Choosing an Intel Pocessor?

[chaznsc]

Im in the midst of choosing a workstation for CAD from Dell. Im homing in on the "T" line of Precision workstations. We run Civil 3d which is an AutoCAD variant, and Microstation. We have some older (4-5 years) Precisions that have stood up pretty well. We dont do 3d, but thats coming with the advent of BIM. Im settled on going 64bit Windows 7, and at least 6gb of RAM. Id like a 1gb video card and a 320gb (min) SATA II Drive.

Anyhow, theres a T3500, T5500, T7500 in our list. Each model uses the Xeon Processors, but differing clock speeds, etc. I flat dont know which model to select. For instance, the top of the line T7500 starts with a 2.0ghz chip, which seems low to me, but admittedly, I dont understand the wide array of chips available. Our current Precions have Xeons at 3.0ghz but they are single core (I think).

In chatting with dell online, they recommended a min 3.0ghz processor speed. That alone is a $2,000.00 upgrade!

Here is a list of processors for the T3500:
Six Core Intel® Xeon® W3680 3.33GHz, 12M L3, 6.4GT/s [Included in Price]
Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5670, 2.93GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $800.00]
Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5650, 2.66GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [subtract $120.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5640, 2.66GHz,12M L3, 5.86GT/s, turbo [subtract $370.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5630, 2.53GHz,12M L3, 5.86GT/s, turbo [subtract $990.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® W3565 3.20GHz, 8M L3, 4.8GT/s [subtract $790.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® W3530 2.80GHz, 8M L3, 4.8GT/s [subtract $1,230.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5507, 2.26GHz,4M L3, 4.8GT/s [subtract $1,320.00]
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® W3505 2.53GHz, 4M L3, 4.8GT/s [subtract $1,380.00]
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® W3503 2.40GHz, 4M L3, 4.8GT/s [subtract $1,480.00]

The processors for the T5500:
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5677, 3.46GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $2,200.00]
Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5680, 3.33GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $2,200.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5667, 3.06GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $1,960.00]
Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5670, 2.93GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $1,850.00]
Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5660, 2.8GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $1,620.00]
Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5650, 2.66GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $1,380.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5630, 2.53GHz,12M L3, 5.86GT/s, turbo [add $640.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5640, 2.66GHz,12M L3, 5.86GT/s, turbo [add $1,070.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5620, 2.40GHz,12M L3, 5.86GT/s, turbo [add $400.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5507, 2.26GHz,4M L3, 4.8GT/s [add $210.00]
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5503, 2.0GHz,4M L3, 4.8GT/s [Included in Price]

The T7500 processors:
Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5680, 3.33GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $2,200.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5677, 3.46GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $2,200.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5667, 3.06GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $1,960.00]
Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5670, 2.93GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $1,850.00]
Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5660, 2.8GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $1,620.00] Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5650, 2.66GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $1,380.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5640, 2.66GHz,12M L3, 5.86GT/s, turbo [add $1,070.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5630, 2.53GHz,12M L3, 5.86GT/s, turbo [add $640.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5620, 2.40GHz,12M L3, 5.86GT/s, turbo [add $400.00]
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5507, 2.26GHz,4M L3, 4.8GT/s [add $210.00]
Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor E5503, 2.0GHz,4M L3, 4.8GT/s [Included in Price]


The T3500 is ugradeable to 24gb of RAM, the T5500 is upgradable to 72gb of RAM, and the T7500 to 192mb of RAM. I cant ever forsee getting that high, but you didnt hear ME say that LOL.

I thought someone might be able to help guide me. I dont want to buy something we'd never tap into, but sure don't want to under-buy.

chaz

 

[Phynaz]

CAD use where time = money, go with "Six Core Intel® Xeon® Processor X5680, 3.33GHz,12M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo [add $2,200.00]" on a T3500, assuming the only difference in the models is RAM capacity.

 

[f4phantom2500]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Xeon_microprocessors#Nehalem_based_Xeons

Whatever you do, don't get anything that's not Nehalem based. Get at least a quad core, hexa if you can swing it. assuming your application can take full advantage of 6 cores, core count should be a much bigger factor for you than clock speed. Also, it'd probably be a good idea to ensure that the processor has hyper-threading. if power/heat are of concern, you might wanna get a gulftown chip since they're 32nm.

 

[aigomorla]

in about 6 months all those are even going to be outdated.. :\

rule of thumb get the most expensive u can afford.

that way it will last the longest.

If cores and virtualization are important, id honest get 2 x AMD X6 machines instead of 1 i7 hexcore.
It would probably cost the same.

 

[RussianSensation]

in about 6 months all those are even going to be outdated.. :\

rule of thumb get the most expensive u can afford.

that way it will last the longest.

Depends on the usage model. The 2 statements are contradictory. Why would you buy top of the line if it will be outdated soon? Buying the most expensive CPU on the desktop is in fact the worst strategy. It would be much better to buy mid-range (i.e. $200 Core i7 860/920/930) and upgrade more often than to get the 980X for $1000 and let it age for 5 years. Today any $100 CPU will destroy any $1000 CPU from 5 years ago.

Having said that, in a workplace environment constrained by budgets and timing of when you are allowed to upgrade, buying top of the line may be better. This just depends on the way the workplace functions.

Anyways, OP next time don't let your machines sit there for 5 years and age and instead try to upgrade more often (i.e. once every 2.5/3 years). If you plan to keep the system for a while, I would get the 6-core Xeon 3.33ghz W3680.

The primary difference with the other platforms is that you can use more than 1 processor on a motherboard. In other words, you cannot use this processor in a dual configuration. So if you wish to get a 12-core/24 threaded setup (i.e. 2 Xeon chips), then you have to buy the X5680. Otherwise, for a single socket CPU, the W3xxx model series are fine.

However, instead of dropping $2 grand extra for an X5680, you may just get the single socket W3680 and save the $2 grand towards an upgrade in 2 years or even in 1.5 years. For instance, Intel plans to release a 10-core processor just next year: http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/di...dies_Ten_Core_Microprocessor_for_Servers.html

This is why it makes no sense to get top of the line if budget is an issue.

 

[chaznsc]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Xeon_microprocessors#Nehalem_based_Xeons

Whatever you do, don't get anything that's not Nehalem based. Get at least a quad core, hexa if you can swing it. assuming your application can take full advantage of 6 cores, core count should be a much bigger factor for you than clock speed. Also, it'd probably be a good idea to ensure that the processor has hyper-threading. if power/heat are of concern, you might wanna get a gulftown chip since they're 32nm.

Autocad isnt a multi core program. It multi threads certain activities, but no multi core access.