New build for CAD 3D Modeling Build $1.5K

jamesb07

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Aug 28, 2009
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Need advice on a build for a friend. He is a landscape architect running some CAD 3D modeling software, I think it's a version of AutoCAD.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Sooner the better

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: CAD 3D modeling and Design, speed of rendering and read/write speed to hard disks

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: he does have a monitor, but thinking about a new dual-monitor design.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: any parts that work the best for this build. Should I go Intel or AMD? Have had luck with Gigabyte Moboards in the past.

OVERCLOCKING: no overclocking. Thinking about crossfire for the graphics cards.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: dual 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: something reliable, high speed for this type of 3D modeling with dual-monitor support.
 
CPU: i7-920 $289 (unless your near a Microcenter, then it's $50 less).

Mobo: ASUS P6X58D Premium $310

RAM: OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 CAS Latency 7 $164

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB $85

Optical: Samsung 22x SATA DVD Burner $27

Case: LIAN LI Lancool PC-K7B $90

PSU: Corsair 750TX 750W $110 after rebate

GPU: I'm not sure what's needed for AutoCAD, but the best ones are the HD 5xxx series. Get either the 5770 ($163) or the 5850 ($310). Both support up to 3 monitors.

Total: $1,385 (with 5850) after rebates.

That leaves enough for a small SSD as a boot/app drive, if needed. Or for another set of RAM.
 
Gaming GPU's suck for CAD work. You would want a workstation card for a CAD 3D modeling build.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/builtforprofessionals.html

http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_quadro_fx_580_us.html

Here's a build i put together for my brother-in-law yesterday. He also wanted a CAD 3D modeling build, but his budget was $1000. You could spend the extra $500 on either monitor(s), a Quadro FX1800, an i7 860, or SSD.

Smart Buy Nvidia Quadro FX580 Pcie 512MB 2PORT Dvi Graphics
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Nvidia-Quadro-FX580-Graphics/dp/B0026LXPXA/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top $149.44

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115215&cm_re=i5_750-_-19-115-215-_-Product $194.99

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128412&cm_re=gigabyte_p55-_-13-128-412-_-Product $134.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189&cm_re=g.skill_ddr3_1333_4gb_desktop_memory-_-20-231-189-_-Product $94.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189&cm_re=g.skill_ddr3_1333_4gb_desktop_memory-_-20-231-189-_-Product $94.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&Tpk=samsung%20f3%20500 $54.99

LITE-ON 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 24x DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106339&cm_re=24x_dvd_burner_sata-_-27-106-339-_-Product $29.99

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "Compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315686 $119.94 (Case + PSU combo)

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758 $139.99

Total - $1,014.31
 

jamesb07

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Aug 28, 2009
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What do you think about this build...

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 140W Quad-Core Processor

Thermaltake CL-P0464 DuOrb 80mm CPU Cooler - Retail

ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory


AMD FirePro V5700 Graphics Card - 100-505553 --$325.00 (Buy.com)

Antec TruePower New TP-750 750W Continuous Power

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" (X2 in RAID configuration)

LITE-ON 24x DVD Burner

SAMSUNG TOC T260HD Rose Black 25.5" 5ms HDMI Widescreen HDTV Monitor

Total-- $1574.00
 

hamsterspam

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Jul 25, 2009
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I had a similar needs when I was looking to build a machine. Unfortunately my budget was much less. Anyway, the research that I did showed that most of the work for CAD programs and the like are done by the cpu. And some like Pro/E will use all of the ram it can get its hands on. Your build looks good to me.

Oh yeah, I went with AMD because I had never used one. But so far I am impressed with the 965.
 

jamesb07

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Aug 28, 2009
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Thanks for all the advice. What are people's opinions on getting a server CPU vs. desktop CPU for this CAD Work? Is it worth the extra money?


Say....


Intel Xeon X3360 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117166

VS.

Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202&cm_re=intel_i7_920-_-19-115-202-_-Product


These are about the same price. The Xeon has a higher clock speed, but much more cache which would make it more reliable, correct? Is that the main difference between a server CPU and a desktop CPU?

 

jamesb07

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Aug 28, 2009
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Alright, so here is my final build. One more question though, is it worth spending all that extra money on the two velociraptor hard drivers? I would set them up in RAID 0. Would this make that big of a difference considering everything else in the build?




LITE-ON 24x DVD Burner -- $29.99

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case--$79.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5--$54.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC--$98.99



ASUS P6X58D Premium LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard--$299.90

select item 6 quantity of item 6


PNY VCQFX580-PCIE-PB Quadro FX 580 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Workstation Video Card--$189.99

Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920

OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK


Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" (X2) --$339.00