Workstation recommendation

[esmith]

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Hello all,
It's time for a new workstation and I need to select from 2 equally-priced options:
<div align="left">Option 1:</div>
<div align="left">HP Z220</div>
<div align="left">-Intel Xeon E3-1240v2 (3.40 GHz, 8 MB cache, 4 cores)</div>
<div align="left">-16 GB 1600MHz DDR3 non-ECC unbuffered RAM</div>
<div align="left">-1 TB 7200 RPM SATA HD</div>
<div align="left">-Quadro 2000</div>
<div align="left"></div>
<div align="left">Option 2:</div>
<div align="left">HP Z420</div>
<div align="left">-Intel Xeon E5-1620 (3.60 GHz, 10 MB cache, 4 cores)</div>
<div align="left">-12 GB 1600MHz DDR3 ECC unbuffered RAM</div>
<div align="left">-500 GB 7200 RPM SATA HD</div>
<div align="left">-Quadro 600</div>
<div align="left"></div>
<div align="left">We're currently running WF4, but plan on moving to Creo2 this year.

Any recommendations for which one to choose would be most appreciated.</div>
<div align="left"></div>
<div align="left">Cheers,
Ewan</div>
</div>

 

[dr_gallup]

I'd take option 2 for the faster core speed and ECC RAM unless you are working on really huge assemblies in which case the increased RAM and higher end video card might be a better bet.

If it we me I'd look for a 10k RPM hard drive.

 

[moriarty]

you might also want to consider AMD FirePro graphics card -
its been customised for CREO 2.0 - minimum is
v3900/4900/5900/7900

www.amd.com/us/Documents/CreoOIT_white_pap er.pdf

Has anyone tried one of these yet?

maybe also an SSD scratch disk for Mechanica ...

 

[dross]

I find that higher core speeds are a priority with Pro.


Our IT department thought that getting me more cores with a slower speed was the answer...now my puter is slower with Pro.

 

[esmith]

Thanks to all for the responses... appreciated.

Ewan

 

[moriarty]

Given that core speed is king - make sure you get a
workstation that can be over clocked.

Most machines can be o/clocked to at least 4.2GHz on air -
20% improvement.

 

[dr_gallup]

Any placed I've worked overclocking is not permitted.

 

[moriarty]

Overclocking is an overlooked opportunity - for sure the
machine mightnt be able to sustain a full on FEA analysis
but for User Interaction work like CAD its mostly doing a
whole lot of nothing.

 

[zakelijk]

I would go for #1 because of the RAM, i need a lot because im working with a lot of drawings at the same time and those files are pretty big. You could also go for #2, that one is also pretty nice and you could extend the RAM.. it's pretty easy and not that expensive