Autocad Workstation? - Recommended Hardware

[TheScullster]

Hi all

Is there such a thing as a preferred supplier for AutoCad hardware?
I am looking for 4 PCs for running AutoCad - most work is 2D upto 3Mb files.
Some modelling (piping models mainly) where file size can increase!

I have recently been offered RM PCs by a local Autodesk reseller, but
wondered if there was a supplier with a good reputation among users.

Also what sort of spec should I be looking for in PCs for the above duty.

Thanks in anticipation

Phil

[Paul Turvill]

Just about any reputable PC will run AutoCAD these days, provided it's
spec'd correctly (RAM, OS, processor speed, etc.). We used Gateways for
years, then switched to Dell.
___

"TheScullster" <phil-at-dropthespam.com> wrote in message
news:KRicnf4stv1...@karoo.co.uk...

[Tim Arheit]

On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 15:19:08 -0000, "TheScullster"
<phil-at-dropthespam.com> wrote:

>Hi all
>
>Is there such a thing as a preferred supplier for AutoCad hardware?

Not really, unless you are getting into really high end usage (ie.
lots of complicated 3d assemblies).

>I am looking for 4 PCs for running AutoCad - most work is 2D upto 3Mb files.
>Some modelling (piping models mainly) where file size can increase!

You're requirements are really pretty minimal, and nearly any new
computer would handle the task.

I'd recommend getting a machine with at least 512MB ram, a separate
video card (not the cheap on the motherboard type).

In our company are requirements are a bit higher, nearly all 2D, up to
10Mb files typically and often large aerial photographs. Our typical
CAD machine is 3.0Ghz P4 HT, 1Gb Ram, FX5200 video card with dual
monitors. Nothing fancy, and the computer (less monitors) can be had
for under 1000 with more hard drive and other options than we really
need. I do like the hyperthreaded processorseven though Autocad
doesn't really take full advantage of them because the system seems
much more responsive and unaffected by background tasks.

-Tim

[TheScullster]

Thanks, Tim

Just the level of detail/advice I was looking for.
This confirms the offerings received from vendors recently.
It's always reassuring to have a second opinion from a user rather than rely
on salesmen whose priorities may be at odds to your own!

Phil

[G Farris]

It was not very long ago that CAD workstations were right up with the (then)
current level of high-end games and video applications in resource demand. At
that time it was important to chose carefully, and CAD magazines were full of
hardware reviews with benchmark tests etc, that many users and managers read
very carefully.

Today, the gaming, picture and video applications have far outstripped most
CAD applications in their resource demands, and as a result the memory,
processing and storage capacity that you'll find on just about any decent new
computer are more than adequate for AutoCad and the like.

Now that most everyone is using digital cameras, with 5MPixel resolution being
pretty much standard, and storing thousands of pictures on their hard
drives, and many people are also using small digicams, and also storing their
MPEG files on their hard drives, your 3-10MB "complex" dwg files are just too
puny to worry about in comparison. Similarly, streaming and editing MPEG video
and 5.1 audio requires much more memory and processing power than panning
through even a fully-shaded, textured 3D CAD model.

Of course, you should still pay attention to what you buy - all machines are
not created equal, and you probably will get some improved productivity from
those machines advertised for high-end graphics - but fortunately we are no
longer required to shell out thousands to pay the R&D costs for the high-end,
blood&guts video gamers' OPENGL cards, just to get our workstations to open
and run our applications with a reasonable throughput.

G Faris

[S.]

> Also what sort of spec should I be looking for in PCs for the above duty.
>
> Thanks in anticipation

I know very little about CAD software, but as a computer techie, here
goes.........

One of the very few applications that can fully stretch a processor chip
(CPU) is CAD software, especially when it comes to 3D modelling and
math-intesnse work, so it is essential to buy machines that incorporate a
fully featured CPU with a strong ALU (arithemetic logic unit). Virtually all
chips currently available (except where stated), process 32-bits of data at
a time, but late last year, AMD released their new range of 64-bit chips
(twice as much data in the same time). However, there is (currently) no
operating system to fully support this additonal "bus width", but
Microsoft's next operating system release will be optimised for
this...........everything will viirtually take off in terms of performance!

I would recommend that you buy anything which says "(AMD) Athlon 64 ......",
as much for "future-proofing" as anything! If not, then "(Intel)Pentium 4"
or (AMD) Athlon XPnnnn+", (where nnnn is an *equivalated* chip speed).
AVOID anything saying Celeron, Sempron, Duron ; they're really not suitable
for this kind of work.

As a rule, never consider anything less than 512Mbytes of RAM (memory) for
CAD applications, and if budget is not an issue, go for 1 Gigabyte,
especially if you are doing particularly complex work.

Hard Drive(s) ; a good one this !!! There has been a move towards building
PC's with Serial ATA drives as opposed to ordinary ATA drives, but the
research reports I've read said that they (Serial ATA) were only marginally
faster than the ordinary interface, and not worth the (then) price
differential. Assuming you're not using / going to use SCSI drives, see if
you can get systems with 7,200 rev. per min. drives. Hard disk are currently
as cheap as, well...... chips at the mo.; I can get a 40Gbyte good-name
disk drive for 29 quid from my usual supplier.As with any hardware, the
prices for Serail ATA drives are dropping.......

A good graphics card would be nice, 64 Mbytes should be widely available for
reasonable money, but quite honestly, even cheap-ish cards will serve all
but the most demanding CAD applications ; most of the advances made in
graphics cards have been due to the insatiable power demands of
........gamers! Spend the money on what is in front of your eyes - the
monitor. Ordinary VGA (1,024 by 768 pixels per sq. in.) screens look
pathetic after my laptops SuperVGA screen (1400 by 1050 pixels), and there
are better ones than that (more ŁŁŁ's !). Go for the best resolution you
can, and at the higher refresh rates (look for better than 65 Megahertz,
ideally should be around 72 / 75 Mhz - most are).

Anything with those basics should do. I recommeded my brother-in-law, an
engineer & CAD user, buy a Dell laptop and he loves it. Build quality and
post-sales support were the clinchers for him. Good value for money
suppliers also seem to be Evesham Technology, although I've no personal
experience of them. There are dozens of companies providing hardware at
less-than-High.St prices, if you need a guide, drop me a line.Or, I would be
perfectly happy to build you systems to your requirements from brand new
components (think of doing that for a business idea anyway!).... ??

I hope this helps ; if you want explanations or further info, just let me
know. Remove "the obvious" from the e-mail address below.

Cheers,

Steve.
stev...@hotSPAMTRAPmail.com

[TheScullster]

Thanks to Steve and G Faris for their considered responses

Phil