What's your CAD setup?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I'm surprised to hear that you're doing fine with 2GB of RAM for a full robot CAD model. Perhaps in SolidWorks.... All I know is in Inventor, I'm typically pushing over 3 or 3.5 gigs of RAM in use with a full robot model open.

Fine is a relative term. It works, but it would probably drive you crazy if you used it 8 hours a day for work. For the students to use them for a couple hours a day it's not too bad.

[Nemo]

Here is what I'm using. It still works great, and the parts are cheaper now. Unless you're scared of putting a computer together (it's pretty easy compared to designing a robot), you should order parts online and assemble yourself.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...09&postcount=9

The most important part of the computer is the video card. Get a Quadro or FirePro card in the appropriate price range. They are both good. Spending more on the processor than you spend on the video card is a bit of a waste if you're only using it for CAD. I'm using an AMD Phenom II (several years old, $90), and it works great. It runs the most complex models I throw at it without annoying me, and I am easily annoyed by slow computers.

Here's a guess at what I would be planning to spend if I was buying a CAD computer again. Given how well this one is working for me, I wouldn't do anything differently.

Video card: $160
CPU: $100
Motherboard: $50-100
Hard drive: $50
8 GB of Memory: $40
Power Supply: $40
Keyboard: $8
DVD drive: $20
Mouse: $8
Tower/Case: $60

[BA SW]

I do not know if you already built your system or what CAD software you plan on using but if you were planning on just buying I would tell you to check out these sites:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/hom...0qe-Desktop-PC
- under $650 (the "cheap" option)
- 8gb ram @ 1600mhz
- nvidia gt 625 1gb gpu
- core i5 cpu

http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Intel...5-Configurator
- under $750 (probably the best option in this price range*)
- can use a 2TB 7200rpm HDD or a 120gb SSD at this price
- liquid cooled
- 8gb ram @ 1866mhz
- amd r7 250 2gb or nvidia gt 640 2gb gpu
- core i5-4440 @ 3.1ghz

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/desktop...k-series/k450/
- under $800
- 2tb 7200rpm HDD
- core i7-4770 @ 3.4ghz
- 16gb ram @ 1600mhz

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/worksta...tion/e-series/
- $1000 (over budget)
- intel xeon cpu @ 3.5ghz
- nvidia quadro k600 (this gpu is supported by SolidWorks)

To check if SolidWorks supports gpu go to:
http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support...rdtesting.html

*you could build a pc for less or maybe get a refurbished model if you prefer.
just thought I would add a few options and a few comparisons.

[cadandcookies]

Originally Posted by BA SW

I do not know if you already built your system or what CAD software you plan on using but if you were planning on just buying I would tell you to check out these sites:
[/snip]

Considering the thread is from 2012, I'm guessing they've built it or they're never going to. Checking thread dates is always a good idea when something turns up on search.