Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > CAD System advice

CAD System advice

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - CAD System advice

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!

Ask the community Add a reply

Bottom Search this thread

I am building a system that will need to run programs like Solidworks. We will NOT be performing 3D rendering but will be designing parts and running basic assembly simulations. I want to make sure this system can handle everything in that regard.
=============================================================
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within next two weeks

BUDGET RANGE: 1,000.00 plus/minus somewhat

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: CAD design but no 3D rendering

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS---XP Pro 64-bit)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: Nvidia workstation card, monitor >21"

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 or 1920x1200
=============================================================

Parts:
Case: Antec 900
PSU: Corsair 550W
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R
CPU: i7 920 @ 2.66GHZ
Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
GPU: PNY VCQFX580-PCIE-PB Quadro FX580 512MB 128-bit
HDD: 640GB WD
Optical: HP 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe
Monitor: ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI

QUESTIONS:
1. Will this system handle the above stated requirements?
2. **IS THIS 550W PSU ENOUGH??**
3. Should I setup RAID? Honestly, I do not understand RAID.

Add a reply

We used to run solidworks on a 2.8 Ghz pentium 4 with a 7300 gs gfx card designing automotive parts and accessories . It was fast and responsive .
I know the latest versions of solidworks have doubled their system demand [ ram etc ] but since your proposed i7 build is about 4-5 times more powerful than the system we used you are probably spending more than you need to on hardware [ but you should anyway ]

Yes I think a quality 550 watt psu like the corsair will be fine .

Do not bother with RAID 0 . This writes to two [ or more drives ] so each file is spread and can write/read faster . This also doubles your chances of hard drive failure and wont speed processing even a bit since thats got nothing to do with data storage .
RAID 1 you should consider . This makes a copy of your hard drive as you work . If one fails you have lost nothing

Your monitor is a bit smaller than I would prefer to draft with .
Consider a cheaper computer so you can buy a bigger monitor

Reply to Outlander_04

^+1 on the RAID1. (Or 1+0?)

Quote :

Parts:
Case: Antec 900
PSU: Corsair 550W
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R
CPU: i7 920 @ 2.66GHZ
Memory: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
GPU: PNY VCQFX580-PCIE-PB Quadro FX580 512MB 128-bit
HDD: 640GB WD
Optical: HP 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe
Monitor: ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI

Looks good. The Corsair 550VX is more than enough for a single GPU.

===
If interested: You can get a 8800GTX for about $120-150 (new and if you can find it any more) and softmod it to a FX4600 which is I believe is a step higher than FX580(Not 100% sure on this).

Reply to Shadow703793

don't softmod....I thought about this in another thread, and after doing a bunch of research, it just wasn't worth it...I've heard many a good thing on the FX580 and solidworks...most bang for the buck right now

------------------------------ I always have to learn the hard way, it's just not enough fun doing it the right way.
Reply to ShadowFlash

Ask the community Add a reply

Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > CAD System advice

Go to:

Help |
Forum rules

There are 1216 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Page generated in 0.369 seconds

Focus On

CAD System advice

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - CAD System advice