CAD Computer Spec - Autodesk Inventor

craig@etc

craig@etc

craig@etc

Associate
Joined
21 Feb 2007
Posts
101
Hi folks, I will shortly be purchasing Autodesk Inventor and most likely a new workstation to run it on.

I will be using the software both at home & at work. I am looking to replace my current work PC.

QX6700
2GB RAM
2 x 8800GTX
XP 32bit

My home PC which I will be keeping:

i7 920
6GB RAM
GTX 295
Vista 64

Basically I am looking for some advice on what processor, RAM & graphics card to get in the new machine. The system will be 64bit. Not decided on Vista/7 as yet.

Should I opt for a Xeon processor and a Quadro GPU over an i7 & a gaming card? I have never built a system to be used for CAD so the CAD cards/processors are a bit new to me! How will a Quadro FX1800 or 3800 compare to the 295 in my home PC?

I am looking to spend about £1200 - £1800. I am regularly doing assemblies with over 1000 parts in them. Thanks for any help.
 
Well not knowing much about CAD myself i would say get an i7 and OC also throw a few SSD's in there and then you will have a pc which will fly through most CAD work....
Lemme know if you would like me to spec you something up....
EDIT:Regarding the QUADRO's i have no experience with them so i would say stick with a nvidia card which has CUDA and that will greatly help CAD work i believe :/
 
Quadros are far superior to the gaming cards for cad work. The fx3700 would walk all over the 295gtx. They cost rather a lot more to match.

Processor wise the standard i7/ud5/6gb corsair will do just fine. 12gb may prove useful depending on what work you're doing. Overclocking a workstation is fine as long as you push hard for stability, if doing so note that 12gb makes life rather harder.

Dual xeons obviously appeal for cad work but wont fit in the budget.

As you may have guessed, these forums are gaming more than cad so there may be more useful resources out there. I'm very keen on cad work, but I'm still a student so not best placed to advise. Specifically I can't afford a quadro, though can confirm that a 4ghz i7 is lovely to model with.
 
Yeah, I had it in my sig for ages. Finally disproved though, it performs significantly better than the 8800gt did, but significantly worse than a true fx3700. So the benefit lies with driver optimisation, but a flashed 8800gt is worse than a true quadro.

Still, best I can get at present and I love mine to bits. Details here.
 
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