TheSwamp
CAD Forums => CAD General => Topic started by: t-bear on April 20, 2005, 03:55:28 PM
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hORRAY, HORRAY! We're getting a new server and new CAD stations. I'm looking into specs for the CAD stations now and would like some input. So far I'm looking at dual AMD 64 bit processors, 80g HD & 2g memory, but what I would like from y'all is recommendations on video cards, mfg, size etc.... that would be optimal with the above set of specs.
Actually, any thoughts, ideas, suggestions on all aspects are welcome right now.
Thanks gang!
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Order me one while your at it!!
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Definitely Nvidia!!!!!
PCI Express!!!
Quadro Series!!1
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dARN aUTODESK!! i'M LOST. cAN SOMEONE POINT ME TO THE SECTION ON VID CARDS ON THE AUTODESK WEB SITE? eVER TIME i GIT IN THERE, i GITS LOST!
dArNeD CaPs!! Sorry! Got in a hurry again..
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Hardware discussion groups. Pretty Helpful.
http://discussion.autodesk.com/forum.jspa?forumID=116
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This is what we use!
Workstation
DELL Mini-Tower Workstation 650 Xeon Proc 2.40 GHz
Integrated 512K Cache
36 GB Drive, Ultra 320 SCSI 15K rpm
1GB DDR266 (2 DIMMs SDRAM)
3.5" 1.44M Floppy Drive
48X CDRW/DVD Combo Drive
ATI, Fire GL X1, 128MB, VGA/DVI Dual Monitor Capable Video Card
Integrated 3COM 10/100 Ethernet XL
Integrated SoundCard
Dell PS/2 Keyboard
Logitech USB 2-Button Optical Mouse with Scroll
WIN 2000 Professional SP4, w/ NTFS or XP Professional SP1
Next Business Day On Site Warranty, 3 years
Dell 19” M992 Color Monitor
Optional monitor upgrade
Dell 21” M1130 Color Monitor
Precision Mobile Workstation
Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 1.7GHz-M
15.4" WUXGA Display
40GB Drive IDE 5400 RPM
1GB DDR (2 DIMMs SDRAM)
9 Cell Battery
Internal 8x24x10x24x DVD/CDRW Combo Drive
64MB nVida Quadro 4 700 GoGL, 128MB, VGA
Dell TrueMobile 1300 WALN miniPCI Card
Internal 56K Modem
Dell USB 2-Button Optical Mouse with Scroll
90 watt AC Adapter
XP Professional SP1
Additional Dell PS/2 Keyboard
C/Port2 v3 Advanced Port Replicator, with Monitor Stand
3 Year Next Business Day On-Site Labor + Complete Care
Dell 19” M992 Color Monitor
Deluxe Nylon Carrying Case
Optional monitor upgrade
Dell 21” M1130 Color Monitor
Dell 17” 1701 FP Flat Panel Monitor
Dell 19” 1901 FP Flat Panel Monitor
60 GB Hard Drive – 7200 RPM
Architectural Rendering Workstation
DELL Mini-Tower Workstation 650 Xeon Proc 2.40 GHz
2nd 2.4 GHz Xeon Processor
Integrated 512K Cache
36 GB Drive, Ultra 320 SCSI 15K rpm
2GB DDR266 (2 DIMMs SDRAM)
3.5" 1.44M Floppy Drive
4X DVD+RW/+R AND 48XCDROM, DVD Decode/Sonic SE (for Professional Authoring)
nVidia, QuadroFX 1000, 128MB, dual monitor DVI or VGA capable
Integrated 3COM 10/100 Ethernet XL
Integrated SoundCard
Dell PS/2 Keyboard
Logitech USB 2-Button Optical Mouse with Scroll
WIN 2000 Professional SP4, w/ NTFS or XP Professional SP1
Next Business Day On Site Warranty, 3 years
Dell 21” M1130 Color Monitor
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Go wildcat.
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T-Bear, go with the Dell pooters. We have an office full of them and are very satisfied with them. I have their Precision 360 set-up. it came witha nVidia Quadro FX 500 video card and that thing seems to do the trick for me. Max out on the RAM/DRAM. That will pay for itself in no time. And T-Bear, at our age, a 21" monitor is a must. I have the Dell P1130 monitor at 21" and it is sharp and easy on the eye bones.
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Shoot Dent, as old as T-Bear is, he might wanna get a braille monitor or one that reads words off the screen for him.. I wonder if Dell makes one that matches up with his readin glasses??
T-Bear, if you mount your CPU on the floor, makes sure you get some kind of protection so you don't smack it with your red and white striped cane when you get to work in the mornin..
Duallin Dells all the way.. Dual processors, dual monitors, ya can't go wrong.. Max out everything!! Cause ya know it ain't gonna happen again for a while.. :D
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We also use Dells. But all modern machines are fast enough for Autocad.
512Mb RAM minimum; if you've got less: upgrade now! (I have 1Gb, but never neaded that much.)
The best investment you can get is a configuration with dual monitors. I love that space :D : The toolbars and a full screen drawing displayed on a 21" and the rest on a 17".
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Then again, Bear works in 3D. 1GB is minimum requirement. Two is better.
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Then some extra speed is also welcome. :)
What's the budget for each workstation? :roll:
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Our office machines all have between 256, and 512. Though we don't do much 3d, our plans generally end up between 6-14 megs, with alot of text and hatch. We often have times where the machines bogg down to a standstill. I have been pushing for more ram, but our bookkeeper who handles upgrades dosn't think it's necessary. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, just frustrates me because my machine at home is runnin on 2GB and I never have any problems.
Max out the ram.
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... our bookkeeper who handles upgrades dosn't think it's necessary.
Why is it the same at EVERY company! Some !@%#@&*#@! pencil pusher who knows nothing about computers, let alone cad, is allowed to make such BASELESS decisions that just end up costing more money in the long run!?
<feelingmuchbetternow>
carryon
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So far I'm looking at dual AMD 64 bit processors...
So what OS are you going to run on those 64 bit processors?
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If you know all this then please excuse this post.
Here are some links you may find useful Mr. Bear;
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/64bit/default.mspx
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More stuff you might already know......
This info might be a bit old
Published date: 2003-07-09
3. Did Autodesk test both Windows XP 32-bit version and 64-bit version?
No. Many of Autodesk's applications are native 32-bit. These are tested with the 32-bit version of Windows XP only. Some of the Discreet® video and graphic editing applications are native 64-bit. Visit the Discreet website for more information.
http://tinyurl.com/8jsds
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THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN ME A BUDGET....JUST ASKED WHAT I WANT/NEED.... I'M SURE THEY'LL TRY AND WHITTLE AWAY AT IT ONCE I GET THEM A PROPOSAL, SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO PUT MY FOOT DOWN THIS TIME. (Durn caps! Sorry!!)
I won't have room for dualies, so I'm pushin for 21" monitors ... we'll see. I want 2G of memory minimum, and I'm sold on AMD for my processor..........Mark, what you're saying is that I should stay w/ 32-bit? Would 64-bit be a problem? I'm looking for sumpin that'll last a while ... this pro'lly won't happen again soon LOL.
I Want to have 64-bit capability down the road so I'm not going to the bean-counter in 1-2 yrs needing "yet ANOTHER upgrade".... God, I hate to hear that......
However, I need complete compatability now and if there's gonna be problems with CAD on a 64-bit sys, I need to rethink this........
Thanks everyone for your insite/suggestions. It's a work in progress, due next week.
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So what OS are you going to run on those 64 bit processors?
Win Server 2K3 on the new server and Win XP Pro on the stations. They're coming out with a 64-bit ver of XP but that doesn't address the issue of compatability with ACAD.......... Still looking into that. Of course finding ANYTHING on the Adesk site is an exercise in frustration............at best.
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Mark, what you're saying is that I should stay w/ 32-bit? Would 64-bit be a problem?
I don't know enough about the 64 bit stuff to make a suggestion, I just want you to be aware of the differences.
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Thanks.......*attempting* to find out now.
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OK kiddies...here,s what I'm submitting to acct.
Dual AMD Opteron 64 bit (2.0 Ghz) processors
MSI Master2 FAR motherboard
3 ea 512 Mb PC-2700 DDR Memory(1.5 Gig)
LG CD-ROM Disk Drive
Floppy Drive
80 Gb 7200 rpm HD
Wildcat VP880 Pro 8X AGP Graphics Card w/ 256 Mb Memory
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Sound Card
Integrated 10/100/1000 Network Interface
M$ Windows XP Pro
Total: $2,075.00
Whad'ya think?
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Go for a faster processor(s)!! Ya gotta grab all you can get or at least leave them room to try and talk to down a bit..
I know my IT guys would SCREAM about the soundblaster.. "Why do you need that?? It's a computer, not a juke box!!"
They are the devil..
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This IZ talked down!! As for the sound card, I do some on-line seminars....kinda nice to hear what they're saying....I'm not REAL good at readin lips......yet! This friggin tinitis keeps up and all I'll be able to hear is "the ocean".If you got it, you know what I mean, if not, I can't explain it better........ wierd!
Anyhow, I should know in a couple-a days....this bean-counter is Ti-yiiie-ttttt!!
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Is it too late to change your cd-rom to cd-rw and your 7200 rpm drive to 10 or 15,000?
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There's a CD-RW on the server that we use.....I'll ask about 10-15,000 rpm.......
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That really is nice when you have it. I believe it's SCSI drive, but I never had a problem with them, windows and acad. Now, about that 64 bit thing: Does windows support it? I assume that's what you'll be using.
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You can run a 64 bit chip in 32 bit mode windows xp with no problems and it will be quite fast. 64 bit windows can be had to make it even faster, but there are very few drivers available for such things as printers at this point and no clue to when they will show up.