need help building $3500 system

[supernewbiee]

I am trying to put together a system for about $3500, and I have no idea where to start. I am looking at the W5590 but they are expensive at about $1600. I am also looking at the Intel xeon W3580 which is about $600 cheaper. I read that the W5590 is dual socket compatible, while the W3580 is not.
If I can not afford the dual W5590s, are there any advantages to running a single W5590, compared to a single W3580?
Next question, would I be better off running two cheaper processors instead of the single one?

This computer will be used for only 2D, and 3D CAD work.

I figure once I figure out what processor to start with, that will help out building the rest of the system.

One more thing, the price does not include a monitor, I don't need one.

Thanks

 

[ebolamonkey4]

W/ that budget, I think you can get the 6-core gulftown that's about to come out, do you really want to use xeon processors versus core i7?

 

[dmw16]

What type of CAD applications?

I'd look at some of the Dell workstation machines designed for your uses and model your build from that (or at least start there).

One of your major expenses is going to be a workstation graphics card which I think is far more important than your CPU choice. I think you'd be fine with a mainstream CPU like an i7 920.

 

[RaistlinZ]

Are workstation CPU's even any faster than an overclocked i7 would be?

Is power/heat an issue?

 

[supernewbiee]

W/ that budget, I think you can get the 6-core gulftown that's about to come out, do you really want to use xeon processors versus core i7?

I would like to stick with intel. It depends when the 6-core gulftown is released.

What type of CAD applications?

I'd look at some of the Dell workstation machines designed for your uses and model your build from that (or at least start there).

One of your major expenses is going to be a workstation graphics card which I think is far more important than your CPU choice. I think you'd be fine with a mainstream CPU like an i7 920.

It is for civil3d and 2010 AutoCAD.
I was looking at the Dell workstations and thats how I got the ideas of the processors. I saw that the W5590 was pretty expensive, and started looking up dual-socket motherboards.
With the graphics card, I was thinking about running dual nvidias.

Instead of the i7-920, how about the i7-975? If it is worth upgrading to the 975, would it be dumb upgrading to the W5590? I am guessing that the price difference could be used for some graphics cards instead.

Are workstation CPU's even any faster than an overclocked i7 would be?

Is power/heat an issue?

If an overclocked i7 is stable enough, that would be an option. I know that this depends on the power/cooling that is supplied.

 

[dmw16]

I don't know much about civil3d, but I ran CATIA v5 on a Core2Duo workstation laptop and CATIA requires more horsepower than AutoCAD and I never had an issue.

I think that RAM and a workstation level graphics card are key. AutoCAD isn't the most power hungry CAD application around so I can't see getting anything more expensive than an i7.

 

[sgrinavi]

How large are your models? Are you applying textures to your 3d models? I run Architecture 2010 and 3ds MAX 2010 with the system in my sig without issue. Adding the second ATI card made very little difference in those apps.