Hi! Do you approve this PC build for CAD?

[vagos19speed866766]

Hi there!

This is my first workstation PC that I am building and I would like to get some advice from more experienced CAD users.

I want to work mostly with 3DSMax 2012 and Solidworks.

1) CPU:Intel Core i7 2600K

2)Motherboard: Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3p

3)PSU: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX850 V2 850W 80+ Bronze Certified

4)Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB GDDR5

5)RAM: Corsair vengeance 8GB DDR3-1600 kit

6)HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB

7)DVD: Sony DVD-RW Sata

8 ) Case : CoolerMaster Elite 430 Black Case

Total cost 1050 euros about 1360 $

Future upgrades Ram and CPU cooler.

My main concern is the graphics card and if it will work ok?


Or should I stick with a pro card like ATI V4800 Firepro or nVidia Quadro 600?


Thanks in advance.

[SamuelAB]

What is the maximum amount of RAM on that motherboard? (How many DIMM RAM Slots?)

The graphic card is not good for long renderings with iRay, Quadro is the way to go for long renderings. It goes really hot, I've tested both kinds with Fan Speed to show temperatures while rendering. Actually, you are unlikely to use iRay so it doesn't really matter as much.

You'll probably want a good cooler sooner than later, I like the Noctua (http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=p...s_id=32&lng=en). Just make sure it fits in your case.

[jaberwok]

What is the maximum amount of RAM on that motherboard? (How many DIMM RAM Slots?)

From a review -

The four memory slots can take up to 32GB of 2,133MHz RAM.

[dgorsman]

32 GB in 4 slots would require 8 GB modules. I'm only starting to see those come out.

[j_follett_88]

A couple suggestions, One maybe get a second smaller video card, For a second monitor, this way you can have rendering on one screen and PDF's, Web pages, Database access etc. on the other I find this reduces clutter and helps you look up information while working. Also since CAD software are such memory hogs I would suggest maxing your Ram but this can be upgraded slowly. Plus make sure you have a windows 7 professional or Higher this should have the functions you need. This may sounds odd but just in case make sure your network adapter is a gigabit.

[jaberwok]

... maybe get a second smaller video card, For a second monitor, ...

No need. The card has three connectors and will drive two monitors.

[j_follett_88]

No need. The card has three connectors and will drive two monitors.

Oh ya didn"t look into the video card

[cdatechguy]

Funny....this is almost my same setup...

Except I got the 16gb kit...(its only $100 US)...Spend the extra $75 for the MSATA...it gives you a little extra performance boost with the caching tech on that board.

Unless your planning on overclocking I would go with the 2600 instead, since it allows for virtualization, the 2600k does not (head smack on that one)

I had an older 8600GTX card that I use for my second monitor...which is nice for when I am gaming, it stays up when game is full screen...I can see who is talking when I am in Teamspeak..

[j_follett_88]

Funny....this is almost my same setup...

Except I got the 16gb kit...(its only $100 US)...Spend the extra $75 for the MSATA...it gives you a little extra performance boost with the caching tech on that board.

Unless your planning on overclocking I would go with the 2600 instead, since it allows for virtualization, the 2600k does not (head smack on that one)

I had an older 8600GTX card that I use for my second monitor...which is nice for when I am gaming, it stays up when game is full screen...I can see who is talking when I am in Teamspeak..

A gaming video card doesn't mean good CAD Video card since gaming is constantly refreshing. but now a days a good video cards good for both

[cdatechguy]

Yeah....but I use the setup for Revit and ArchiCAD and it works great...