New system configuration help

rschilling

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I would love any input on the following configuration for a CAD workstation:
Want strong graphics, quiet machine, decent power. Where would you spend more?
Where would you spend less and save? I am buying this from cyberpowersystems.com – you can tell me it is a good system, or you won’t hurt my feelings if you tell me to build it myself (which I would like to do, but don’t quite have the time…)or look at another vendor.

System is built on a Quadro FX 1300 or 1400 PCI-E graphics card:
(buying on ebay)

Case: Silverstone Temjin SST-TJ01

Power Supplies
Standard 350 w Included
Upgrades:
Thermaltake 480w $69
Ultra x-connect 500w atx 49
Antec True550 120
Enermax EG565P 79

CPU: Athlon64 939pin 3200

Motherboard:
My choice: Foxconn/Winfast NF4UK8AA-8EKRS nForce4, just seems to have all I need/want.
Others:
MSI RS480M2IL ATI Radeon Xpress200 $-12
MSI K8N NEO4-F nForce4 Chipset -19
Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 nForce4 +14
ASUS A8V-E Deluxe VIA K8t890 +36

Memory :
2048 MB (1gbx2) Corsair value Ram PC3200 400mhz dual channel

Hard Drive:
2 Seagate 80gb serial ATA 150 8mb cache for RAID 1 mirror

Optical:
1 DVD dual layer burner, 1 CD RW

On board sound, fine for what I am doing.

Windows XP Pro, SP2

Thanks in advance!
Rich.
 

cleeve

Illustrious
Which CAD programs?

You're probably wasting your money on the Quadro unless it's a dedicated 3d workstation. (MAX, Maya, Lightwave, etc)

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rschilling

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Mostly autodad 2 and 3d, some VIZ, and other 3d programs related to the cabinet/furniture industry. I tried to snag a Quadro fx 1300 on ebay for less than $300, but failed. There is a fx 1400 for $370 buy it now which I know is more than I need, but I am intrigued by the specific drivers that these cards have. If I don't buy that, then I think I'll buy the 6600 gt, there is a 2-dvi, pci-e version on Newegg for $170, I can always move up from there if I need to.
Thanks for your input.
Rich.
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
You know how much a Quadro version of the 6600GT would cost? Professional graphics cards are outragiously priced.

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rschilling

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Yes, at retail the quadro cards are very expensive, and spec for spec seem overpriced. The folks that write these special drivers must be well paid. That said, I can get a "pulled" FX 1300 quadro for $275, or the 6600gt for $170 or so. All I do is CAD and regular office work, I am tempted to go for the CAD card just to see what it can do. Retail on that card is $600-700. Your thoughts?
Rich.
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
I'd have to look up the specific hardware to see what gaming card it's based on! A few guys in here have actually used "soft quadro" mods to allow their game cards to use quadro drivers.

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rschilling

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Here's some info on the FX series -- Tom's guide relates the 1300 to a 5950. I suppose I could buy a 5950 and try the soft mods(doesn't look that easy from what I have seen -- most FX mods are hardware based, which I won't do. ATI seems to have easier soft mods. If I trash the card, won't lose that much.

Product Chip (Codename) Transistors Chip clock (3D) Geometry Engines Pixel Pipelines
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1000 NV30GL 125 mln 300MHz FP Array ~3 8
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1100 NV36GL 82 mln 425MHz FP Array ~3 4
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1300 NV38GL HSI 135 mln 350MHz FP Array ~3 16
NVIDIA Quadro FX 2000 NV30GL 125 mln 400MHz FP Array ~3 8
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3000 NV35GL 130 mln 400MHz FP Array ~3 16
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3000G NV35GL-G 130 mln 400MHz FP Array ~3 16
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400 NV45GL 222 mln 350MHz FP Array ~6 16

Product Memory clock (3D) Memory Type Mem bus width Mem bandwidth
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1000 300MHz DDR-2 128-bit 10.4GB/sec
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1100 313MHz DDR-2 128-bit 17.6GB/sec
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1300 225MHz DDR 256-bit 14.4GB/sec
NVIDIA Quadro FX 2000 400MHz DDR-2 128-bit 12.8GB/sec
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3000 425MHz DDR 256-bit 27.2GB/sec
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3000G 425MHz DDR 256-bit 27.2GB/sec
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400 450MHz DDR-3 256-bit 28.8GB/sec

As the last representative of the NV3x generation, processing on the FX 1300 is tackled by the NV38 with its 135 million transistors. So the counterpart in the mainstream sector is the GeForce FX 5950 Ultra. As the NV38GL is actually an AGP chip, NVIDIA has to translate the incoming PCI Express signals with what an HSI bridge chip. That makes this an expensive item. NVIDIA recommends a price of $899/€719 for this card, which is a good $100 more than ATI's FireGL V5100.
 

Crashman

Polypheme
Former Staff
The FX series was actually pretty good in OpenGL, but not very good in DirectX compared to ATI, so it received much ridicule from gamers. It should be fine however for professional applications.

Or you could just get the 6600GT :tongue:

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cleeve

Illustrious
Either get a 5700 and softmod it to a Quadro 1100, or splurge for a 6600GT if you're not into modding...

That's the best advice I can give you. Real-world difference between a 1100 and a 1300 is pretty small, so if you're going to spend the extra money don't bother with the 5950, go to the 6600GT...

________________
<b>Geforce <font color=red>6800 Ultra</b></font color=red>
<b>AthlonXP <font color=red>~3300+</b></font color=red> <i>(Barton 2500+ o/c 412 FSB @ 2266 Mhz)</i>
<b>3dMark05: <font color=red>5,275</b>