Best Computer Processor for AutoCAD

[jappell]

I am trying to decide on my next computer purchase and it is down between 2 work stations one using a xeon processor and the other a Pentium D dual core. The problem is that trying to find what would be best for running AutoCAD 2006. All the bench mark tests use games to show which is faster. Does any one know where you can read about what processor is best for running CAD programs? I know that the dual core xeon is probably the best but we can't afford that machine, so I'm looking at either the single core xeon or the Pentium D dual core. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreiated.

Thank you,
Joan

[robert.1.hall72202]

I used to run a pentium 4 machine and now I have a xeon system. Way less problems since switching to xeon. I could crash AutoCad at least once a week on a pentium 4. I am guessing larger files bogged down the system.

I have yet to see my xeon computer crash during drawing creation.
I can however crash on purpose with some iges translations. Any computer
will crash during iges. Very frustrating.

I have a copy of catia that handles iges files better than AutoCad.

Dual vs Single core? I don't think the software has changed enough over
the years to make that matter.

[Wanderer]

I am trying to decide on my next computer purchase and it is down between 2 work stations one using a xeon processor and the other a Pentium D dual core. The problem is that trying to find what would be best for running AutoCAD 2006. All the bench mark tests use games to show which is faster. Does any one know where you can read about what processor is best for running CAD programs? I know that the dual core xeon is probably the best but we can't afford that machine, so I'm looking at either the single core xeon or the Pentium D dual core. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreiated.

Thank you,
JoanJoan, I'm going to move this from the 06 General forum to this one, as I believe it will be better served here. Thanks. :)

[Wanderer]

I am trying to decide on my next computer purchase and it is down between 2 work stations one using a xeon processor and the other a Pentium D dual core. The problem is that trying to find what would be best for running AutoCAD 2006. All the bench mark tests use games to show which is faster. Does any one know where you can read about what processor is best for running CAD programs? I know that the dual core xeon is probably the best but we can't afford that machine, so I'm looking at either the single core xeon or the Pentium D dual core. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreiated.

Thank you,
JoanI believe CADalyst has done some reviews on processors (http://www.cadalyst.com/cadalyst/search/searchResults.jsp?searchType=basicSearch&repository=all&all=article&all=event&all=product&all=supplier&all=survey&all=form&searchString=processors). hth

[jappell]

Thank you, I went and read quite a few articles on the dual core. I gained some more understanding on the dual core, but I didn't find anything that actually gave a comparison of some of the top configuration for CAD computing.

[jpostlewait]

Lots of computers will run Vanilla acad just fine.
How many applications do you run at once.
Are you a dual monitor hard charging multi-tasker or are you a linear user?
Producing 2D sheets doesn't take more than Dell's 500 dollar special this week.
3D rendering machines require a 2K minimum cost machine and up to 4 or 5 K for the system, depending on how often you do this.
Check the autodesk discussion groups for hardware for some good info.

John Postlewait
IS Department
George Butler Associates, Inc.

[RobertAitken]

Thank you, I went and read quite a few articles on the dual core. I gained some more understanding on the dual core, but I didn't find anything that actually gave a comparison of some of the top configuration for CAD computing.
Sorry to throw a spanner in the works but have you looked at the AMD64 processors? With WinXP64 out now and a 64bit version of AutoCAD rumours to be out next year wouldn't you be better sort of future proofing your "investment". 64bit allows larger accessible memory and the ability to throw about large chunks of data faster.

Just a thought.

Robert

[jappell]

I have heard that the AMD64 processors are great, but for right now that is not one of my choices where I work. I am leaning towards the WinXP64, but I am checking with XEROX and HP regarding having drivers for our large format printer/plotters that will work with Windows 64. So far they don't know and are checking for me to see if everything will run OK. It is hard to plan for the future, when no one can verify any details.

[jappell]

I just do 2D AutoCAD Map 3D (lastest version) at the moment. I also run ArcMap/ArcInfo and a hand full of graphics programs. However, most of my maps are 5MB - 10MB with tiff aerials running in the background that are another 80MB. Most all the programs I run are pretty stable except for AutoCAD. I have always had a problem with AutoCAD crashing when to many items are running. It is the most unstable and always has been of all the programs I run. I would like to take advantage of the new dual core processors as this will be the computer I have for about 5-7 years. That is why I would like to make it the best choices for the money we can spend.

[jpostlewait]

I just do 2D AutoCAD Map 3D (lastest version) at the moment. I also run ArcMap/ArcInfo and a hand full of graphics programs. However, most of my maps are 5MB - 10MB with tiff aerials running in the background that are another 80MB. Most all the programs I run are pretty stable except for AutoCAD. I have always had a problem with AutoCAD crashing when to many items are running. It is the most unstable and always has been of all the programs I run. I would like to take advantage of the new dual core processors as this will be the computer I have for about 5-7 years. That is why I would like to make it the best choices for the money we can spend.
I would really recommend an athlon x2 processor as the basis for your system.
Can't say as I would recommend Win XP 64 as an operating system. Had 5 HP Intel dual core machines and had to reformat 4 as win xp 32 boxes due to driver and application problems. Those athlon dual cores seemed faster to me that the intel duals but didn't do benchmark testing as one group had 10K rpm hard drives and the other only had 7200.
If your running all that stuff you will only have this computer for at most 2 years before you will need an upgrade. 2G ram is a must.

[blads]

I use Revit and have recently upgraded my computer system. Revit is far more processor hungry than plain vanilla Acad, and the HT core works very well.

The system is coupled up to a HP DesignJet 500 wide format printer which is a very good stable workhorse. :)

[jappell]

The AMD processors are out at the moment. Our company goes through Dell and their workstations do not have an AMD processor option. So what I think I'm getting from everyone and from what I've read is this.

Pentium D 840 dual core processor
Windows XP Pro x64
2GB Ram

Anything else? The one I'm looking at has a 160GB hard drive and a 128MB ATI FireGL graphics card. The better graphics cards cost to much to be considered right now as well.

Does most of everyone here use HP computers? Has anyone used the Windows XP x64? Is there any problems with drivers? Other than the normal problems that Microsoft in general has.

Thanks for all your help,
Joan