New Computer Suggestions

BradBielawski · ‎02-25-2003

Hi All, I will be requesting a new computer here for use with ACAD and IV6 and I am interested in you input for what to buy. I am especially interested in what you have to say about video cards. Keeping up with them is a full time job! Right now I'm using a Pentium II, 400 MHz w/ a Matrox video card... IV is getting pretty sluggish.

Thanks, Brad

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2003

Dell 650
Dual 2.66GHz Xeon
1.5GB DDR RAM
Quadro4
900XGL
nVidia 6.13.10.4072 Drivers

Dell UltraSharp 19" LCD

The dual processors are only used by IV when making views precise in IDWs,
the rest of the time I reset the affinity settings to run IV on one processor
and all other services on the other processor. Harddrives and CD/DVD/CD-RW
are pretty much your preference. All of our work is on the network so we
run ATA drives with good success. Stay with 3D Labs or nVidia for graphics
(I happen to prefer nVidia).

--
Hal Gwin
Mechanical Designer
Xenogen

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2003

I've found the prices and configuratuions on
XIcomputer.com to be pretty good.

According to the majority of people here, you can't
go wrong with an Nvidia Quadro card (980XGL would be best)

Get at least 1 gig of ram, and make sure the
motherboard will support at least 2 or even 4GB for future
upgrades.

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"BradBielawski" <
href="mailto:bbielawski@whirley.com">bbielawski@whirley.com> wrote in
message
href="news:f147446.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb">news:f147446.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
Hi
All, I will be requesting a new computer here for use with ACAD and IV6 and I
am interested in you input for what to buy. I am especially interested in what
you have to say about video cards. Keeping up with them is a full time job!
Right now I'm using a Pentium II, 400 MHz w/ a Matrox video card... IV is
getting pretty sluggish.

Thanks, Brad

BradBielawski · ‎02-25-2003

Thanks Hal,
I'll look into that one, although unfortunately I think I'll be limited budget-wise to a single processor. What kind of price premium is there for the Xeon class of processors? Are they significantly faster?
Brad

MechMan_ · ‎02-25-2003

You will find an overwhelming amount of info about what IV users in this NG suggest for a new computer configuration if you do a little searching.

My quick suggestion is AMD CPU (best price/performance). Dual CPU setup if you work with large IDW files. Quadro video card. 133MB/sec hard drive. Amount of RAM is based on how large your assemblies/drawings are. Shoot high when it comes to the amount of RAM. Windows XP Pro.

MechMan

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2003

Mech is right you can't beat AMD for the best BFTB
(bang for the buck) I went from AMD to Xeon and if I had it to do again I would
have stuck with AMD for my new system (you also get the benefit with AMD
Processors of a good heat source for those cold
mornings)

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2003

>What kind of price premium is there for the Xeon class of processors?
Are they significantly faster?<

Yes, but I cannot quantify my answer.
Experience with a PIII 600MHz at home and a Xeon 800MHz at work (all other
parameters being very similar) showed a definite difference. The Xeon was
noticeably faster (not by a lot), even over a network.

Price wise (street prices from Pricewatch.com),
Xeon 2.6GHz 533FSB about $15 more than Xeon 2.6GHz 400FSB and about $90 more
than P4 2.6GHz 533FSB.

MechMan_ · ‎02-25-2003

LOL

MechMan

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2003

Now that's funny!

I might be all wet but I prefer as many off the
shelf parts in my computer as possible. I don't like the proprietary built
computers like Dell, Compaq, and Micron. I have had a good amount of problems
with the hardware. I don't like the modified system discs they send
ether.

My two cents,

Matt

MechMan_ · ‎02-25-2003

I totally agree. But I understand how that may be difficult for some people to do due to either lack of computer knowlege or more importantly, TIME. I always build my own and while I may not save any money due to quality components my system runs circles around similar proprietary system.

MechMan

rafael · ‎02-25-2003

YEAH!

MechMan_ · ‎02-25-2003

What are you "YEAH"ing to?

Looks like you replied to the wrong post.

MechMan

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2003

I generally agree but I have had terrific luck with Dells lately. The
others guys I won't touch.

--
Sean Dotson, PE
http://www.sdotson.com
Check the Inventor FAQ for most common questions
www.sdotson.com/faq.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
"Matt Hendey" wrote in message
news:A16141384A477DC63AC2695E62AD2EE3@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Now that's funny!
>
> I might be all wet but I prefer as many off the shelf parts in my computer
as possible. I don't like the proprietary built computers like Dell, Compaq,
and Micron. I have had a good amount of problems with the hardware. I don't
like the modified system discs they send ether.
>
>
> My two cents,
> Matt
>
>

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2003

Plus you can upgrade piece by piece.
face=Arial size=2>At home I havent bough a complete system in a long, long time.
I just keep upgrading it one piece at a time.
size=2>Its the ever evolving computer.

MechMan_ · ‎02-25-2003

How much of one computer do you have to keep when upgrading to consider it an evolved system? Usually a new CPU means a new MB and new RAM. I kept my sound card, modem, and CD-ROM from my old-old system. Kept only my hard drive from my old system to my current system. Can I consider this a 2X evolved system?

MechMan

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2003

I wanted to build my last system so I would be able
to control what hardware I got. My boss said no, bummer. But, I settled with
Boxx and found that just about everything I speced was in my new system they
sent me anyway. Actually, there was very little to change. The main board was
Tyan so net and SCSI was already included. Also another good point
about ordering the prebuilt system was that the Quadro 4 900 card was only
available in OEM systems, I think.

Matt

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2003

"How much of one computer do you have to keep when upgrading to consider it
an evolved system? "

At the most a CPU/Mobo/Ram swap. that still leaves
over 50% of the hardware from the old comp, cant really call it
new.

"Usually a new
CPU means a new MB and new RAM"

Most new P4 motherboards can take 1.7Ghz celereons
all the way up the 3.06 Ghz Northwoods. Most AMD
socket A boards cant take Duron 600's up to XP3000+'s. Thats a wide range of
upgrading.

rllthomas · ‎02-25-2003

I would recommend you read the posts "Please advise on this system. dated 1/25/03, Please help spec a new computer dated 1/14/02, and New Computer, need help! dated 12/12/02 in this news group. If you have trouble finding them use the web interface (http://discussion.autodesk.com) and search the newsgroups that way.

Rich Thomas

petter · ‎02-25-2003

Well there is allways that option of mobility.

History:
I burned two AMD prosessors in may and june so i´m not into AMD anymore.
Changed to dual 1,6 ghz intel with 3GB ram GF3(4 was´nt relesed yet) upgraded to GF4 and was quite content with that computer for quite some time.
I´ve been using Inventor 6 since october/November (Beta at first). In the beginning i had seriusly problems with large assamblies, but after SP1 mutch got better.

In desember i got an Dell Inspiron 1,8 Ghz (GF4), packed it full with ram 1GB(Max sorry!) and was amaised with how many things i culd manage with the portable.
in january i changed the disk to an Hitachi 60GB disk (Mostly for more ram on the disk). and it made the difference. Now its almost complete.(Waiting for my 2.4GHZ Dell Inspiron with radeon gfxcard)

My college has dual 2,4 Ghz, 3GB computer. tweeked to max.
Seems like there are bus problems with Inventor becose he cant get any more out of the stationary than i can with my portable.

One dissadvatage do i have and that is the limit of 1GB ram. but if you arn´t too heavy into projecting geometry. it`s no problem to open parts instead of editing(right click open, instead of just duble click). witch saves a lot fo ram.

The biggest difference is probably that I`m in Chile 32°C, at a resort, zipping drinks at night and hawing fun. and he is stuck in Norway -5°.

The choise is clear for me. But we work on devided projects so we can detatch from server without problems. havent tried Inventor over internet, but i guess i woulden´t be smiling.

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2003

The way I see it, if you're talking about
the similar system components you can build your own for about 2/3 what you can
buy one for plus you wouldn't know the bought system like you know the one you
build. I checked prices on Dell against what I bought awhile back and found
mine cost about 2/3 what they wanted only I had the exact components I
wanted.

~Larry

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"MechMan" <mechman> wrote in message
href="news:f147446.8@WebX.maYIadrTaRb">news:f147446.8@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
I
totally agree. But I understand how that may be difficult for some people to
do due to either lack of computer knowlege or more importantly, TIME. I always
build my own and while I may not save any money due to quality components my
system runs circles around similar proprietary
system.

MechMan

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