Got one for you, ? that is

[photolady]

If I were going to build a computer that would run CAD, what would I need? I've only seen it in use for automotive college classes, ie community type colleges. So what would run CAD?

[Dan18960]

PL,

Well the FIRST thing is NOT to have the video controller on the motherboard!

The CAD systems we support are:

Intel 945PSNLK motherboards (these have the 1g Intel nic on-board)
Intel 3.x Pentium 4 HT processors (we are moving to the D950s)
2gb DDR2 667mhz RAM
XP Pro (CAD has stated they won't support HOME - although it will run on it "sometimes")
WD 80gb SATA drives (we "try" to install the 10k - most of our clients are on a LAN with a File Server so we don't need the "huge" internal hard drives)
ASUS 256mb PCI-e DVI/VGA video adapters
DVD / CDRW drives
and we still put in Floppy drives (some of the equipment that runs the final drawings only have floppy drive interfaces or serial interfaces).

For the "true" CAD houses we sometimes subsitute the Intel 955XB motherboard - the extremes are able to expand to 8gb and we start out with 4gb in these models.

Now these configurations are NOT cheap. The average machine is $2500 to $3500 depending on CAD workings (this is OUR sales price - we are in the business to MAKE money you know). I have some houses that only need the Lite CAD and others that need the full blown CAD. One client needs to have drawings that are "true" to 3mm for the machine shop - while others are not that precise.

Also, you need to be certified by AutoCad to sell their product so we work with another company that only sells AutoCad and support.

[photolady]

Okay thanks Dan. I asked this because of the computer I have in my shop that I've had to rebuild and the customer's son said his dad wanted this computer so he could run CAD program. Now from reading what you posted, I would assume these systems are not for the average home user, correct? Below is his specs:
Asus A8V socket 939 Mobo
AMD 3300 939pin
PNY Geforce FX5700 256mb
WD SATA 160 HDD
basic CDrom/ no writer
2gb Kingston Dual channel
XP Pro

And I, personally, have never used onboard graphics except in an older IBM that I rebuilt to use until I could get moved to where I live now to build this one I'm on. :D

[Pi rules]

That PC might be OK, but a more powerful CPU with more L2 cache might help. What kind of AMD is it, a Sempron? If so, you may need at least an AMD 64 or an X2 if possible. The Intel dual cores (especially the 9xx series) have a lot of L2 cache which would help, but you would need a new motherboard and probably new RAM.

[photolady]

Pi this isn't for myself. And yes, it's a 64bit Sempron. I asked the question because I wasn't sure if this customer was really needing this type of computer. Or if the person who built it initially was just trying to gouge money from him.

[mylanta]

PL a Sempron would really not be desireable for "cad". And that board can take a dual core Athlon X2 which would be an asset but at least 4200 and up because you do want the cache to be a t least a meg. I think they just came out with a 4000 dual core with a 1 meg cache as well. I think that board has a max of 4 gig for ram as well because you really do want a minimum 2 gig.

[photolady]

The initial bent pins cpu was also a Sempron and only a 3000. So if he really wants this as a CAD pc, he needs better right?

I am not entirely sure that this is, what he wants the computer for as the info came from his son.....who claims to be an electrical engineer, but I have my doubts about that also. LOL You would have to talk to him to understand what I mean. :D

[mylanta]

The initial bent pins cpu was also a Sempron and only a 3000. So if he really wants this as a CAD pc, he needs better right?

I am not entirely sure that this is, what he wants the computer for as the info came from his son.....who claims to be an electrical engineer, but I have my doubts about that also. LOL You would have to talk to him to understand what I mean. :D

Yeah forget Sempron for CAD.

[Dan18960]

I am not entirely sure that this is, what he wants the computer for as the info came from his son.....who claims to be an electrical engineer, but I have my doubts about that also. LOL You would have to talk to him to understand what I mean. :D

Now you KNOW why I don't hire COLLEGE graduates! For some reason the minute they enter the doors there must be a super huge mind vacuum that sucks ALL their common sense out!:eek:

[mylanta]

Now you KNOW why I don't hire COLLEGE graduates! For some reason the minute they enter the doors there must be a super huge mind vacuum that sucks ALL their common sense out!:eek:


OK,OK I'm sure there are a few college grads in your immediate family don't need to hear this, ya know!

[photolady]

Like me, graduated in 1999. :D

But my degree isn't computer science so that doesn't count. ;)

And son isn't young, he's at least my age, and he does the grunt work around our office building. I will talk to customer about this CAD idea and see what he says. If that's what he wants the computer to do, I'll make the right suggestions for him. Thanks Dan, Pi and Rich.

[PeteF]

Now you KNOW why I don't hire COLLEGE graduates! For some reason the minute they enter the doors there must be a super huge mind vacuum that sucks ALL their common sense out!:eek:

Are you familiar with Robert T. Kiyosaki’s, author
of the book.. Rich Dad, Poor Dad ?

He's been on local PBS TV lately and he talked a little about
what the colleges are about. By whatever means, they are more
geared towards producing "workers" who act as good obedient
employees as opposed to independent thinking induviduals.
To me this means they are more likely to memorize things and
obey rules and less likely to do independent thinking.

I studied this topic years ago as it related to our public school
system. There is much evidence to support the notion that the
public schools are primarily tools of social change & control with
education being the secondary mission.

In other words, it's no mistake that our youth are being dumbed
down intellectually, and made to be more politically correct. It's
nothing new and the plans have been incorporated for many
decades now.

Let's respect the original thread.
Please start a new topic if you'd like to discuss this further.

---pete---

[Dan18960]

OK,OK I'm sure there are a few college grads in your immediate family don't need to hear this, ya know!

Nope. Last College grad in my immediate family was my Grandfather - he was a teacher back before and during the depression.

Now all of my sons went to technical schools as did I. But nope no immediate family has a sheep skin on their walls.

[photolady]

Update on this:

I asked him about that cad idea. He said in the future he might want to try running CAD but now was not the time. So I told him what you guys said that this system would not work. He said that was fine, he just wanted a faster computer than his old p3 and was happy with this one.

That is, he is, now happy with it after all the problems and my fixing it right.