would more RAM speed up a woefuly inadequate CAD machine?

thingemajib · 28 Sep 2010 at 14:30

so, yeah, im using autodesk inventor 2008 at work with an assembly comprising of 600+ parts, and like i said, its woefully inadequate. Has a habit of taking 20 mins to open the file and then CTD every once in a while if i overload it (which isnt that hard). The IT people have suggested just shove some more RAM in. While i can see the program is a memory hog, its also a processor and GPU hog as well. So, question is, how much help would some extra RAM be?

tis a dell Optiplex 755
core 2 e6550 2.33ghz
2gb ddr2 677mhz ram
intel gma 3100 (yes ... i know...)

I think the max for the dell is 4gb, but it could be 8.

I ask this because if the ram doesnt really help i might be able to argue the case for a workstation...

edscdk · 28 Sep 2010 at 14:35

use task manager to look at the ram usage, no one other than you can look at this and it will give you the answer...

if its not obvious jsut stick some more ram it see if it gets used, its only a £40 gamble...

thingemajib · 28 Sep 2010 at 14:41

well the program itself has a little memory usage bar in the corner which frequently goes into the red. However, ive been noticing on task manager ive never seen it go over 1.2gb.

I also tried one of those free up memory programs a while back to no avail

sambot · 29 Sep 2010 at 00:50

its probably 32bit OS so can only use max 3gb ram

Pate · 29 Sep 2010 at 12:10

32bit os will limit you.

I would suggest getting a 8800GT and flashing it into a cad card. Should see a marked improvement on the gma 3100.

PhoenixUK · 29 Sep 2010 at 12:23

sambot said:
its probably 32bit OS so can only use max 3gb ram

It's 4GB including all I/O, not 3.
So considering that he's only using onboard GPU and doesn't have any other addon cards he should be able to use anywhere up to ¬3.8gb of RAM.

Harpss1ngh · 29 Sep 2010 at 13:23

kenmare said:
32bit os will limit you.

I would suggest getting a 8800GT and flashing it into a cad card. Should see a marked improvement on the gma 3100.

This.

RedGooner · 29 Sep 2010 at 18:30

Probley see 2.8Mb to 3.2Mb of mem in 32Bit OS, I have seen loads of CAD pc's at a well known Architechs, and they run 64bit OS with 12Gb to 24GB, and are a fast as hell.

64Bit OS is the way forward

Duke · 29 Sep 2010 at 18:59

Could be a slow HD as well?

Cookeh · 29 Sep 2010 at 21:20

Duke said:
Could be a slow HD as well?

This, based on your statement of 20mins to open it :eek:

JonJ678 · 30 Sep 2010 at 13:31

Task manager will also give you some idea of whether the cpu is redlining.

Don't put a flashed 8800GT in a work machine, the process isn't known to be completely reliable and it'll interfere with any warranty on the Dell (and possibly kill the psu, which may not even have a 6 pin peg cable). It's brilliant for a home workstation, but I don't think it's a good idea here.

Good luck getting a new workstation

Yellowbeard · 1 Oct 2010 at 18:34

Duke said:
Could be a slow HD as well?

My thoughts as well. RAID-0 or an SSD may be the way to go in addition to more RAM.

thingemajib · 4 Oct 2010 at 14:30

wow, forgot about this thread lol.

are the low profile 9800GT's (SFF case):
A) combatible with 8800GT workstation equivilent bioses?
B) need a 6pin connector?

Apparently the motherboard and PSU are 'propertairy desgins', but i cant find any details. These things can be specced with hd2400s so i presume that it has a PCIe slot, but i guess its not worth the risk of blowing the PSU.

Roll on the xeons and quadros! (after several months of going up the ranks and obtianing signatures....)