Beginners PC Specification

[Roger Evans]

A guy I know is interested in getting into Revit but just happens to be financially embarrassed at the moment ..

So what would you say is the adequate minimum specification Desktop PC you could get away with on Revit 7.0? ... ie Suitability of Cheaper Graphics Cards / Min ram / etc etc

Rendering is a low priority

An Easy path for future upgrades is also required when more funds become available.

[GuyR]

AMD 939 socket motherboard. This will take the new dualcore processors when available. Not sure what socket the Intel dualcores will use. Revit won't use dualcore but Accurender will. Then the most grunt he can afford.

If he's not doing large work 512MB at a stretch will work. But get it as one stick so to leave the maximum slots available.

Get a decent OpenGL graphics card. Ideally a Quadro or similar. And finally get a SATA drive. Later on buy another SATA in a RAID 0 configuration.

HTH,

Guy

[robert.1.hall72202]

I wouldn't suggest buying a PC you have to upgrade later.........I did that "ONE TIME ONLY" and on paper I ended up spending more to upgrade then it would have cost me to buy a new PC outright. I paid retail hack/slash prices for each component I upgraded.
Lets see, the HD was replaced, more memory, a new video card, network card upgraded, cd burner added.......and more. Thats at least 5 times a store got to grill me for a profit.

[Roger Evans]

Agreed & yeah I explained that, but if you ain't got the dosh you ain't got the dosh & better to be doing something than nothing

[dg]

I get all my computer parts from www.ebuyer.com, and if your friend can assemble them, he could have a good system box for about £200. An LCD 15" can be had for £110 too

There are some dead cheap nvidia cards by Gainward (128mb for about £30) I am using one!

A processor around about the 2ghz (pentium or AMD) and 512 ram will work fine.

I'm not too sure I would bother with an upgrade path. If he is earning with Revit, then he should be able to get a top flight system after a couple of jobs

[Roger Evans]

Thanks to all for the advice so far ~ it is a learn to earn situation & mostly small scale jobs so a basic but reasonable spec should be adequate to start

[dg]

If he is quick, he can get a Dell 3000 + LCD monitor for £267

Click here http://tinyurl.com/6fz4g

and enter this code for 5% off - $X1P2CR6XK11B6 - valid untill 16th March

And Dell also throw in a colour printer - model A720

[RobertAitken]

If your friend hurries up DELL outlet are selling

SYSTEM SPECIFICATION
Dimension 3000 (System Identifier. 0GR4GTEE)
Dimension 3000, MT, Pentium 4 2.80GHz, 533fsb
English - Win XP SP2 Home

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

System Price £334.21
Dell recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional


Operating System: English - Win XP SP2 Home
Memory: 512MB (2x256) Dual Channel DDR333
Floppy Drive: 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Hard Disk Drive: 160GB (7200rpm) IDE Hard Drive
Modem: V.92 Data Fax Modem UK
Software: Microsoft® Works® 7.0
Paint Shop Photo Album Standard Eng
English - Adobe Reader 6.0
BT, AOL, Tiscali ISP Combination
MISC: Dell Standard PS2 Keyboard
Dell 2 Button PS/2 Scroll Mouse
DMX Dell Media Experience 2.
16 X DVD +/- RW

Don't know if that ex VAT but if it's a business purchase I think Dell knock the vat off anyway.

HTH

Robert aitken

[Roger Evans]

Thanks Guys I've also noted a new Dell 8400 for around £450 on E Bay with 17 monitor extra but only £ 60 ~ similar package offers from Dell being about £870