New machine required for 3d modelling

S2Avant

just spent 15min typing a reply - pressed the wrong button and it.....

S2Avant

I may be in the same position as you Phil.

We have been running Strucad for nearly 10yrs now and it's a superb piece of kit, however....

Received our copy of "Evolution" last month (not installed yet), I cant understand why Strucad
"requires" a graphics card with a min of 768+ MB. I cannot see where it uses all this "power".
OK "struwalker" can look impressive but does it need that spec?

We have a 3yr old HP workstation here running Strucad and Solidworks 2010 no problem with only a 2GB Ram and Mid-Range Nvidia graphics card. However, when I have to take work home everything works fine on the wife's Vaio!!

In the market for a proper laptop myself but it's so confusing (Open GL / DirectX, etc)

With regard to a desktop PC for strucad; I can recommmend the following:-
a) Ask for a quote (with full breakdown) for a workstation from your Strucad dealer
b) Dont be suprised if they suggest an expensive Nvidia G-card (partnership?)
c) Go to PC World with spec.
d) Be happy when they give you:-
i) same motherboard
ii) better processor
iii) more RAM
iv) Very same Grahphics Card ( but had to pay £20 extra for this)
v) OK: a slightly slower Hard Drive
vi) Almost a £1000 less!
7.) 3yrs on - faultless, superb, HP Workstation.


Let us know what you decide on - and how well it works.

epninety

I built a machine targeted at 3D cad work (Autocad + Solidworks) about 3 years ago, with a similar spec to what you have quoted.

I used a raptor drive as the main windows disk, with data storage on a hardware RAID stack - work is too hard and takes too long to risk losing it without a fight! I've been impressed by the Raptor performance in the real world, however SSD wasn't cost effective then, but would be my choice now.

Remember that 'last years' graphics card is still a fearsome piece of kit, even in the professional CAD market. I built up the machine with a cheap and chearful graphics card, then bought a second hand CAD card off the bay, saving a large wedge in the process. The graphics card can easily be the limitting factor when working on complex 3D models, so don't skimp here.

You *may* be able to get a good deal on a screaming fast games machine in the run up to Xmas, then simply add a proper graphics card? Would not be my choice - I rolled my own and would do it again, but it would be cheaper than a dedicated workstation build.

Don't rely on a mainstream PC retailer or builder to understand what would be important to you in a 'real' CAD machine!

If you really want a laptop, the Dell 'Precision Mobile Workstation' series are very good - they actually perform better than my 3yr old desktop machine, but the prices may make your eyes water :eek:

Hammyman

MICKG wrote: »

Geforce 460 1gb graphics 4gb DDR3.

Please don't. Get a proper 3D CAD based one such as nVidia Quadro range or some of the Matrox ones. They'll be supported in the modelling programs or have dedicated plug ins. Just because a 3D card is a good gaming card, it doesn't follow its a good one for CAD.

Hammyman

gonzo127 wrote: »

all modern descreat graphics cards will be able to support Open GL 2 the expensive bit will the the professional graphics chipset

Indeed. Professional OpenGL 2.0 support rules out the Geforce gamers card mentioned earlier.

Hammyman

epninety wrote: »

If you really want a laptop, the Dell 'Precision Mobile Workstation' series are very good - they actually perform better than my 3yr old desktop machine, but the prices may make your eyes water :eek:

Indeed and the ones I've sold usually have the nVidia Quadro card in. In fact the IBM Thinkpad T61 I'm typing this on has a 128MB nVidia Quadro NVS 140M. Its 3 years old now and I'll be selling it for around £250 mark and there's quite a few available but make sure they have the nVidia card as some only have Intel onboard.