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Computer nerds: Critique my next build - CAD machine

I'm building this machine to run AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD Architecture 2008, and Autodesk VIZ. It'll be my main desktop machine for pissing around, as well.

Proposed specs:

Antec P182 case
Seasonic 620w PSU
Intel Xeon X3220 (quad core, 2.4GHz, SLACR/G0 stepping if I'm lucky, the 3120s are all G0s but 3220s aren't all, just yet)
Asus P5M2/SAS mobo
4GB 800MHz Corsair XMS2 Dominator memory (CAS latencies 4-4-4-12)
500GB Seagate SATA drive
150GB Western Digital Raptor 10K sexdrive (mmmmmm)
PNY Quadro FX560 128MB video PCI-E video card
some piece of shit soundcard because I don't care that much
Vista Ultimate 64-bit


Perhaps instead of the Raptor, I'd grab another 500GB Barracuda and a PCI RAID card and run RAID-0? Or a bunch of 320s and run RAID-5... Maybe step up to some 1066MHZ RAM? Maybe I could skip the Quadro and run an 8800GTX 320MB?

Thoughts? I believe these all to be pretty cream-of-the-crop components.

a second 150 drive is kind of a waste, might as well hook up a 500 since the prices are pretty good these days.

where are you buying it from?

From NCIX and DirectCanada.

nice system, except maybe upgrade the video card.

just wondering is all of this for your job or just for school or fun?
im studying architecture right now too and all those programs you've mention are crazy especially VIZ.
have fun with the system.

oh ya and make sure you have TONS of cooling.

Re: Computer nerds: Critique my next build - CAD machine

quote:

Originally posted by VERTiG0 I'm building this machine to run AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD Architecture 2008, and Autodesk VIZ. It'll be my main desktop machine for pissing around, as well. Proposed specs: Antec P182 case Seasonic 620w PSU Intel Xeon X3220 (quad core, 2.4GHz, SLACR/G0 stepping if I'm lucky, the 3120s are all G0s but 3220s aren't all, just yet) Asus P5M2/SAS mobo 4GB 800MHz Corsair XMS2 Dominator memory (CAS latencies 4-4-4-12) 500GB Seagate SATA drive 150GB Western Digital Raptor 10K sexdrive (mmmmmm) PNY Quadro FX560 128MB video PCI-E video card some piece of shit soundcard because I don't care that much Vista Ultimate 64-bit Perhaps instead of the Raptor, I'd grab another 500GB Barracuda and a PCI RAID card and run RAID-0? Or a bunch of 320s and run RAID-5... Maybe step up to some 1066MHZ RAM? Maybe I could skip the Quadro and run an 8800GTX 320MB? Thoughts? I believe these all to be pretty cream-of-the-crop components.

Hey I work at Canada Computers, and bunch of people always come in looking for a computer to run AutoCAD and what not.

Here's my suggestions:

- Switch the CPU to Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, the prices on them are so damn cheap right now, and overclock the hell out of it.
- If you're going to overclock I highly recommend going with 1066 MHz memory.
- Skip the Quaddro and get an 8800 GTX 768 MB (GTX don't come in 320 MB)
- RAID 5 would be the best way to go, and cheaper than 2 raptors. 160 GB hard drives are like 70 bucks right now, 250 for about 80.

Re: Re: Computer nerds: Critique my next build - CAD machine

quote:

Originally posted by Invasionmix Hey I work at Canada Computers, and bunch of people always come in looking for a computer to run AutoCAD and what not.

Wanna give me a deal? Heheh.

Fuck Vista Cale... seriously.

Everything else on the other hand... wowwie zowwie!

The internet is on computers now?

Re: Computer nerds: Critique my next build - CAD machine

quote:

Originally posted by VERTiG0 Thoughts? I believe these all to be pretty cream-of-the-crop components.

My computer is still faster than yours

CATIA > AutoCAD

u call that a computer.

be lucky if you're able to run paint on that.

quote:

Originally posted by smuncky u call that a computer. be lucky if you're able to run paint on that.

I was hoping to at least play Minesweeper

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Allen Fuck Vista Cale... seriously. Everything else on the other hand... wowwie zowwie!

Not another one of THOSE people...

"vista is so crap, not compatible with anything, blah blah blah"

quote:

Originally posted by Playa24_7 Not another one of THOSE people... "vista is so crap, not compatible with anything, blah blah blah"

Really? Well how about the $300 audio unit I bought, from Mackie: not exactly a small-time audio manufacturer.

Plug in, doesn't work at all. Call support: no Vista drivers for another 3 months. Back to XP, worked fine.

Wireless driver, same problem.
NIC card, same problem.
External Hard Drives, same problem.

I'm a Microsoft beta tester and I've had nothing but problems with this OS, so I think I'm validated enough to say that by my personal experiences that I would not recommend it.

Re: Re: Re: Computer nerds: Critique my next build - CAD machine

quote:

Originally posted by VERTiG0 Wanna give me a deal? Heheh.

to be honest, our employee discount is shit now, it used to be really good. So can't help you there.

And about Vista, for those who are saying that it's crap and never actually installed it, you guys are morons. They're tons of people who are bashing Vista cause they heard that it sucks from a friend or a co-worker. You guys watch too many Mac commercials.

Vista will be the next operating system, there's nothing you can do about it, might as well adapt to it. The main reason why people say it sucks it's because the people using it are installing old drivers or old devices. Everyone was saying Windows XP was crap and what not, same situation different time here.

Finally, Windows Vista will be releasing their service pack 1 along with the final service pack for Windows XP in November. So there shouldn't be anything to complain about after November.

Seems solid, but I'd question your drive choices. Given the case has 6 3.5" slots, I'd consider doing the RAID setup over just the 2 drives. RAID 5 is crap for write speeds, but read is good. RAID 1+0 usually is the best for performance/fault tolerance, but sucks because you kill your storage in half.

Not 100 percent sure of AUTOCAD requirements, but if there's a lot of write activity that's required on the disks, might be worthwhile to consider different RAID options for that to speed things up. Disks are sadly still the slowest bottleneck of any PC build.

I wish I could afford 15,000rpm SCSI drives.

Also, Invasionmix: If I were to walk into a CC store, would they let me pick and choose to find a G0 stepping Q6600, or would they just hand me one and I take my chances?

And for Chris - how in the unholy hell did you manage to have an external harddrive not work within Vista? I've been using Vista since last October and haven't had any problems except when I tried to use a Soundblaster Live! card...

Re: Re: Re: Re: Computer nerds: Critique my next build - CAD machine

quote:

Originally posted by Invasionmix to be honest, our employee discount is shit now, it used to be really good. So can't help you there. And about Vista, for those who are saying that it's crap and never actually installed it, you guys are morons. They're tons of people who are bashing Vista cause they heard that it sucks from a friend or a co-worker. You guys watch too many Mac commercials. Vista will be the next operating system, there's nothing you can do about it, might as well adapt to it. The main reason why people say it sucks it's because the people using it are installing old drivers or old devices. Everyone was saying Windows XP was crap and what not, same situation different time here. Finally, Windows Vista will be releasing their service pack 1 along with the final service pack for Windows XP in November. So there shouldn't be anything to complain about after November.

I love how you're defending an operating system that has had nothing but problems both publicly and internally. "It'll all be fine once service pack 1 is released". It should have been fine when it was released, that was the whole point. This operating system will eventually be fine, but it's been a massive embarrassment to Microsoft in the process of release.

I have been testing vista since it was in the early beta stages, once it went public beta, again in RTM, and even in final and still found major bugs and massive issue's. You won't catch me using it unless it's someone else's computer.

quote:

And for Chris - how in the unholy hell did you manage to have an external harddrive not work within Vista? I've been using Vista since last October and haven't had any problems except when I tried to use a Soundblaster Live! card...

That one threw me for a loop too, didn't make any sense. But alas that was what happened. It wouldn't install the driver right, but would do so perfectly fine on XP.

I know there's no changing your opinion on Vista as it is a glorious looking OS, but for functionality it's just not there: yet.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Computer nerds: Critique my next build - CAD machine

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Allen That one threw me for a loop too, didn't make any sense. But alas that was what happened. It wouldn't install the driver right, but would do so perfectly fine on XP.

I don't understand. It doesn't need anything special, it's a simple as hell USB mass storage device driver.

Vista sucks :P

didnt like it at all !

bah ... im an AMD fan so screw the intel proccessors ..

the raptor drive for your windows drive is a good idea...

you should at least have 2x19inch LCDS or bigger ..

you need a good soundcard .. quality sounding music is important..

you need some better music ... didnt i telly a house sucks :P hehe

how was the trip ?

leave 64-bit alone right now... it's not ready yet. the potential benefits are not really realized right now... it needs a lot of work.

I have also had a lot of issues with Vista. My computer worked fine for the first two months and then out of nowhere my screen went all screwy (flashing, thick black lines through the center, etc). This went on for a few days and it kept getting worse and worse...to where I couldn't even turn my computer on for more then 10/15min.

It turned out that Vista rejected my display drivers...went online to find out how to fix it and there were hundreds of threads on it with people having the same issue.

I think it has the potential to be a great operating system, but right now I am regretting having it....I am always afraid of what might happen next

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Allen Really?

really

quote:

Originally posted by smuncky be lucky if you're able to run paint on that.

Haha.

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