Recommended build for some workstation apps

[Dman877]

I'm wondering if anyone here has any experience with these apps. Getting information out of the developer about what kind of hardware is required is proving difficult. They have minimum requirements and recommendations but as a PC user, I'm kind of lost when it comes to workstation stuff. All their site says is an AMD Athlon or Intel Pentiium class processor (that helps a real lot) 1 gig or more ram, and a workstation graphics card (that's also pretty useful... not).

Right now my Dad is using these apps on a P4 2.8C in a shuttle xpc with 1 gig ram and onboard video. What I'm wondering is if these apps benefit from dual core cpu's, how much ram they really need, and what is a good but not super expensive ogl workstation graphics card?

Currently, he complains about how slow his machine runs when he's running models through analysis. He doesn't really have any budget limitations but he doesn't want to throw money away. No overclocking will be done to any of his componenets obviously.

TIA

 

[svsnow]

which apps?
anyways i think an upgraded video card would solve his problems.. if hes doing 3d rendering and stuff on integrated graphics

 

[Dman877]

Well part of the problem is neither he nor I know exactly what is bottlenecking him. Aparantly these programs (solidowkrs is a 3d modeling app, floworks is finite element analysis) are sort of integrated and he isn't clear whether its the model rendering or the computation that's chugging his comp.

Right now, I'm thinking about a system with a A64 X2 3800+, 4 gig ram, and a FireGL V3100 card. The thing is I don't know if this system will be faster or not because I just don't know enough about the apps. That's why I'm hoping someone here knows more about them...

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Dman877
Well part of the problem is neither he nor I know exactly what is bottlenecking him. Aparantly these programs (solidowkrs is a 3d modeling app, floworks is finite element analysis) are sort of integrated and he isn't clear whether its the model rendering or the computation that's chugging his comp.

Trivial tests:

Open up Task Manager while he is doing his work. If your CPU pegs at 100% when the program slows down, you need a faster CPU. If your memory usage is going over 1GB (look at the 'commit charge' number on the Performance tab), you need more RAM. If it doesn't appear to be either of those, it's probably the video card; onboard video is pretty horrifically slow, and I'm pretty sure SolidWorks is pretty demanding.

Right now, I'm thinking about a system with a A64 X2 3800+, 4 gig ram, and a FireGL V3100 card. The thing is I don't know if this system will be faster or not because I just don't know enough about the apps. That's why I'm hoping someone here knows more about them...

I can't see how that system could possibly *not* be faster. But you might be able to get enough of an increase just by adding more RAM or a video card to your current system.

 

[Remedy]

AFAIK, Fireworks and Solidworks don't benefit from multiple cores. On the other hand, the Operating system will benefit from the Multiple-cores. Which would make the system feel more refined to having multiple applications open for work such as Solidworks and Fireworks.

IIRC, the 2.8C that your daddy owns has Hyperthreading, correct? That's a trait of SMP right there. If the system is feeling slow or lacking in applications, then it's more than likely coming from the fact that the system has onboard video. Which uses up system memory bandwidth. My first move would be to pick up an aftermarket graphics card and (2) 1GB PC3200 memory modules.

I'm not sure what your current memory module configuration is (512MBx2 or 1x1GB module). But, if you have 1x1GB module, then just pick up another 1GB module to add. If you have 2x512MB modules, then get rid of the 512MB modules and add 2x1GB modules.

I'm pretty sure that Shuttle has an AGP slot. So, adding a FireGL or Quadro or 3Dlabs Wildcat VP card or Matrox P750 series shouldn't be hard. Even a Consumer graphics card like the Radeon 9800 or Geforce 6600GT would make a difference.

(2) 1GB modules @ $65 each ($130 a pair)
Geforce 6600 AGP $99

Which model shuttle XPC does he have?