Purchasing new computers

[rodwhsa]

I am in a small firm (5) and we are currently upgrading from ACAD 2000 to ACAD 2006 (BIG Jump)

We are also going to purchase two new machines, what would be the optimum computer system to run Architectural Desktop 2006?

Some qualification and questions:
-Cost is an issue
-Must use two monitor set up
-Are LCD monitors a good idea for CAD yet?
-What processor should we use? Fast single processor? Multicore? Dual processor? Xeon or Pentium?
-The system will need to run other applications than AutoCAD
-Is there a computer manufacturer that optimizes for AutoCAD that would get me computer for my dollar than someone like Dell?
-Should the system have two individual graphics cards or one card with dual monitor capability?
-It seems like the priority for speed in AutoCAD would be first memory and then processor speed is that correct?

[powermarc]

Some qualification and questions:
-Cost is an issue
-Must use two monitor set up
-Are LCD monitors a good idea for CAD yet?
-What processor should we use? Fast single processor? Multicore? Dual processor? Xeon or Pentium?
-The system will need to run other applications than AutoCAD
-Is there a computer manufacturer that optimizes for AutoCAD that would get me computer for my dollar than someone like Dell?
-Should the system have two individual graphics cards or one card with dual monitor capability?
-It seems like the priority for speed in AutoCAD would be first memory and then processor speed is that correct?

1. Isn't it always? But you must realize that the computer you buy for your home is different than the systems you buy for work. Your work is critical, and you should buy systems that come with onsite warranty service to save time because time is money.

2. That's great - it's easy to set up two monitors now - most of the cards I see on the market have dual outputs.

3. LCD's are a great idea - as long as you run them at their native resolution. If the box the monitor comes in says the monitor is 1280x1024, you should set it up to run at 1280x1024.

4. It depends on the type of work you're doing. If you're doing 2D CAD, I wouldn't spend the money on a dual processor system, Xeon or otherwise. You will do just fine with a system that runs at 3GHz or faster on a single processor. It would be nicer with a dual-core, but that's a little extra money. An Intel P4 dual core or an AMD Athlon 64X2 dual core would be great for a CAD system. If you are doing 3D CAD and modeling, then you would need to consider a dual processor system.

5. That goes without saying.

6. The only other company with decent warranty service that actually builds purpose-built CAD workstations is HP - they usually have some AUGI specials advertised through the main AUGI site.

7. It depends. Are you doing 2D drawings or are you doing some intensive 3D rendering and modeling? If you are doing 2D CAD, I would just get one card with 256MB of RAM on it. If you work in 3D, I would get a double card system. Now that you can get a system that uses PCI Express, you can get two fast matching cards instead of one slow regular PCI card and one faster AGP card.

8. The two together are a critical combo. For AutoCAD nowadays, it's 1GB of RAM minimum. 1.5GB or 2GB is better if you work on large models. If your models are not so big, 1GB is fine. Again, as with processors and graphics cards, it depends on the type of work you do.

Let me know if this helps,

Marc

[rodwhsa]

Thanks Marc for the feedback,
We currently produce 2D commercial building drawings, but with our new 2006 software I would like to explore 3D components. We currently use Sketchup for our modeling tool and that seems to work for us right now.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

This might be of some interest...

Dell and AutoCAD 2006!

Please note, I am only offering the above as you speak of both AutoCAD 2006 and ADT 2006.

Have a good one, Mike

[rodwhsa]

Thanks Mike,
I am glad to see that Dell is moving in this direction, but it does not appear that Dell offers Architectural Desktop yet, only AutoCAD, LT, and Revit. It will be nice when they can offer this software and specialize their machine to support that software. Maybe in the future.

[de-co1]

Here in the UK, we have ACAD resellers, who also build custom PCs to suit your requirements. This is fantastic, as they have more experience (I believe) than the likes of Dell and HP (who predominantly mass produce for a mass market), and they build their systems up based on your specific requirements, but with the knowledge they have gained through testing components against applications such as ACAD, MAX, MAYA, Microstation etc.

I don't know how it works in the US, but I tend to find that locally, as good as some of the mass produced systems are, they're just not that good enough.

What I prefer to do, is get quotes with a list of specifications from several CAD / 3D specific resellers, then go online afterwards, and search for the same or similar components, and build the system up through a custom PC builder (not a specialist in the CAD front). Naturally, when I get the the quotes, I put forward my 'wishlist', and explain what it is I am planning to do, how long I expect the PC to last without upgrading (normally a maximum of 2 years, but shorter if it's for myself), and all the main applications I intend running.

Going this route, I manage to put together systems that are similar to systems tested by professionals in the CAD / 3D field, but for a much lower cost. Fair enough, going this route, you tend to lose out on the on-site warranty bit, but if you find someone close enough to your area, you can no doubt get a 2 -3 year return to base type warranty (which is quicker than a collect and deliver warranty).

As far as 2D graphics go, a good 128mB PNY card would suffice - they're a good brand, and are utilised in many professional systems.

PNY Graphics

I would however, agree with powermarc and recommend sticking with a quality 256mB card. The only drawback is that if you're only really starting to get into the 3D side of things, and using SketchUP, you might find that the two cards are overkill, specifically when it comes to the extra cost (depending on the type of card). Which also begs the question - is the machine intended to be used for the next five years, where if you want, you can upgrade to two cards (which might mean completely replacing your single card, because by then, that card might not be around anymore), or do you intend the machine to last for say two years - where you might not get into the 3D as much as you want to, and never really utilise the capabilities of a second card.

Admittedly, the only reason I can warrant a second card is because I use 3D extensively, but I also expect to be upgrading at the latest, in a year and a half's time.

HTH

[rodwhsa]

Thanks David, The latest issue of Cadalyst has a good article on PCI Graphic Cards, that was an interesting read.
I think you are right about the graphic card we are not doing any high end rendering so I am not sure how profitable it will be to go with a high end graphics card. We change out machines every 3 - 3 1/2 yrs. and do very little upgrading in that time period.
In the past we have purchased the standard "mass produced" Dell work stations, I am just exploring other opinions. Thanks for your help, a lot of things to think about!