Basic CAD build

[subbytna]

Any ideas on a CAD build for a work colleague?

It's very basic stuff, nothing too hardcore for rendering etc. I think the software he's using is from 2017 and he's happy to stick with that. It's for basic interest CAD stuff, nothing professional.

What's a decent build for around 800 quid? I'm presuming a basic Nvidia GPU will suffice for assisting with the CAD stuff, or can AMD provide the same for better value?

CPU
MOBO
RAM
M.2
PSU
Basic Case
GPU

 

[Tetras]

Best to check the software and the bias on CPU/GPU use, if you can.

I'm presuming a basic Nvidia GPU will suffice for assisting with the CAD stuff, or can AMD provide the same for better value?

Usually nvidia are better options for a workstation, because of driver support and optimisation.

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x Intel Core i5-12400F 2.50GHz (Alder Lake) Socket LGA1700 Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-6AR-IN) = £154.99
• 1 x Asus Prime H610M-A D4 - Intel H610 DDR4 Micro ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-6HV-AS) = £109.99
• 1 x Lexar Hades 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4-28800C18 3600MHz Dual/Quad Channel Kit (SKU: MY-018-LE) = £68.99
• 1 x Gainward GeForce RTX 3060 Ghost LHR 12GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GX-20P-GW) = £259.99
• 1 x WD Blue SN570 2TB SSD NVME M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3 Solid State Drive (WDS200T3B0C) (SKU: HD-58D-WD) = £89.99
• 1 x Phanteks Eclipse G300A Single Fan Mid-Tower High Airflow PC Case - Black (SKU: CA-0CA-PT) = £54.95
• 1 x Super Flower Leadex III 550W 80 PLUS Gold Modular Power Supply - Black (SKU: CA-05Z-SF) = £79.99

Total: £830.88 (includes delivery: £11.99)​

Would recommend an upgrade to a tower cooler if there's room in the budget.

 

[Trickle]

I threw an AMD system into the basket code keeping the above post's case and SSD choice. There is an NVME4 drive OCUK have for £10 more but it has worse endurance.

Went with a lower final price as I don't know how much the OP would want to spend on an operating system. The above post's gfx card is £50 more. My CPU choice has backup graphics at a £15 premium. You kinda need this if this is a serious home work machine you might need to access data that didn't get stored on external drives.

A potentially big factor is that neither my mobo choice or the above post's have wifi. That's a further £30 premium. If this is a 9hr per day work machine, you kinda need backup NIC internet access even if you never expect to use it.

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x be quiet! SYSTEM POWER 10 550W 80 Plus Gold Power Supply (SKU: CA-14U-BQ) = £54.95
• 1 x Gigabyte B550M DS3H (AMD AM4) B550 Micro-ATX Motherboard (SKU: MB-5BR-GI) = £89.99
• 1 x AMD Ryzen 5 5600G Six Core 3.9GHz (Socket AM4) APU with RX Vega Graphics - Retail (SKU: CP-3CW-AM) = £124.99
• 1 x Corsair Vengeance LPX Black 32GB (2x16GB) 3600 MHz AMD Ryzen Tuned DDR4 Memory Dual Kit (CMK32GX4M2Z3600C18) (SKU: MY-4CL-CS) = £79.99
• 1 x WD Blue SN570 2TB SSD NVME M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3 Solid State Drive (WDS200T3B0C) (SKU: HD-58D-WD) = £89.99
• 1 x Phanteks Eclipse G300A Single Fan Mid-Tower High Airflow PC Case - Black (SKU: CA-0CA-PT) = £54.95
• 1 x Gainward GeForce RTX 3050 Ghost LHR 8192MB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GX-20R-GW) = £218.98

Total: £725.83 (includes delivery: £11.99)​

​

 

[Tetras]

A potentially big factor is that neither my mobo choice or the above post's have wifi. That's a further £30 premium. If this is a 9hr per day work machine, you kinda need backup NIC internet access even if you never expect to use it.

I'd suggest this board for my build, if the OP needs wifi:

Gigabyte B660 DS3H AX (£125 @ OCUK).

 

[gtl_racer]

Usually nvidia are better options for a workstation

100% agree with the above, £800 should buy your friend a decent CAD PC that will last for years..

 

[jigger]

Depending the software it’s questionable spending money on a GPU. 90% of the time it’s simply not needed and the money is better spent on the monitor.


Ryzen 5700G
B550/A520 motherboard
16gb RAM
1-2tb SSD
350 watt PSU
Used Quadro/Radeon pro if the software can make use of it.