What CPU for Revit?

[enoc]

We are looking to transition to Revit from ADT in the near future and are looking to buy new cpu’s to run the program on. The fastest workstation we currently are using is a:

Dell Optiplex GX620 Pentium D Dual Core 2.8ghz, Windows XP
1gb Ram
ATI Radeon X600 256mb vid card

This machine has worked very well for our architectural drafting needs. I have done a little 3d work on this cpu and it wasn’t unbearable to work on but I do notice a difference between this cpu and my previous cpu which was a dual xeon with a Nvidia quadro 512mb video card. I gave my old cpu to a newbie who was doing more 3d work than me.

I recently requested a new quotes from our Dell rep for a similar Optiplex w/ more ram and for a Precision model w/ a duo core processor, below are the specs:

Dell Optiplex 745 Pentium D Dual Core 2.8ghz, Windows XP
4gb Ram
ATI Radeon X1300 Pro 256mb video card

Or:

Dell Precision 390 Core2Duo 2.66ghz, Windows XP
2gb Ram
Nvidia Quadro FX3500 256mb video card

The price difference between the two is about $800. I’m liking the Precision more because of it’s Core2Duo processor and nvidia quadro video card but will I see that much of an improvement over the optiplex to justify paying that $800 more? Both CPU's meet Revits spec requirements.

[BIM BAM BOOM]

Strange, I asked Dell for Optiplex 745 last 10 days and I got a Duo-Core 2 2.4GHz
the rest is similar as yours. And thats more than enough to run and be productive with RAC2008. Later if some users need to render extensively with Accurender or Viz or Max I will purchase an ATI FireGL 7200 with 256 Mb (Revit doesnt address more ram for the graphic card) The ATI X1300 pro 256MB is more than enough for Revit Platform.

Hope that helps,

I will suggest however 2x19" Flat or 2x20" Widescreen or a 22" Wide (1680x1050) only $300 for the last one.

[enoc]

Strange, I asked Dell for Optiplex 745 last 10 days and I got a Duo-Core 2 2.4GHz
the rest is similar as yours. And thats more than enough to run and be productive with RAC2008. Later if some users need to render extensively with Accurender or Viz or Max I will purchase an ATI FireGL 7200 with 256 Mb (Revit doesnt address more ram for the graphic card) The ATI X1300 pro 256MB is more than enough for Revit Platform.

Hope that helps,

I will suggest however 2x19" Flat or 2x20" Widescreen or a 22" Wide (1680x1050) only $300 for the last one.

I didn't know you could get a core 2 duo with the optiplex until recently so i got a new quote for it. I'm pushing for our office to go with the precision model due to the processor and that it has an nvidia quadro card. The next step above this and you paying $1000 more. As for monitors we are going with the single wide screens now.

Thanks for your input!

[truevis]

...Later if some users need to render extensively with Accurender or Viz or Max I will purchase an ATI FireGL 7200 with 256 Mb ...I'll go out on a limb and state that Revit's AccuRender rendering speed is not affected by the video card. I doubt Viz/Max's are, either.