Hardware Suggestion Needed

[blade47]

A friend wants me to build him a computer. He'll use it for autocad and a little 3d gaming (mostly racing games so this part really isn't that important). The problem is I know next to nothing about what autocad really needs to run well.

I have a few quick questions to help me understand what autocad likes:

(1)I know autocad needs lots of ram and cpu power and was wondering if anyone could tell me how much of each they'd suggest getting?

(2)Another question is does the video card make much difference in autocad or not? If so what would you suggest?

(3)Would there be any difference in a bx, 133a or 815e motherboard in autocad?

His only request is for it to be at least 700mhz, 17" or 19" monitor, cd-rw, Intel cpu, and cost between $1000-$1500 (he's a college student and doesn't have a big budget). Please feel free to make a complete list of what you'd recommend. Thanks.

 

[GT1999]

You aren't going to be getting a super-house CAD station for $1500, but you'll want at least a 19" if he's going to be doing anything mildy serious with CAD. Bigger monitors are essential to CAD workstations.

I'd recommend as much RAM as possible, a Matrox G400/G450, or even the G800 when that's out, if it fits your budget. You'll probably want a Hitachi/Samsung/Eizo 19", with that ladder being the most expensive. You're probably looking at a 700/750E, to fit the rest of your budget. As for a motherboard, check out the ASUS CUSL2 to accompany your 700E/750E FC-PGA Coppermine, since he wants to go all Intel.

 

[blade47]

Thanks, anyone else with suggestions?

 

[Henry Kuo]

What kind of CAD tools is he running? I am running CAD tools in my work place, and I still feel slow having 1GB of memory. there is really no way to build a machine for CAD with 1500 bucks.

For video card, if you really want good stuff, at least go for NVidia Quadro 64MB....

for motherboard, choose i815E, and I guess ASUS CUSL2 is the best.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Do you have to build a complete system, or does he have some parts that you can use?

You are going to have a hard time building a decent cad system for $1500 let alone $1000.

I would suggest 256 meg ram, 19" monitor, win2k pro, and a matrox G450. You could probably scrimp on everything else if necessary.

 

[wesman2]

How does your friend feel about OC?

I haven't used the newer versions of Autocad so I can't comment on how much of a video cards 3d engine they use. The two areas you don't want to skimp in are the monitor and the memory. Minimum 256mb, if you arn't OC then the generic stuff will do as long as it has a warrenty. and go with a 19" monitor, the cost of a larger monitor is too much and 19" is where you get the most bang for your buck right now.

It may not be much, but at least it's a response.

 

[TwoFace]

Well since your friend wants to be difficult and don't want an AMD proc. you're kinda outta luck on the hardware (I know that AutoCAD will run just fine on an AMD system, since my father (an architect) uses one). You've got a few options as the other guys have outlined above, but if your friend is on such a tight budget how is he gonna afford an AutoCAD licence? Last time I checked they were upwards of a couple of thousand dollars AutoCAD isn't cheap, if you're gonna do serious CAD work at all it requires quite a budget. Well since your friend probably can get a licence from his school or something I'll just move on.

If you look at Tom's Hardware (yeah I know it's evil to post about other sites but anyway) you'll see he does some professional level benchmarking for vid cards. I think AutoCAD comes with optimizations for OpenGL, and you should get a pretty good picture of what the difference between cards is.

Other than that I'd go for the minimum of 256MB ram as the others have suggested, and a PIII 733 maybe (if he don't wanna OC go for 133MHz FSB!). As for mobo it seems to me that the best mobos for PIIIs are the 815 (?) go Asus, or maybe the new dual from Abit (VP6) if he later decides he needs another proc... If your friend isn't to afraid to modify his hardware you could always do the GeForce DDR > Quadro hack and get him a proffesional level graphics card the cheap way...

Hope you get a happy friend once you're finished building his system

Regards

Two-Face

 

[blade47]

Thanks guys for the responses. I'll check into all of the info you guys gave me.

I know he can't get a really good cad setup with the budget he has but maybe he can get something that will do. Right now he doesn't have a computer and is going to school to be a mechanical engineer and can get autocad from the school so he was wanting to build a system to run it on so he doesn't have to go to the computer lab to do all of his work.

He told me the labs are only running P3-550e's so maybe he can at least get a system as good as he's used to running on. I'm going to ask him to get me the specs on the systems they have so I can get a better idea of what he usually uses.

BTW I have a few parts I'll probably sell him on the cheap to help him out, may shop around in the forums a little if he doesn't mind some used stuff and will ask him about overclocking to save some money.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[xtreme2k]

AutoCAD is not as CPU intensive as many of you guys think

any 700MHz+ CPU should run it at an acceptable speed

i would personally recommend G400/G400MAX if image quality is most important but then will not be able to compete with even a Geforce2MX in 3dgames

the Video card is also arent TOO critical in a Autocad situation
Nvidia cards should do it well
I would go for this kind of config

P3/733EB
Asus CUSL2
256MB PC133
19" Monitor (philips flatscreen is actually pretty good)
IBM 30GB 75GXP
32MB Geforce ANYTHING should do
and the like

if he want AMD
then
Tbird 800+
Asus A7V

 

[BGod]

blade_47, I think I've struck a ballance between power and upgradeability. Plus it's all linkified for you or your friend.

Tyan S1832DL Dual Slot 1 BX chipset - Will take Coppermines if it's Rev F

Pentium III 500 Katami core Retal box

Apacer PC133 128MB SDRAM non-ECC

IBM 75GXP 30GB Hard drive

Asus V6800 Pure, 32MB DDR SGRAM

Windows 2000 Professional

Mag 800V 19" .26 dot pitch - 1999 Reviewers Choice ZD Net

Iiyama 450 VisionMaster Pro 19" .25 dot pitch - Best money can buy!

All of the links will bring up PriceWatch pages so you can pick which vendors you want to use. Hope this helps!

 

[blade47]

ßGød: Thanks for taking the time link all of that!! I thank everyone for your input. I think I've got enough info to help me price my buddy decent system for what he'll be using it for.

 

[Eli]

I'm going to have to recomend an AMD system. An Intel system just doesen't make much sense at this point in time. It's a dead end.

With an Athlon Thunderbird, not only would your CPU be more powerful, but you would save money for use on things like RAM, storage, and video.

Before everyone comes in and starts saying how unstable, incompatible, undesirable an AMD system would be for a system where stability is important.. We don't want to hear it! AMD is ready for the Server/Workstation market. I've made my point time, and time again, by saying that these very forums are run on Thunderbird 1GHz processors with the MSI K7T Pro motherboards. With the release of the MSI K7T Master, with 4DIMMs, onboard SCSI, and FireWire, this is clearer than ever. The platform is stable. Period.

Do your friend a favor. At least point him to some of Anand's benchmarks.. The Athlon really excels in FPU intensive work.

 

[Dark4ng3l]

LIsten to eli you friend must be some stupid intel zombie who actualy belives that a p3 wil make your internet experiance better. We all know that's bs

 

[xtreme2k]

the more IBM/Sun/Gateway/Dell/Compaq server and workstation uses them

the more i trust them

damnit you guys take anand as god or something
he doesnt do much other than giving us routine run-through of some popular benchmarks with very little analysis and in-depth information

go have a read through the articles at realworldtech, aces, ars and you will see the difference

 

[Syborg1211]

well, an AMD system saving you money on ram is TOTAL BS. Since amd runs ram at ddr, it requires high quality ram which will raise the price. Anyways, if the guy want Intel, shut the hell up! I am sick and tired of amd pushers going and trying to reform people into amd lovers. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. And, if he is going to dual processor way, I might be mistaken but i thought that amd chips dont support dual processors?

Anyways, back to the topic.

A 700e with 256 mb ram and a nice 20 gb hard drive should be a good system. As for the graphics card, a Prophet 2 mx or a g450 would be great. A dual p3 600 would be good too.

 

[Syborg1211]

and as for the amd way being cheaper, well that is pretty damn funny! The processors themselves are cheaper, sure. But once you check out the prices for motherboards, where did all the extra money go?!? All the supposed extra money went into the motherboard!

 

[blade47]

Eli: I have never owned an AMD based system myself, but from what I've seen and heard AMD would probably be the better choice. I mentioned to him that AMD offered the most bang for the buck right now, but he said he'd rather have an Intel chip.

Pointing him to the benchmarks wouldn't do him a bit of good. He knows virtually nothing of computers and couldn't make heads or tales of the benchmarks if he saw them. All he does know is the Intel name. Which is much more recognized than AMD is in the consumer market thanks to Intels advertising crew.

I really don't want to try and talk him into an AMD system. When I get more time I'm going to tell him more about AMD and let him check around on his own about them. Right now he just want's me to pick what I think would be a good setup based on the few guidelines he mentioned and price it for him. Then he'll check around and see what the local shops tell him. The final decision for all of the components will be his alone based.

Dark4ng3l: You appear to be no better. It seems you have a biased opinion, so I'll just ignore any advice you give. This is the reason I rarely post in here anymore, it's impossible to ask a question without someone going ape $hit.

BTW my friend is no Intel zombie, he's a first time computer buyer who doesn't know much about computers at all. He's not a computer geek and anyone with any sense can understand why someone who doesn't know much about computers would wan't to buy Intel. All the systems he's ever worked on have been Intel and all the advertisements he's seen are for Intel. He knows they are a major brand and have been around along time, he's never even heard of AMD so that's why he asked for Intel. Brand recognition is very important in sales and Intel is a well known brand. I told him a little about AMD but didn't have time to really talk to him. I plan on enlightening him a little the next time I see him.

 

[Syborg1211]

Does anyone see the point I am trying to make with the amd motherboard controversy?

Anyways, I also read that you have not worked with amd yet. You might want to ask some questions on setting them up if your friend does go the amd way. I have heard amd systems are harder to set up for some reason. No idea why, but that's what i have heard and seen happen to my friend as he had a horrible system for a year until his brother took his computer apart and set everything up for him. Then he had a pretty good system. But my friend still says he is never going to buy amd ever again because his comptuer gives him a bad feeling or something. I myself might go the amd way if the P4 is a piece of junk. If not, I am going to spring for a P4 with rambus and all the works.

 

[ColdTech]

Try a Duron/TBird 700 & a A7V that will get him up & going, & If he feels he needs more speed than there are numerous articles on how to OC with the A7V...