$10,000 CAD System

[msadiq]

For work, I’d like to build a robust system for a $10,000 dollar budget revolving every 24 months. The work I’ll do is 20% 3DsMax, 20% Revit, and 60% Autocad Architecture all 2011. Your thoughts would be appreciated on the following system?

-Configurable- HP Z800 Workstation Microsoft® Windows®
FF825AV
HP Z800 Workstation
Genuine Windows 7 Ultimate Edition 64-bit
HP Z800 1110W 89% Efficient Chassis
1 - Intel Xeon X5680 3.33 12MB/1333 6C CPU-1 HIGHPWR (Only supported with 1110 W chassis. )
HP Air Cooling Solution (When choosing this option, a Technical AV - Heatsink MUST be selected)
HP 1x High Perf Heatsink Thermal Kit (This module is required if AIRCOOL is selected. 1st Processor must be high power, greater than 95W. Not supported with two processors. ESTAR=SP)
NVIDIA Quadro 5000 2.5GB Graphics (Vista OS not supported)
NVIDIA Quadro 5000 2.5GB Graphics 2nd (Second graphics must match first graphics. Only supported with 1110 W chassis.)
NVIDIA SLI Graphics connector (Supported only with Dual FX4800 or Dual FX5800. ESTAR=H)
HP 16GB (8x2GB) DDR3-1333 ECC RAM (Supported only with Dual Processor. ESTAR=DP)
HP 160GB SATA X25-M 1st SSD
HP 160GB SATA 7200 2nd HDD (Primary drive must be SATA)
HP 16X DVD+-RW SuperMulti SATA 1st Drive
HP RAID 1 (Mirrored Array) Configuration (All HDDs must be the same size/speed/type. Must have 2 HDDs)
3 years parts, labor and onsite service (3/3/3) standard warranty. Certain restrictions and exclusions apply.
HP Promo LP2475w 24-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor
LSI 3041E 4-Port SAS 3Gb RAID Card

[Glenn Pope]

First off, I would love to have this system.

That said, this setup is extreme overkill (main reason I want it ).

You could save a lot of money going with a core i7, with out dropping any performance.

Going with one graphic card should be more then enough, unless you are viewing 3D renders all day.

RAM with ECC is one of the biggest rip-offs, unless you are actually running a server. Standard DDR3 RAM is around a 3rd of the price with zero loss in performance. Also 8GB if RAM should be more then enough.

I wouldn't have any RAID in my systems, again unless it's a server. A SSD for your OS and a standard hard drive for any file storage.

I would add an additional monitor. Dual 24"+ is the only way to go .

So if money is no object, go with the setup you have. Otherwise the above suggestions would give you a very capable system for much less.

[dgorsman]

If I asked for one of these, management would laugh in my face. And give me a pay cut. 5K should be plenty to build a boomer with serious muscle, but for day-to-day use even $2500 should be enough.

[Elmo]

The only benefit to any of the programs this machine would really have is for your 3D max. Otherwise way overkill. Although I do like the idea of the SSD Harddrive.

[msadiq]

Is it better to go with a x5650 that will turbo boost to pretty much the same speed as a x5680? Is it possible to use two i7s on a dual socket board running at 1333 speed?

[sinc]

If you're looking to reduce the price without impacting performance much, I'd say the two Quadro FX5000's are the place to look, before lowering your CPU.

[msadiq]

So I got a quote from dell for a machine with the following specs, for $10,000.
Dell Precision 7500 Workstation
dual six core xeon 5680 3.33 GHz
24GB DDR3 ECC SDRAM Memory 1333MHz,12X2G
2 quadro 5000 with sli
256 gig ssd
Windows 7 64 bit

Does anyone have any experience with the Dell 7500 workstation?

[cadtag]

for the 60% of the time you're listing as Autocad use, 5 of those cores will be idle.

I'm not sure about Revit, but I think that 20% of your time those same 5 cores will be idle as well.

3DS max will probably use them up though.. Price/Perfomance may suggest using a renderfarm, instead of spending all that on a single box. Especially if Max is 1/5 of your workweek.

[Elmo]

Talk about overkill.

[cdatechguy]

Would be a very nice system if you used 95% 3D MAX....but for 60% Acad Arch....yeah...overkill...

Its like having a Ferrari and only driving it on a go-cart track....

EDIT: Oh....and it will be outdated in two years....(someone mentioned that here at work)