advantage of a dual core processor?
I priced out a 3.00Ghz Dual processor, dual core set-up with 4 GB of RAM but only with their 256 Video card. I thought this would be a nice upgrade for our designer but I don't want to spend a bunch of money and have it run as fast as our current one.
Thanks for any help.
Dan





RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
Definitely 2 LCDs, and definitely a dual core 64-bit processor. Choose your version of Windows to match what other computers on your system are running. Right now it's probably WinXP, which will be easiest, but in 3 years time it is probably going to be Vista - unless Vista goes the way of WinME.
Do not go with a standard video card. You definitely want to max out what video card is on the current market, especially if you will do 3D applications. The time it will save you in redrawing/panning/zooming is worth the extra cash. Bear in mind that your motherboard will need to be able to handle a top-range video card.
RAM is not so much an issue with CAD. I have 2GB of RAM on my computer at work, which is a P4 2.8 GHz processor and it is super-slow compared to my home computer which has 1GB of RAM and a dual core Athlon 64 processor.
Call a Dell sales person and let them spec you something out, then post the specs and quote here before buying.
RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
PROCESSOR Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5160 (3.00GHz, 4MB L2,1333) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Professional, SP2 with Media edit
VIDEO CARD 256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3500, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA edit
MEMORY 2GB, DDR2 SDRAM FBD Memory, 667MHz, ECC (4 DIMMS) edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 48XCDRW AND 16XDVD+/-RW, w/Cyberlink PowerDVD™ and Roxio Creator™ edit
RAID CONFIGURATION C4 All SATA drives, RAID 1, 2 drive total configuration edit
HARD DRIVE 160GB SATA, 10K RPM Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst Cache™ edit
2ND HARD DRIVE 160GB SATA, 10K RPM Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst Cache™ edit
LARGE DISPLAYS Dell High Color 30 inch UltraSharp Widescreen Monitor edit
RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
Does Dell not carry any AMD processors? The Intels just aren't as good as the AMDs, but of course if you can't pick then an Intel will be fine.
I'm not sure even a CAD operator needs more than one 30" monitor. You'd have to sit 10' away from those suckers or you'll feel like you're at the IMAX all day!
Is the DVD burner dual layer? If for some reason you'll want to burn huge DVDs you'll need dual layer, if not, don't worry about it.
That graphics card costs in the range of $1,000 and is so new that I can't even find a review of it, but I would hope it's worth the money. Video cards do tend to plummet in price as something new comes on the market, so you might save some money by looking for something a few months old that has reviews.
Make sure you get the Gold Support from Dell. My husband worked Dell tech support and believe me, it makes a difference and is worth the extra.
The following system cost $2,600, but lacks the top-end video card.
PROCESSOR: AMD ATHLON™ 64 X2 5200+ (2.60GHz, 1MBX2)
OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows® XP Professional, SP2, x32, with Media, English
MEMORY: 2GB DDR2 Non-ECC SDRAM,667MHz, (2 DIMM)
HARD DRIVE: 80GB SATA, 10,000 RPM 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive with Data Burst Cache™ *assumes data stored on server
OPTICAL DRIVE: 16X DVD+/-RW SATA, Roxio Creator Dell Edition dual layer
VIDEO CARD: 256MB PCIe x16 ATI RadeonX1300 Pro,Dual DVI or VGA adapter,Dual Monitor,FH not top-end
MONITOR:Dell 20 inch UltraSharp™ 2007FP Flat Panel, Adjustable Stand, VGA/DVI
2ND MONITOR: Dell 20 inch UltraSharp™ 2007FP Flat Panel, Adjustable Stand, VGA/DVI
ENERGY SMART: Dell Energy Smart Enable
FILE SYSTEM: NTFS File System for all Operating Systems edit
FLOPPY & MEDIA READER: 1.44MB 3.5 Inch Floppy Drive
SPEAKERS: No Internal Speaker
KEYBOARD: Dell USB Keyboard, No Hot Keys, English, Black
MOUSE: Dell USB 2-Button Entry Mouse with Scroll, Black
RECOMMENDED BUNDLE: Bundle: Wireless Desktop Set Up: Keyboard, Mouse, Surge & Memory Key
1394 CARD: 1394 Controller Card fire wire
SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION: Resources CD contains Diagnostics and Driver for Dell OptiPlex Systems
WARRANTY & SERVICE 4Yr Ltd Warranty + 4Yr Same Day 4Hr On-Site Service (7Days x24Hrs)
GOLD TECHNICAL SUPPORT: 4 Years Gold Technical Support *worth every penny
ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE SERVICE: 4 Year CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service
ON-SITE SYSTEM SETUP: No Onsite System Setup
ADVANCED CONFIGURATIONS: Hide Microsoft Outlook Express
ADVANCED CONFIGURATIONS: Remove Microsoft Games
ADVANCED CONFIGURATIONS: Hide Microsoft Legacy Communications
PLANT A TREE: Plant a Tree for Me - Offset a Desktop
RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
As far as I know Dell only sells Intel stuff, so I think I am kind of stuck with it.
He won't do a lot of burning but the DVD burner was about $35 to upgrade so I added it.
I found a few comments on the 3500 video card and they all seem to be positive. Its on a new chip over the 3450. Suppose to be better.
I am going to think about the hard drive space. He has 100GB now and his disk is more than 2/3rds full. We do have servers.
You are right about the 30" monitor I am a little worried it might be too big. Suggestions on where to spend that money else where? I keep looking at more RAM but don't really think that's going to help the system any.
I am in a unique situation where I have 5k to spend or I just lose it. So I have "padded" a few things. I thought it would be easier to spend all of it.
Thanks,
RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
My husband is familiar with nVidia cards and says that the one you've picked is a good card. The Quadro and the geForce are the same hardware, but different firmware. The Quadro is better for CAD and the geForce better for gaming.
My husband says the only thing he'd change on that system is the hard drive configuration. RAID 1 is just simple mirroring of data, so you'd still have only 160gb of available space. Adding a third hard drive (as large as possible, and ignore the RPM speed) would give you not only a non-system drive to swap memory to, but a larger, faster data repository. RAID is a good thing to have, but lots of CAD files will fill up a 160gb hard drive in a hurry -- especially when you have Windows and AutoCAD and all your other software on that same drive. He recommends adding a huge third hard drive, saving your data on it, and backing it up regularly.
RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
Thanks,
Dan
RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
that last post just answered a question a lot of people were scratching there heads about. thanks for that. and oh yeah i wish i was in your position no matter how non practical others think it is.
tony
tony
RE: Help purchasing a new computer for Autocad use
After using off the shelf products for years, I finally decided to go low noise. What a difference!