Building AutoCAD machine

C

CSSmitty

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 7, 2003
Messages
248
A friend of mine asked me to build an AutoCAD\3dsMAX machine to use for school. I don't believe that these applications are multi-threaded, but will be doing a dual-core proc anyways. I figured that 2GB of memory is a good start.

He has about $1000 to spend.

NEC 16X DVD±R DVDND-3550A - OEM $28.99

Antec TX1050B 500W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply $119.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 $94.99

Acer AL1916W Black 19" 8ms Widescreen LCD $189.99

ASUS A8N-E Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 $85.99

connect3D 3048 X1300PRO 256MB PCI-E $79.99

Kingston ValueRAM (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin (PC 3200) $189.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester $183.00


This machine needs to be built in the next week or two, and it doesn't seem like Conroe is a huge factor right now at this price point.

Thanks,
-C
 
Well.. if you are starting from scratch, you might as well go the AM2 route, that way you will be able to upgrade the ram/cpu much easier and have more options. I'd pick up the Asus M2N-E board in it, 2gb corsair ddr2-800, and a x2 3800+ to save cost. Either way, you can still build an AM2 system for around $1000 that would do very well in a cad environment. You might want to think about a better graphics card as well, and something that has dual dvi.

RAM: 2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800
$178 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

MOBO: Asus M2N-E 570 Ultra
$95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131022

CPU: AMD X2 3800+ Socket AM2
$153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735
 
CSSmitty said:
A friend of mine asked me to build an AutoCAD\3dsMAX machine to use for school. I don't believe that these applications are multi-threaded, but will be doing a dual-core proc anyways. I figured that 2GB of memory is a good start.

He has about $1000 to spend.

NEC 16X DVD±R DVDND-3550A - OEM $28.99

Antec TX1050B 500W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply $119.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 $94.99

Acer AL1916W Black 19" 8ms Widescreen LCD $189.99

ASUS A8N-E Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 $85.99

connect3D 3048 X1300PRO 256MB PCI-E $79.99

Kingston ValueRAM (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin (PC 3200) $189.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester $183.00


This machine needs to be built in the next week or two, and it doesn't seem like Conroe is a huge factor right now at this price point.

Thanks,
-C
Click to expand...

$1000 bucks on autocad...hmmm, autocad itself costs more than this, but anyway......

Yes, parts of Autocad are multithreaded, so an X2 is worth it.

X1300? Sorry, for OpenGL stuff, Nvidia is the way to go here, and that's coming from an ATI fan like myself. The x1300 will work if you absolutely need to have the budged at $1000

2GB of RAM at the minimum, but don't buy more than 3.5 GB unless you want Windows XP x64. HD may depend on how many autocad projects he plans on saving. That can chew up quite a bit.
 
Yeah the 3D stuff can eat memory pretty well. I still use a skt 754 3700+ Clawhammer with 1 gb (2x512) Ultra DDR400 ram and ATI X800Pro with my AcadR2004 software but I am only doing 2D civil design/drafting. It still does the job but with 3D you'll need far more hp.
I'd have to agree with the AM2 suggestion if it fits within the budget - and at least an X1600 vid card if sticking with ATI.
 
I'm sure he's getting a "student" version of AutoCAD so don't freak out if his budget is low. I use AutoCAD daily and can definitely tell you that RAM can never be enough. AutoCAD is not multithreaded by itself but 3D Studio is. Rendering animations will easily grab both processors and max them out --and nearly double your speed over single processor systems. I currently run with only 1GB and we really feel it when I'm running multiple AutoCAD sessions with large files. I also deal with rather large image files and Gimp (an open-source Photoshop alternative) and those operations can suck up RAM in a heartbeat.

I'd say it depends on if your friend is going to be rendering animations more often or just doing a lot of drafting more. That will help decide on if to invest in a dual-core CPU to start with or more RAM (IMO).
 
BigMacAttack said:
I still use a skt 754 3700+ Clawhammer with 1 gb (2x512) Ultra DDR400 ram and ATI X800Pro with my AcadR2004 software but I am only doing 2D civil design/drafting
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on the budget of the firm. I often drop off drawings to this M/E/P Engineering firm and their computers 'look' alot nicer than ours.
I could not work with AutoCAD/Photoshop/Maxwell Render at my computer. (Work computer)
 
Spend more on the video card, he won't regret it.

Lots and lots of ram.

autocad won't really tax anything at the level that he will be working in achool (probably). Anything 3d can be pretty taxing. If he is doing autocad and 3ds max, he will also probably have to deal with one of the engineering 3d modeling programs, and they can put the hurt on a system, thats for sure.

I've realized that I need to upgrade my system. I was working on a project that had a large assembly in it (360ish parts with fasteners) and it got sloooooow.
 
w1retap said:
Well.. if you are starting from scratch, you might as well go the AM2 route, that way you will be able to upgrade the ram/cpu much easier and have more options. I'd pick up the Asus M2N-E board in it, 2gb corsair ddr2-800, and a x2 3800+ to save cost. Either way, you can still build an AM2 system for around $1000 that would do very well in a cad environment. You might want to think about a better graphics card as well, and something that has dual dvi.

RAM: 2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800
$178 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

MOBO: Asus M2N-E 570 Ultra
$95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131022

CPU: AMD X2 3800+ Socket AM2
$153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735
Click to expand...

I hadn't decided on AM2 or 939 yet, the reason I was thinking 939 is that the mobos are more matured. This was pure speculation.

This machine is going to be used mainly for drafting, architectural type of work.

I will be honest and say that I don't know anything about AutoCAD and didn't know that it needed a good video card.

I created this thread because of my little knowledge of AutoCAD and the state of the 939,AM2 and Conroe decision. (Yes, I know this is the AMD forum)

If I can be used effectively, I will make him spend extra money.
Thanks,
-C
 
MrGuvernment said:
So why not get a conroe ?
Click to expand...
That might be worth a look if he can keep the budget under a grand. It'd be a hot system no doubt.

This machine is going to be used mainly for drafting, architectural type of work
Click to expand...
If that is the case and he won't be doing a lot of 3D/rendering then you can get away with a less expensive card but don't go too cheap. Its extremely helpful and much more pleasing to have a very capable video card with great resolution. The higher the better. Less eye strain. My X800Pro AGP card is quite capable for my style of work but if I was doing heavy 3D/rendering work I'd definitely go with a heavy duty dual core processor and a video card tailored more toward Autocad and less for gaming. The problem with Acad specific video cards is they can be very expensive, so a good gaming card is the affordable alternative.
 
BigMacAttack said:
If that is the case and he won't be doing a lot of 3D/rendering then you can get away with a less expensive card but don't go too cheap. Its extremely helpful and much more pleasing to have a very capable video card with great resolution. The higher the better. Less eye strain.
Click to expand...
He said specifically his friend will be using 3DStudioMAX and AutoCAD, you can bet there will be a ton of rendering and 3D environment working. Don't let high school 2D drafting on paper throw you off when someone says the word "drafting" or "architechtural work". All of this type work in college or high school cad classes are pretty 3D intense, and I often find their computers wayyy too slow for the task.

Screw the Conroe though. Good luck finding on in a week at a non-rip off price, and a motherboard with compadible memory, and the rest of the system for around 1000 dollars. Most places have them on order for the end of the month, and the people who have them in stock, such as newegg, jacked up the prices to 400 bux for a e6400, LOL. Pretty pathectic. =/ AM2/939 would definetly be the way to go.

BUT, rendering doesn't have to do with graphics cards all that much, its all in the cpu/ram. Your graphics card is used heavily when rotating around a 3d object in real time with lighting/textures and stuff like that.
 
I support the "lots of RAM" idea...I have 2GB and 3ds max runs sooo much better than it did on 1GB. Further, the dual core I have helps everything go faster, so if I need to burn a CD and render at the same time it's doable.
 
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