PC for CAD

Something Else

Something Else

Something Else

Soldato
Joined
19 Feb 2012
Posts
4,409
A work mate of mine would like a cheap build for CAD

he asked if I could get a spec together for £350and another spec for £450 and another for about £550

so 3 specs

I dont know what CAD requires, so thought Id come on here and ask you lot :)

Im going on the assumption that he needs just the base computer i.e the case and the stuff inside. leave out operating system for now.

cheers :)
 
no way for budget for a cad machine, too low end

option one cheap as chips pre built

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-005-EP&groupid=43&catid=2478

Why Should You Buy This System?
- Includes the superb AMD A4-5300 3.40GHz Dual Core Processor
- 4GB of high performance gaming memory guarantees the smoothest possible experience when multitasking and ensures you never have a break in the action
- 8 Hours stressed tested and quality controlled
- Precision built and cabled by Overclockers UK expert technicians
- Pre-built and read to ship out the same day

System Specification
- Case: OcUK IMP Case
- Power Supply: OcUK 500w PSU
- CPU: AMD A4-5300 3.40GHz Dual Core Processor
- Motherboard: Asrock FM2A55M-DGS AMD A55 Chipset Motherboard
- RAM: TeamGroup Elite 4GB DDR3 1600MHz Single Channel Kit
- Hard Drives: 500GB HDD
- Graphics Card: Integrated AMD HD 6310 Graphics
- Sound: 7.1 Channel Sound (On-Board)
- Optical Drive: OcUK 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black)

£179.98 inc VAT

for cad systems you can spend your budget on a video card tbh

option 2 on the way up, still no cad pc

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-049-OP&groupid=43&catid=2477&subcat=2499

Why You Should Buy This System
- Built and engineered speecifically for Microsoft Home Server 2011
- Precision built and cabled by Overclockers UK expert technicians
- 8 Hours stressed tested and quality controlled
- Low power consumption and quiet operation

System Specification
- Case: Coolermaster Sileo 500 - Black
- Power Supply: CoolerMaster Elite Power 500W PSU
- CPU: Intel Core i3 2120 3.30GHz Dual Core CPU
- Motherboard: MSI H61M-P31-G3 Intel H61 (Socket 1155) MicroATX DDR3 Motherboard
- Cooler: Intel Stock Cooler
- RAM: TeamGroup Elite 4GB DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit
- Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache HDD (additional storage options available)
- Graphics Card: Onboard Intel HD2000 graphics
- Sound: Realtek 7.1 Channel Sound (On-Board)
- Optical Drive: OcUK 24x DVD+/-RW SATA Drive

£400.01 inc VAT

option 3, you pay more you get more, but still isn't a cad pc

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-050-OP&groupid=43&catid=2477&subcat=2499

Why You Should Buy This System
- Built and engineered specifically for Microsoft Home Server 2011
- Precision built and cabled by Overclockers UK expert technicians
- 8 Hours stressed tested and quality controlled
- Low power consumption and quiet operation

System Specification
- Case: Coolermaster Sileo 500 - Black
- Power Supply: CoolerMaster Elite Power 500W PSU
- CPU: Intel Core i5 3450 3.10GHz Quad Core Ivybridge CPU
- Motherboard: Intel H61 (Socket 1155) MicroATX DDR3 Motherboard ** B3 REVISION **
- Cooler: Intel Stock Cooler
- RAM: TeamGroup Elite 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit
- Hard Drive: x2 2TB SATA 6GB/s (additional storage options available)
- Graphics Card: Onboard Intel HD2500 graphics
- Sound: Realtek 7.1 Channel Sound (On-Board)
- Optical Drive: OcUK 24x DVD+/-RW SATA Drive

£540.00 inc VAT
 
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Yeah is it going to be basic 2D CAD or is the person expecting to do BIM?

Where is the kit going to be used? is it at home for basic work/training or are they expecting to use it for work purposes?

Those 2 questions will have a huge impact on the cost.
 
decent workhorse CPU, lots of RAM and for 3D rendering NOT a gaming GPU,


Nvidia QUADRO *** something, depending on how quick he wants it rendered, the more moneys you pay :)
 
Never really looked at a CAD machine in too much detail (my workplace buys in from a specialist).

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD FirePro V3900 Professional Graphics Card - 1GB - DDR3 SDRAM £98.99
1 x Avexir MPower Yellow Series 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C10 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (AVD3U16001008G-2CM) £83.99
1 x AMD Bulldozer FX-4 Quad Core 4100 Black Edition 3.60Ghz (Socket AM3+) Processor - Retail £82.99
1 x Gigabyte 970A-DS3 AMD 970A (Socket AM3+) DDR3 Motherboard £59.99
1 x Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache - OEM (WD5000AAKX) HDD £43.99
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430w Modular '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply (CP-9020058-UK) £39.98
1 x **B Grade** Zalman Z9 Plus Tower Case with Fan Controller - Black £37.16
Total : £461.20 (includes shipping : £11.75).



For the extra money I would increase to 8 core instead:

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD Bulldozer FX-8 Eight Core 8150 Black Edition 3.60Ghz (Socket AM3+) Processor - Retail £149.99
1 x Avexir MPower Yellow Series 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C10 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (AVD3U16001008G-2CM) £99.95
1 x AMD FirePro V3900 Professional Graphics Card - 1GB - DDR3 SDRAM £98.99
1 x Gigabyte 970A-DS3 AMD 970A (Socket AM3+) DDR3 Motherboard £56.99
1 x Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache - OEM (WD5000AAKX) HDD £49.99
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430w Modular '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply (CP-9020058-UK) £39.98
1 x **B Grade** Zalman Z9 Plus Tower Case with Fan Controller - Black £37.16
Total : £547.15 (includes shipping : £11.75).

 
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I'll try and find out from him. Its for my work mates, mate lol so I wasnt given a lot to go one tbh.

ill show him the specs but I already told him the budget is restrictive for a decent cad machine. Second hand market is probably a better idea
 
I was going to say a 2nd option maybe better for him. If he wasn't light usage and minimal BIM work look for something like a Dell T3400 or T1600. Both can be picked up fairly cheap and within there price range.

Warning most of these have come from CAD environments already so have a lot of use already so don't expect to use in the same environment again and last for 3 years. If you are look for new machines.
 
Blowing most of the budget on a really out of date professional card is probably not a good plan.

I've been happy with an i7 920 for several years now. They're worth approximately nothing second hard so may be a good choice. It's good for solid modelling and linear fea. It'll sort-of grind through CFD but is prone to running out of ram.
 
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