Computer Specs
 

So I was thinking about how I have gone through 3 upgrades on my computer in order to run CAD decently. This last upgrade should makes everything run smoothly. :D

But that got me thinking about what everyone else uses to run CAD and how well that works for them.

The computer specs for the computer I will be using (when the parts come in...)
Windows Pro 64-bit
Nvidia Geforce 9800GT Graphics Card
6 gigs DDR3 RAM
Quad Core 2.8 Ghz Processor

This should run quiet well see as its quiet the step up from the last computer.

What does everyone else use, and how well does it work?

Re: Computer Specs
 

Similar specs on 3 of my CAD computers:

Pentium 4 Northwood OC'd at 3.6ghz (3.7 isn't fully stable even with my water cooling)
Abit ic7 mobo
3 gigs DDR2
Ati 1600xt
XP Pro

AMD Opteron X2 OC'd at 2.2ghz
DFI LanParty mobo
2 gigs DDR2
EVGA GeForce 6800gt
XP Pro

Most used:
Intel i7 at 2.66ghz (just replaced my C2 Quad)
Intel dx58s0 mobo
6gigs DDR3
Waiting on my new upgrade card- GeForce 9800gt
Booting XP 64x, Vista Ultimate 64x, and Windows 7 (yea yea yea calm down)

Sadly, I need a better laptop with a legit graphics card to run any modern software. Pentium M 1.6ghz with 512 ddr. The desktops work great, obviously the quad core is best.

Re: Computer Specs
 

At the risk of embarrassing myself, I've been continually upgrading a P4-based computer for the last six years, replacing pieces as they fail, or as technology threatens to pass me by....

Intel Pentium 4 @ 2.8 GHz (Northwood, SL78Y, 130 nm)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe (Intel 875P & 82801/ICH5R)
2 GB DDR (PC3200) in dual-channel mode
ATi HD 3650 @ 725 MHz (RV635, 55 nm, AGP 8x) with 512 MB DDR2
10 drives (3 optical drives, 5 hard drives w/1.1 TB capacity, 1 1.44 MB floppy drive w/5-in-1 flash reader, 1 100 MB Zip drive)
Windows Vista (32-bit)

For anything processor-limited, it will get crushed (especially when pitting its primitive HyperThreading against modern multicore systems in multithreaded tasks). But the rest of the computer is reasonably competitive with modern systems. (Stripped down, the system can boot at up to 3.7 GHz, but it's definitely not stable at that speed.)

But despite that, it can handle just about anything CAD-related, at least in Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 4.0. (However, Inventor 2009 just makes it angry.) To put this in perspective, I've got 5 FIRST robots open in Pro/E, 4 of which are complex sheetmetal designs with hundreds of parts, with 3 being native Pro/E assemblies and 2 being Pro/E assemblies composed of STEP import features. It's using about 727 MB of RAM, and all of the windows are responding normally, and the views render cleanly and animate at a full-motion framerate. In Inventor, I have one robot open; it's using 763 MB on its own, and the views are sluggish, normal view manipulation is occuring at around 10 frames per second, and the UI isn't responding properly.

When it comes to CAD in Pro/E my computer shows its age only when regenerating or doing things like structural and thermal analyses (which are processor-bound). The video subsystem is relatively modern, and plenty fast enough for CAD work (though the drivers are probably suboptimal). The main hard drive is fast and reasonably large (a 596 GB, 7 200 rev/min unit). More RAM would be a convenience for multitasking, but isn't a big deal here; in non-CAD use, my RAM usage is often around 1.8 GB—or exactly where it ought to be.

Despite that, I'm going to have to replace this computer reasonably soon, mainly to maintain my credibility, but also because I'm leaning toward something that's actually portable. At the moment, I'm looking out for the mobile Core i7s that are due in late September.

Re: Computer Specs
 

Win7 RC1 (I havent bothered to upgrade to the actual copy I have through school but will be doing that shortly)
1-TB Drives x2
2 GB DDR2 Ram x4
ATI FirePro 3750
Intel Core2Quad 2.4Ghz
22" Dell Monitor
700W Power Supply

Total cost of system: <$1400 shipped including OS

Planned upgrades, 3rd HDD to use as the OS drive (meaning OS reinstalls will take 30 minutes TOPS)

Re: Computer Specs
 

Heath-Zenith Z51, with an 8086 at 4.77 MHz (with 8087 Math Co-processor), Paradise EGA video, 1 MB RAM using QEMM, 20 MB full height HD, mouse. OS is DOS 6.0 with Norton Commander.

Of course, I'm running AutoCad 1.21 here...:ahh:

Re: Computer Specs
 

That beast sounds like it could eat my PC...:eek:

Re: Computer Specs
 

Let me guess, the RAM is above board. I have forgotten how really advanced Autocad was at that point in it's life. Our first workstation was a Tandy 1000 with 2 Meg above board RAM, a 28Meg hard drive and an external 10" Bernoulli drive for drawing storage. We quickly upgraded, settling on Autocad Ver. 3.21 for several years.
When considering CAD computers remember that CAD is video intensive so that computers that share system RAM for video will bog down. Depending on the CAD platform you are using, they usually spec minimum video card and video RAM. Follow the manufacturer recommendations or forever be waiting for numbers to crunch in the video RAM, especially during zooms and 3D views.

Re: Computer Specs
 

Laptop Specs:

Dell XPS M1530
Core 2 Duo T9300 @ 2.5Ghz
4GB RAM
GeForce 8600M GT @ 512MB dedicated
15.4" WUXGA LCD Screen with a ridiculous resolution for a laptop
128GB Solid State Drive, 8x DVD R/W
Vista x64
320GB Western Digital Passport, where all of my actual files reside

It's fast. It's quiet. It's portabl-ish. It was $1700 with a 3 year warranty. I've done CAD, MatLab simulations, and a couple of games with no issues. I originally wanted a laptop that utilizes the NVIDIA Quadro chip, but alas those were ~$300 more on average and you couldn't add the same features/performance in other areas without massive $$$ upgrades as well.

Wasn't there a terminal or programming feature in AutoCad at some point? Something triggered a memory where a friend and I were joking about it and he said he CAD'ed his entire mechanical project with the keyboard faster than the pros at his internship could do with a mouse.

Re: Computer Specs
 

Laptop:

Lenovo ThinkPad T61p
Core 2 Duo T8300 @ 2.40GHz
4GB of RAM (only shows up as 3GB)
Quadro FX 570M @ 256MB dedicated (currently shown as having approx. 1500MB of memory, some borrowed from the system)
15.4" LCD screen running 1680x1050
250GB hard drive
Vista Business 32-bit
320GB SimpleTech external drive

Bought it just over a year ago, $1500 with a 4 year full coverage warranty. Runs everything I can throw at it program wise, Solidworks, Inventor, and some MatLab.

Re: Computer Specs
 

Laptop:
Asus 15.6"
Core 2 duo 8600
4 gb RAM
GT240 m 1 gb dedicated vram
320gb 7200 rpm hd
Windows 7

Desktop:
Core i7 920
6gb DDR3 1600
1 TB HD
GTX 285 1 GB dedicated VRAM
Windows 7

Re: Computer Specs
 

Dang! Some of these would destroy mine in a preformance... Most of them actualy.. Gives me high hopes for mine though. :D

Re: Computer Specs
 

Here's what I do my CAD on:

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB


I just C+P'd that from the system specs... But yeah, I run all of my CAD inside of a virtual OS (A stripped down, brutalized edition), and it runs well enough that I can make a decent paycheck loaning myself out as a drafting consultant. That being said, I do most work in Solidworks, and every now and then I get an odd client who needs Inventor.

Edit: After reading this, it appears I'm one of the few who CAD's on a Mac... Am I really that odd?

Re: Computer Specs
 

Alrighty:

Laptop of El doomo:
-HP
-AMD Turion x2 @ 2.66 GHz
-4 Gigs of RAM
-Nvidia 8400
-500 GB Hardrive
-Windows 7

-RC

Re: Computer Specs
 

Dangit RC, you've got me beat in CPU (barely), and in HD internal space...

Re: Computer Specs
 

No you aren't that odd (Well, yes you are but you know what I mean) I just have my desktop that I built because I wanted to have a dedicated Windows box. Until last spring I didn't have the desktop but decided I could afford to build one. The MBP is a pretty decent machine for CAD if you can get the heat issues under control. Any tips on that?

Re: Computer Specs
 

Lol Craig, any new stuff cooking lately?

-RC

Re: Computer Specs
 

We have a granite table where I live, so heat is dissipated quite easily. No problems for me on that front.

Yep. I'll have something to show off here soon enough.

Re: Computer Specs
 

So... not only do you use a pirated version of Windows, but you use it for consulting?

Not only do you do consulting on a pirated copy of Windows, but you post about it on a public forum?

Re: Computer Specs
 

The "Pirated Edition" is a perfectly legal version of XP that has been stripped down to the bare essentials. No more Internet Exploder, no more PIA "firewall," and entirely no bloatware. My Dad is a software engineer, and I understand the blood, sweat and tears that go into software development. It is something that I will never pirate, and software piracy is something I take VERY seriously.

I suppose I should have explained that earlier... I get this response a lot when people see the splash screen on it...

Re: Computer Specs
 

Not really CPU Wise
In a benchmark i found, 2.2ghz turion can calculate 32 million digits of pi as fast as a 1.2ghz core 2 duo

Cinebench rendering a 2.2ghz turion is equal to a 1.8ghz version of your processor (same generation)

Ghz means very little now in processors, that race is over.

As for my specs
15.4" Macbook Pro (classic not unibody)
2.4ghz Core 2 Duo
4GB DDR2 667mhz 4-4-4-12
8600GT 256MB GDDR3
500GB Harddrive
Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) / Windows 7 RC (Win XP Home SP3 Before that)
3dconnexion Space Navigator PE and VX Revolution

Heat isn't really a problem. Long battery life is nice. As is thinness =P. Heat is nice in winter actually, makes my room warmer than rest of the house =P

In my room it sits on wire and wood rack i built (using a letter tray =D) that is 6" off the ground. I have used it with 100% cpu usage on my lap, burns when it hits my bare legs due to shorts but never uncomfortable. In OSX check out SMC fan control. I have had my processor at 85C for like 1 hour before mac kicked the fans in. Windows is much faster to kick them in but I think its because graphics card gets more use.

Re: Computer Specs
 

SMC fan control has saved me so much heat related pain. The algorithm that Apple uses for their fan controls isn't nearly aggressive enough, and the settings on SMC take care of that quite nicely.

I'll have to check out building a little rack, as while I'm at my desk the laptop is sitting off to the side driving my monitor/keyboard/mouse.

Re: Computer Specs
 

This is what I whipped up

Wood from garage, wire letter tray is meant to be stackable so the wires work quite nicely for keeping my laptop in place.

Whats odd is people always complain about heat in windows, in windows my fans kick in at 80 on the dot, on mac it cooks at 80-85 for a bit then it turns em up. Though right now where im sitting with it on my lap its fine at 50C with lowish cpu usage, streaming music from last.fm and such. So its honestly not that bad.

Re: Computer Specs
 

Well, I'm in the middle of a build right now.

Microsoft XP Pro 32 bit
Intel C2D E8200 2.8ghz
2 gb RAM
Geforce 8600 - 512 mb
640 GB 7200 rpm HDD
20" Acer lcd monitor

I also use my laptop for CAD
xp home 32 bit
C2D 1.6 ghz
2 gb ram
Geforce 8600
160 gb hdd
15.4" screen

Re: Computer Specs
 

Right now i do my cad on my laptop.

Specs:
Core 2 Quad Q9000
4gb DDR3
500gb 7200 rpm hdd
32 gb SSD
2 x GTX 260-m
17" lcd (1440 X 900)

Re: Computer Specs
 

Your screen is really 1440x900 on a 17" laptop? That sucks.

Re: Computer Specs
 

Geez Cory just come right out and say it.... my work laptop is 17" with 1440x900 resolution. It runs things just fine, plus I don't go blind looking at tiny print!

Re: Computer Specs
 

Bah, you kids and your good vision! ;)

Re: Computer Specs
 

I actually havent had any problem with the screen for the most part. My desktop that I use at home is 1440 x 900 on a 19" screen (granted, its obo 3 yrs old). The upgrade to a better screen was like $300 and I thought the money was better spent on the SLI'd vid cards and a bigger HDD.

Re: Computer Specs
 

I did all for CAD work for 228's 2009 robot on my 24" iMac. I started the base chassis in XP x64 VMWare virtual machine, but that became too laggy so I switched to Vista x32 in Boot Camp, which has since been upgraded to Windows 7 Build 7100.

2.8Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
4Gb PC2-6400 RAM
512Mb Nvidia 8800GS
24" 1920x1200 display
750 Gb HDD with 80 Gb Windows partition
Razer DeathAdder mouse (only $20 from Wootoff)

These specs work just fine for my use in FIRST or for academic college work. But if was ever going to do any serious CAD work, I'd definitely build a custom PC with the best sub-$300 Intel Quad Core i7, at least 6Gb RAM, and the best sub-$300 Nvidia Quadro graphics card.

Re: Computer Specs
 

Interesting. I didn't even know 17" laptops were made with resolution that low-pretty much every one I've looked at was 1920x1200.

I find myself wishing my 1680x1050 was 1920x1200 all the time...1440x900 seems massive.

Re: Computer Specs
 

3132 here

I'm running 3DS Max 2010 on my personal laptop. No problems, rendering is a breeze!

Dell StudioXPS 1645

Intel Core i7 Q720 1.60GHz turboboost 2.10GHz
6GB DDR3 RAM
ATI Radeon 4670 1GB
500GB SATA 7200RPM

Re: Computer Specs
 

This year most of the teams CADing is done on my computer

Custom Built
Antec Skeleton
Biostar Tpower x58 motherboard
12GB DDR3 RAM from OCZ
Intel i7 920 running stock speeds (currently)
Dual nVidia 9800 GTX+ in SLI
3.5 TB storage space.


This is a big step up from what we were running last year with 3 year old tablet PC.

Re: Computer Specs
 

Desktop custom built by me

Processor:
Pentium D 930 overclock to 4.05 ghz on corsair liquid cooling
Memory:
3072 mb of OCZ gold + AMPX ddr2 667 at 5-5-5-12T at 2.3V
Hard Drive:
320 gb SATA
Video Card:
ATI HD5970 overclocked to 850 mhz core
Monitor:
up to 3x 20-22in LCDs (3 as one big screen in eyefinity mode)
Sound Card:
Sound Blaster Audigy SE
Operating System:
Windows 7
Motherboard:
MSI P7N Platinum Nvidia 750i sli
Computer Case:
Antec 1000 w/windows in both sides

Picture (lol the 5970 barely fits)

Re: Computer Specs
 

If you don't mind sharing, how much did all that run you?

Re: Computer Specs
 

Its really hard to measure because I made quite a few small upgrades and cooling tweaks over time.


The most recent upgrade was the 5970 and liquid cooling.

which was $650 for the 5970 and $98 for the liquid cooling ($78 for the liquid cooler and $20 for better fans)

Surprisingly most of the parts I was actually able to procure by winning online drawings related to the distributed computing project: Folding@Home

I got the case, power supply, some of the RAM, fans, and processor for free.

But I believe my best guesstimated total of money that I have put into that machine is: approximately $1100

There is approximately $150 or so of parts included in that that I upgraded that are not in the machine

also it is important to note that $700 out of the 1.1k was all from my most recent upgrade.

Re: Computer Specs
 

1 GB DDR1, 256 MB Nvdia, and a dual core.

It's a school computer, what can I say?

My home compy ain't great either.

Re: Computer Specs
 

hey i have the same video card... hows it running for you

Re: Computer Specs
 

The rest of his comp is pretty old the 930 was released over 4 years ago, in a sense I think the GPU is severe overkill unless your software you use is heavily graphics accelerated and uses the GPU as a CPU for some processing.

Your cpu is probably acting as a large bottleneck, so I would look into upgrading it (the original post)

Got a 24" monitor about a month ago. Nice screen boost.

Re: Computer Specs
 

We use our school's computers. P4s with about 2GB RAM. I think some of them might have been upgraded, but the point is we can have a ton of people working on different parts at once.

Re: Computer Specs
 

I didn't want to upgrade anymore on the old core-duo/quad platform. I will be building an i7/i9 machine and will drop the videocard into it. Also the cpu isn't bottlenecking it much at all. It can easily run any game including Crysis at 1920x1200 all maxed settings and 2x anti aliasing.

I use stream supported applications which are greatly optimized by the card. I like to do a lot of rendering and most rendering I do is heavily gpu accelerated.

Re: Computer Specs
 

It surprises me it isn't bottlenecking given that the Pentium 4/D series wasn't that great, I had a 2.8ghz Pentium 4 and it really chugged in lots of encoding and rendering related tasks. Maybe your D is a later architecture that they improved to catch up t the athlons.

i5/i7 is a good jump, I may have to end up upgrading to a desktop as my laptop feels like it chugs at times in inventor with lots of parts.

Re: Computer Specs
 

The pent Ds never caught up to the athlons lol. Also my overclock certainly helped a bit.