Help Building a System for CAD/Rendering user!

[kormaster]

Ok fella anadtechs... help me build a system for a CAD/Rendering user. I want to stay Single Processor cuz of the budget... meaning... no SCSI... no RAID.... basically a fast comp without pulling off an arm and a leg cuz im gonna need to upgrade again in about 2/3 yrs... no sense spending extra 300+ more.


Prices from Newegg.com
Asus VIA A7V333 KT333 Chipset ATX Motherboard Retail Boxed $125.00
AMD ATHLON XP 2000+/266 FSB PROCESSOR CPU - OEM 2000+/ 1.67GHz, $115.99
Crucial Micron 512MB 64x64 PC2100 DDR RAM, 184-Pin, CL=2.5-Unbuffered x2 $282.00
WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 100GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD $140.00
LITE-ON LTD-163 16X DVD ROM Drive - Retail $38.00
Lite On 48x12x48 CDRW Model LTR-48125W Retail $78.00
ANTEC Server Chasis (Workstation Tower) Model SX1040; Antec Original P4 400 watt Power Supply-Retail $118.00
total - $771.99 +shipping(cheap... like 20 bucks) +_CA TAX


I dont know which Vid card.... definately not going to play ANY games... all RENDERING/CADding with progs like Photoshop, Autocad 2002, FormZ, 3dMAX etc.
Just to show how intense rendering is.... it took 30 min to render in a AMD 1.33 system with 256 DDR. Had GF 2 card.

I was thinking about g550 (currently have G400 single head)... or how about Radeon 8500 LE.... but for what the computer is gonna be used for.. i dont know.
PLus I dont know which HS to get.
HELP ME PLEASE

 

[kormaster]

BUMP please

 

[dexvx]

Isnt a good 3d card necessary for CAD/3d rendering? I dont think a Matrox G550 is a 3d rendering card. If you want a good rendering card, go look at the new 3dLab cards, they are currently the best for the $$.

Also look at what what programs he's using. Some programs with SSE2 enhancements make the p4 better performane per $$.

 

[DanFungus]

I personally like the GeForce line..I have a GeForce 3, and it renders pretty damn well....Since they're basically Quadros, just with a little less "stuff", they're pretty good.

 

[kormaster]

so GF4 is over kill plus not worth the money... so which GF 3 should i get?? brand?? series??

 

[DanFungus]

Originally posted by: kormaster
so GF4 is over kill plus not worth the money... so which GF 3 should i get?? brand?? series??

I've heard good things about Visionteks, I have an original GF3 (before the ti200, and ti500) but if you get a GF3, you might want to go for the ti500, since the original, you probably wouldn't be able to find, and the ti200 might be less power than you want.

 

[kormaster]

what do u guys think about the system rig components... MOBO??? HS? any suggestions?

 

[Markfw]

I have that motherboard, and it is OK, but I also have an Abit KX7-333R, that I actually like better. Either one would be fine, but the KX7 doesn't have on-board audio, so I can use my SBlive card. For the HSF, I can't speak, since I got the retail HSF with my XP 2000. It is cool enough (48C. and up to 52c under full load) For video I love my Radeon 8500 128 meg retail. 9000+ 3dmarks not oc'ed. I can't speak for CAD specifics, as I am a gamer, but last I heard, FPU performance was critical on most rendering software, and the Athlon is king in the FPU world. Does that help ??

 

[hinet]

The Matrox G550 would be a great card for normal Photoshop and AutoCAD use, but for 3DSMax, you'd better be looking at something else, something like an nvidia Quadro, ATI FireGL or something from 3DLabs. However, it seems like you're on a real tight budget, so maybe you don't want to spend so much. Check out some of the professional graphics card reviews at aceshardware and elsewhere and try to make a decision after that then.

 

[thirdlegstump]

The 3D card is actually not utilized during the final renders, it's all CPU. Realtime graphic quality is just not good enough for final cuts. However, when doing quick shaded previews, it is useful. That said, the Geforce 3 and 4 series are actually quite good for most low/mid-end CAD stuff. If you want to go high end, go for the dedicated GL stuff. For 2D stuff like Photoshop and Illustrator, the Matrox cards are KING but since you'll be doing 2D and 3D, it's better off losing a bit of 2D display quality for the faster 3D previews. (note, the video cards will not affect the actual image quality of your final renderings!) Hope this helps.

 

[WarCon]

I always thought CAD and memory went hand in hand. You might want a bit more memory.

 

[kormaster]

I think im gonna go for the MSI GF4 4200... they are around 150~... as for heat sink.. im gonna need a just a descent one and lots of fans in the case... i think that will do.. any more comments.??? I think 1 GIG of DDR is fine... i mean i can always get more.. but I can get UNREG mem right?? like 3 sticks of 512 or 2 sticks??? Also, can you mix and match 2100 and 2700 MHZ DDR?? Would Crucial Mem be fine??

 

[DeviousTrap]

The 4200 is a great card for redering. I've seen many people using it due to its price.

Also, to save some money get the silver Chieftec Server tower DX-01SLD case. Its a great case with a 400w power supply but costs $66. Alos for redering either run that ran at CL= 2.0 or get some CL= 2.0 ram, it will give a noticable inprovement.

 

[Krk3561]

If you're doing CAD/Rendering, you probably want at least 1GB of RAM.

 

[kormaster]

Originally posted by: computer89
The 4200 is a great card for redering. I've seen many people using it due to its price.

Also, to save some money get the silver Chieftec Server tower DX-01SLD case. Its a great case with a 400w power supply but costs $66. Alos for redering either run that ran at CL= 2.0 or get some CL= 2.0 ram, it will give a noticable inprovement.

I am not familiar with the CL setup. Can u suggest me some brands of DDR mem that has it? I was thinking about MUSHKIN DDR 512MB PC-2700 - OEMAMD, VIA, ALI, SiS Approved, PC2700 = 333MHz FSB, Rated 2.5-3-3; 6ns DDR333 - newegg.com price is $168. I was gonna get 2 of those.

KrK3561: at LEAST 1gig... meaning more the merrier for CAD?? i heard that before... so i should get one more stick of 512???? WOW... can they all be UNREG? 2100/2700?? and I am still debating which mobo to buy

MSI KT3 Ultra2(6380E-050) or ASUS A7V333 or EPOX 8K3A+ KT333CE DDR333

and which HS?????