Hardware for CAD?

almighty15

almighty15

almighty15

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I've been asked by my parents to build a PC for my brother so he can start to learn CAD, I know what CAD is but have no experience with it or the software so in terms of requirements I don't have a dicky bird.

What kind of system is required for CAD?

Pure CPU grunt?
Loads of RAM?
HDD a speed?
Is the software GPU accelerated?

Budget is not that high but I'll shop around.
 
Well reading this it appears that a faster dual core cpu maybe best - http://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppo...t-for-multi-core-processors-with-AutoCAD.html

If whatever program he uses supports OpenGL or CUDA then a Nvidia or AMD gfx card could help accelerate the work load etc.


If you tell me the budget and what parts are needed (OS, monitor etc) then I can have a go. But I am pretty sure Doomspeed is into this sort of thing so possibly a better guy to ask.
 
I run it on a i3 540 with 8GB ram at work and it's excellent for 2D but can get a bit jumpy when drawing in 3D....rendering also requires more grunt.
I run it at home on a A10 5800k with no problems at all and performs very similar to the i3.
For learning I would say 4GB ram minimum - pref 8GB, and a G3258K.

#this is based on Autodesk Autocad...not sure on others.
 
It differs from software to software and from application to application.

Take solidworks as an example. When modelling (drawing a 3D object) its single threaded and relies on core speed, uses a little bit of RAM and NO (or very little) GPU acceleration.

Then, if you were to render the solidworks model, in photoview 360 (i think this is still SW's in-built package) or 3DS, it uses more cores, logical cores, and a lot more RAM (depending on the type of render).. It can also use GPU acceleration in 3DS. This relies less on clock speed and more on cores/threads and RAM.

I specced a few 'CAD' systems for friends which basically include a locked i5 with 8GB (if not 16GB) of RAM.. Pretty straight forward.
 
It's like anything, if it's just for learning and messing about just get the best you can afford. Probably as above a dual or quad core CPU and modest (gaming) GPU (up to £100 say). You'll find out what the limiting factor is with time and can go from there.

Don't forget the software can be flippin expensive (about $4200 new for Autodesk Autocad).
 
Also remember you can get the above $4200 software free on student licences as well.

Can I ask how old your brother is? I've built a "CAD" PC for a friend, was an i7 along with a 760 2gb GPU and 8gb of ram. She won't ever hit the limit on what that can do as all she does is interior work, sure renders would be quicker with a better chip or whatever, but this combined with a nice IPS display means she can get her work done well.

If your brother is only just starting to learn CAD, you really won't need much at all. Stick him on Sketchup and you're away! Only needs a duel core CPU for that and a 270x or something.

You don't need anything expensive for CAD, if you're doing the kind of work that does need some decent hardware, you'll be in a job that pays for it. That said, I've a 24 core PC with a £2k graphics card at work, but really I only need some i7 and a £200 card.... but work like to over buy so sod it.
 
Pretty much any machine you'd get now will be good enough for a beginner, even a low budget one. It's only a problem when you want to progress onto more complex things and huge scenes where a faster CPU and more RAM pays off. We're talking 1,000,000+ triangle scenes with complex shaders. Graphics acceleration depends on the application but a mid range card will be plenty for most things. If you want to render complex scenes then a CPU with more cores is a must but then there's always render farms to fall back on.
 
My brother is 14 guys but wants to be a design engineer, I was thinking of getting an AMD FX6000 or FX8000 series CPU a as I would have the thought the software would be quite well threaded, apparently not from the comments above.

So the gist of it then is an Intel Quad core? And at least 8Gb of RAM?

Can get my hands on a cheap i3 Clarkedale CPU so that might be a good base?
 
How about a Pentium K G3528 and OC'ing it for faster single thread performance? Very good budget chip and suits this purpose well seemingly
If you want to spend more then obviously go for an Intel quad
 
almighty15 said:
My brother is 14 guys but wants to be a design engineer, I was thinking of getting an AMD FX6000 or FX8000 series CPU a as I would have the thought the software would be quite well threaded, apparently not from the comments above.

So the gist of it then is an Intel Quad core? And at least 8Gb of RAM?

Can get my hands on a cheap i3 Clarkedale CPU so that might be a good base?
Click to expand...

You tell us what you can find is easiest.

Are you looking on the MM?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18634398

As that is damn cheap.


Certainly 8GB of RAM!

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18635642

Make him an offer for that 8GB kit.
 
Here's my recommendation at a minimum for a good first CAD system:

Quad-core CPU
8GB RAM
HD 6450 GPU (assuming you don't have a HD3000 or AMD IGP)

In most cases the only reason for a multi-core CPU is rendering/simulation which is quite a common thing to do with any CAD tasks. As an example you could design a car body, do fluid dynamics calculations to get the drag co-efficient and also get a nice render of it.
 
I was/am a design engineer myself, so I think I can help. Hardware first.

If I was buying new (for me) I'd get an i5, but at 14 just a solid dual core CPU will work, the old i3 stulid linked would be great. 8gb of any kind of RAM and maybe a low level GPU, whatever you can get hold of. This could be a super cheap build.

Software wise, he should be learning at least 2. First is AutoCAD, a bit outdated but still very much the go to for employers. It shows basic drawing and 2d understanding.

The second piece of software has to be 3D based. I suggest solid works but inventor is also well recognised. Though they are not used in high end industries, such as Bentley, rolls Royce or dyson (they either use Catia or NX) they show the required skills. Solid works is very easy to pick up..

The hardest part of this will be moviaton. He need tasks/projects to keep him going. Set him ones to design from different material like wood, metal, plastic and how they will fit together. Technical drawings are a great use for autoCAD though they are much easier in solid works.

Hope I've helped and not just rambled.
 
Been messing around all night and built this for him ( I've decided it will double up as a 'light' gaming PC too as it only has to manage rendering at 1080p )

AMD FX6300
8Gb Corsair 1600Mhz RAM
MSI 7950 Twin Frozr Boost Edition
EVGA 600w PSU
Bitfenix Case
Corsair H80
1Tb HDD

Cost £445 so can't complain as everything is brand new apart form the 7950.

I might of been better off with an Intel CPU in terms of performance and I was looking at getting an i7 920 as they sell for ~£40 these days but the x58 boards are very expensive so settled on the FX6300, not the best option for pure performance but cost effective and will still get the job done.
 
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