Entry level CAD workstation (based on E6300)

richard8654

Distinguished
Sep 10, 2009
27
0
18,540
Hi.

I was gifted an E6300 Core 2 Duo 1.86 Ghz processor requiring FSB1066.

I know this processor could be overclocked quite significantly to about 3Gb if I chose the right mobo.

I'm on a budget of say £150 ($300) max.

Could I build a budget CAD workstation for this budget?

Just say I'd need about 2GB memory to start with.

Particularly - what motherboard?

What PSU?

What graphics card?

I need to get a feel for what hardware looks like, more-or-less, if I employ this E6300.

I don't need a case.

I'm in UK, which probably matters not. :c)

I wonder about having a preference for an ASUS mobo.

Thanks.
 

richard8654

Distinguished
Sep 10, 2009
27
0
18,540
I know, making something for £150 ($300) and calling it a CAD workstation is probably a bit laughable. :c)

But, try your best. :c)

Thanks.
 

Transmaniacon

Distinguished
GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128357 ($52.99)

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122 ($57.99)

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181 ($49.99)

Antec earthwatts EA380 380W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005&Tpk=EA380 ($49.99)

ATI 100-505564 FirePro V3700 256MB PCI Express 2.0 x16 Workstation Video Card - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814195073 ($79.99)

Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030 ($29.99)

Total: $320.94

This will make for a solid CAD station. The GPU is geared for CAD applications, and the 4GB of RAM combined with the fast HDD will make large products run smooth.
 

wathman

Distinguished
Jun 22, 2009
853
0
19,010
When I was using CAD stuff to work on a project, I was running Solidworks 2005 on a 1.6 Ghz Pentium M with 1 GB RAM and integrated graphics. It certainly did not look pretty, and started having slow downs with very complex assemblies, it still worked well enough to get the job done. A build like Transmaniacon put up is way better than what I was working with, and should get you by for now. Hopefully your CAD efforts will earn you some money and allow you to upgrade.
 

richard8654

Distinguished
Sep 10, 2009
27
0
18,540
 

Transmaniacon

Distinguished
The P31 is an ATX motherboard, while the G31 is a mATX motherboard. Their price difference is pretty small, I was trying to keep you in budget, and was not sure if your current case can support ATX. Both are good choices for your build, it would help to know what case you plan on using, so we can make sure you don't get a motherboard that won't fit...