Topic: System requirements

[jonesy]

Hi guys.

Someone I work with is thinking about going solo. He would like to know the minimum system requirements for AutoCAD 2002 and a program called Sketchup. Anyone have any ideas please?

Many thanks

Tracey

[hyposmurf]

System requirements:
Operating System: Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT 4 (SP5 or later), Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional
Intel Pentium II or AMD K6-II 450 MHz minimum
Hard Disk: 200 MB free disk space
Memory: 128 MB or more
VGA display of 1024x768 or higher
CD-ROM drive

[jonesy]

Thanks Hyposmurf, will that run both of the softwares mentioned. (I know naf-all about sketchup)
Many thanks

[hyposmurf]

Thats just for CAD 2K4,the system requirements for sketch up are below:
Hardware and software requirements are as follows:

System:   Mac OS X 10.2 or Higher   Microsoft Windows 98, NT4.0 w/SP3, 2000, XP
Minimum Requirements:   400 MHz or faster PowerPC G4 128 MB RAM 20 MB free disk space for minimum installation      400 MHz processor64 MB RAM20 MB free disk space for minimum installationWindows compatible pointing device Microsoft Internet ExplorerTM 5.0 or higher.
Recommended:   800 MHz or faster PowerPC G4 256 MB RAM A 100% OpenGL compatible 3D Hardware Acceleration card A scroll-wheel three button mouse.    800 MHz Pentium III processor or higher256 MB RAMA 100% OpenGL compatible 3D Hardware Acceleration card running in 32 bit color modeA scroll-wheel three button mouse
A member from another forum Im on is always praising Sketchup.Heres a link to his site:
f700es

[jonesy]

Thanks hypo. I'll pass this to the person who was asking me.

[Dent Cermak]

By getting those minimums now, he's putting off "hitting the wall" until the next upgrade. AutoCad 2005+ will not run on Windows 98. If he sets up with Windows 2000 XP now, he will skip this problem.( If he is buying a new computer he will be okay. The new ones generally come with XP.)

[TR]

Does 2005 run on XP home? I think I heard something about it but I've never tested it.

[Bob Garner]

I'm running 2005 LT on XP home edition with no problema.


Bo

[Dinosaur]

By getting those minimums now, he's putting off "hitting the wall" until the next upgrade.

Dent has an excellent point.  If your friend is trying to see if a current system will get him by, that may be the way to go.  If however, he is buying something there are compelling reasons to look at a system more robust than the minimum.
Foremost, the described system is multiple generations old technology and any future upgrade in software is likely to be incompatible.  Should a component fail, a replacement may prove difficult or impossible to find.
Also, a system may be capable of running a program, but that may not mean it can do so efficiently.  I recently took a class for Civil 3D.  All of the computers were right at the minimum specifications.  Virtually every exercise was accompanied by several seconds or even minutes as the computers ground away taxed beyond their limits.  There were frequent crashes leaving more lost time waiting for a reboot.  Back home with a computer even in the middle of the range beyond minimum the program is much better behaved.
A very good mid range system can be built or even bought complete for $500 - $800 (US) that could offer years of service and handle a few rounds of software and hardware upgrades.

[hyposmurf]

Virtually every exercise was accompanied by several seconds or even minutes as the computers ground away taxed beyond their limits.  There were frequent crashes leaving more lost time waiting for a reboot.

That sounds just like the Windows 98 behaviour,Im glad those days are over.

[Dinosaur]

That sounds just like the Windows 98 behaviour

I think these were all P III class machines with XP pro, but only 256mb memory.  I don't think even 512 is adequate for Civil 3D.  We are even hitting bottlenecks with 64 bit machines with 2GB memory.