CAd-specific GPU for light CAD use, or higher spec consumer card?

[mattie]

Hi all

My old GPU messed up last year so I've been using my i5-based machine with inbuilt graphics for a while. it's got 8Gb RAM and an SSD so it's not been too bad, however I've started suing AutoCAD 2016 and it's stressing the machine a bit.

It's also - as you might imagine - not too great with games, anything beyond L4D2 gets far too blocky to be playable so I've switched to PS3.

Would a dedicated low-end CAD-specific card offer any advantage over a standard consumer card? I note that the technical specifications for the CAD-specific really don't look that great in comparison, for example clock speeds at equivalent price points.

I'm looking at around £100, which just about gets me into the bottom end Quadros and Firepros, but it feels like I'd get better bang for buck from something like an R7. I'd consider second-hand or ex-demo for either type.

Any advice or recommendations appreciated.

I'm only running one monitor but will be looking to shift to 2, at present I'm running VGA only as I use an analogue KVM switch between my machine and my laptop dock but will be upgrading to a digital KVM when I change monitors - outputs on graphics cards could therefore drive monitor/KVM switch upgrade choice, although laptop dock is displayport or VGA I'd be happy to use a converter if required.

Cheers!

 

[mattie]

Ta for comments, most useful!

I take it the AMD V ranges and the W2100 are to be avoided - they're £30+ cheaper, but assume they're too compromised in terms of performance? (I'm a cheapskate but have learnt through painful experience to try to avoid the absolute cheapest!)

I'm using machine less and less for games and more and more for CAD for 3D printing, so will look to go for a CAD-specific card. I can go to £130ish for the W4100 if needed, but couldn't quite stretch to £300 for the W5100.

One small question - I'd look to use a DisplayPort KVM to connect my CAD machine and my laptop (needed for different jobs at different times), the W4100 has mini DP outs, assume I could just use an in-line adapter into the KVM? I get reduced image quality on the current VGA KVM, although I realise that going to a digital connection will alleviate a lot of this I'm worried that other problems could be introduced.

Thanks again!

 

[mattie]

Your right the middle one is the best one, the W2100 has 5 Compute Units 320 stream processors, the W4100 has 8 - 512 stream processors and the W5100 has 12 - 768 stream processors.

For the KVM, is that a DP to DVI Adapter you're looking at?

I don't know but if the KVM input is DVI (Which is analogue) it may not like the Digital signal from the DP, there's got to be some sort of relay inside to split the signal and it may not recognise the Digital signal.

Don't quote me i may be entirely wrong, i don't use them. it just peaked my potential conflict alarm.

Edit. i'm thinking of the older blue plugs, DVI is digital......

What input is on the KVM?

I'll admit I'm a bit worried about clashes and conflicts, the less in the mix the less chance of it messing up.

My current KVM is an analogue VGA - I had budgeted to change for a digital version anyway, getting a DisplayPort KVM as both the W4100 and my laptop dock have DP connections.

I might keep the current analogue for the 'KM' part and run separate video leads from laptop dock and from CAD machine to the monitor - it has a DisplayPort connection so will only require an adapter/appropriate cable between mini DP on the graphics card and DP on monitor (Mini DP to DP cables are less than a fiver). When using it, I'd just need to change input selection on my monitor as I change the KVM switch setting.

Avoids potential conflicts, and saves me buying a new KVM as well (DP KVMs are not cheap!)

I'll look to order a W4100 this week, unless there are any other good ideas - thanks to all for comments.

 

[mattie]

Will do!

Placed order for W4100 card and cable, looking forward to trying it out.

 

[mattie]

Righty-ho, some feedback.

Card supports CAD nicely, all renders well and responds well to changes in view etc. Much better than before! Not tried any games on it yet, as my quite small SSD is now filled by CAD software so no headroom for games.

Sadly, the card is behaving erratically - every few weeks it for some reason resets to 640 by 380 on waking from sleep, and claims it only supports that resolution at 59 or 60Hz. I can't change resolution through windows display properties or the AMD tool - there are no other clickable options or alternative resoltions. The machine only recognises a generic monitor, despite me having installed the appropriate Dell driver for it. Restarting the computer gives me a blank screen, and the only fix is to remove card and run of motherboard VGA.

This is, to be frank, a massive pain in backside as it rather kills workflow.

Anyone have anyideas what's likely to be causing it? I'm running W10 btw. I'll maybe start a new thread on it if needed.

 

[mattie]

I'm using AutoCAD 2016 (have a version for Windows and for my Macbook, otherwise would be Solidworks) - I'll try for a specific driver from the CAD vendor side.

I've noticed that device manger tells me my monitor is generic PnP, whereas when I use the Dell installer it tells me I have drivers for the correct monitor but I cannot find any way of changing/getting W10 to recognise the specific monitor. Seeing as the problem is to do with the resolution modes messing up I'll try to get the monitor recognised. Can't recall if this was the case before the problems started, but I've never had any problems with on-board VGA in W10.

It's a pretty irritating problem, but only once in a blue moon - suspect it might be related to W10 updates, will disable auto updates so I can stage-manage it. Assuming W10 lets me do that, of course!

Cheers all, will keep you updated.

eta: Had a quick peek on the Autodesk website, appears they only support/assure cards from Nvidia. I'll have a quick ask on the AMD website as suggested by humbug, maybe it's a known issue.

 

[mattie]

This is driving me (no pun intended) spare - I can't get W10 to allow me to update driver or recognise the monitor is anything other than PnP. I've tried uninstalling, running Dell driver executable, loading Dell driver manually through device manager, shouting at it and banging the desk. Nothing seems to work.

W10 is really a bit of a pain.

 

[mattie]

Just noted that W10 is calling it a non-PnP monitor, I was reading it as PnP. Might not be good.

I'm starting to really dislike W10. It doesn't let me do anything I want, and makes what should be trivial actions difficult.