Choosing a GPU for an architect.

teteu86

Honorable
Aug 19, 2013
3
0
10,510
Hi everyone, good evening.

I have a friend who is looking for a new desktop and asked my opinion.
She just became architect and normally works on Rhinoceros 3d, 3dsmax, Vray, etc.

After having done a research (within budget), I came up with the HP ENVY h8-1560ef, available here in France. Its configuration:
- i7-3770
- 2x4 Gb DDR3
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660

But I also found HP ENVY h8-1518ef (10% cheaper):
- i5-3350P
- 2x8 Gb DDR3
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660

Would the GTX 660 be a good choice for this type of apps?
* I know a bit about its specifications (memory speed and bus width, clocks, etc.) but I don't know very much which exact specifications pay attention to when we talk about rendering and stuff like this.

In this case, would it be better giving up the i7 for having 16Gb?

Thanks.
 
Solution
Damn.

Quadro is meant for workstations. A GPU like the GTX 660 that you mentioned is a GPU

that doubles as a card that can be used for gaming and one which can be used to speed up

various other programs like the ones you use for editing. A workstation card however cannot

play games much and is really targeted and thus better at editing work or heavy loads in that category.

Same for the Xeon stuff. So yes, a workstation rig like that might just be better; though it tends to

be hugely more expensive. Here you go:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/best-workstation-graphics-card,review-32728.html

teteu86

Honorable
Aug 19, 2013
3
0
10,510
Around 1 000 €.
I definitely agree with you about pre-built computers. I told her so, but as she's a bit afraid about mount her own computer like this, she decided for a pre-built computer.
 

teteu86

Honorable
Aug 19, 2013
3
0
10,510
Believe me, I tried already ;)

Anyway, for now, I'm getting even more confused.
I just find some threads where there were people saying some Nvidia Quadro were better.

So, the same price range, a Dell Precision T1700 has:
- Xeon E3-1240 v3
- 8gb
- Quadro K2000

Or even a Xeon E5-2609 with Quadro K5000.

Is this better than the HP ENVY h8-1560ef?
 

X79

Honorable
Damn.

Quadro is meant for workstations. A GPU like the GTX 660 that you mentioned is a GPU

that doubles as a card that can be used for gaming and one which can be used to speed up

various other programs like the ones you use for editing. A workstation card however cannot

play games much and is really targeted and thus better at editing work or heavy loads in that category.

Same for the Xeon stuff. So yes, a workstation rig like that might just be better; though it tends to

be hugely more expensive. Here you go:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/best-workstation-graphics-card,review-32728.html
 
Solution