Solidworks Computer Selection

[overkill04]

Hi All,

I have a budget of round $3000 CDN for a SolidWorks workstation (Not including SW license) and I was wondering what my priorities should be in terms of building a SW box.

I know to max out my video card and ram but what about Hard Drive configurations (Raid 1 Raid 0). I haven't had to do this in quite some time and I've found technology in this area has passed me by.

The computer will be a stand alone workstation for a machine shop that builds large conveyor assemblies. It may be networked to other computers in the future.

Thanks


Specs, Intel Pentium M 2.16 Mhz
SW 2007 R2.2
1.5 Gb Ram
NVidia GE Force GO 6800 256Mb

 

[Theophilus]

I check cadalyst.com for reviews. This has led me to purchase three systems (over time) from Xi Computer--all of which I've been very happy with.

http://management.cadalyst.com/cadman/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=410474

Mobile solution, if necessary:

http://management.cadalyst.com/cadman/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=408674

Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

With regard the RAID setup; bear in mind that the RAID 0 often suggested in fast machines is not fault tolerant. If one disk fails all data is lost. Higher levels of RAID involve more HDDs and obviously more cost.

http://www.acnc.com/04_01_00.html

SW07-SP3.1
SW06-SP5.1

 

[Theophilus]

See thread599-183828 regarding the hard drive thing.

Also, I'd max out the chip before the RAM and after the graphics card. The chip will probably be your weakest link (that will be difficult to upgrade) with any given system. RAM can always be added, and you have a ceiling anyway with normal Windows (32-bit OS).



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.

 

[JamesBarlow]

The biggest expense I have come across when putting together a system for any modeling software has always been the network.

This may not be a problem or concern for you but it killed us. They spent alot of money for the computers but didn't want to go with PDM works, or something similar.

Everything was done over the network and it was very slow.

The Solid Works people don't every want to admit this but it will run on just about anything. I needed my workstation to run assemblies and the modeling of complicated parts but I could bring files home and detail them on my 7 year old Dell laptop.