3D Graphics work PC specs

[Griffo]

I have just been asked to spec and price up a new PC suite for the DT department given the follwing requirements.

 

"They will need to be capable of running 3D Graphics programs, the bigger the better, the cost is not a problem"

 

 

While this generosity is still available I want to get a quote in as quick as possible

 

A laser cutter in the area of 10 to 15 grand has already been given the go ahead!

 

So can anyone recomend what spec they would look at for this or if anyone has something similar what have you got?

 

Would Alienware stuff be worth looking at?

 

 

...but I'll belive it once it has been ordered, if it ever gets that far.

[siuko]

Hehe first question is which 3D programs

 

As unless your running some VERY high end graphics apps you wont need to speedy 3D Graphics card.

 

Unless they want to play Crysis2

[pagelad]

Isnt Alienware just Dell now?

 

Some of the specs on the XPS systems they do are pretty smart.

 

Ive had some success with these guys

 

iBUILD™ Intel SLi Gaming PC Performance | Power Computing | Custom PCs, Gaming PCs, Laptops, Motherboards, Workstations

 

Good prices and awesome build quality \ components

[westleya]

I wouldn't bother looking at gaming PC's...

 

Look for a spec that incudes something like an NVidia Quadro, or ATI Fire GL video card. These are specifically geared towards CAD work.

[Griffo]

Isnt Alienware just Dell now?

 

Are they? Damn

 

Thats like saying Aston Martin are really just Renault

 

The other spec I forgot to mention was "PLEASE NOT DELL" thats what the current ones are, really not impressed with them

[tmcd35]

I wouldn't bother looking at gaming PC's...

 

Look for a spec that incudes something like an NVidia Quadro, or ATI Fire GL video card. These are specifically geared towards CAD work.

 

An interesting article on Tom's Hardware on the subject

 

Pro Graphics: Seven Cards Compared : Introduction - Review Tom's Hardware

 

The difference boils down to a bios and driver tweek. Not bad for charging an extra $500 for the same card!

 

Basically, what this means is unless you are doing some very highend professional CAD work you can almost certainly get away with using a £100 off the shelf OpenGL compatible gaming card. If for no other reason, as with video editing, but to free up the shared memory of on board graphics solutions.

 

Personally I'd look for Core 2 processors. Buying cache over speed. Around 4Gb ram and a £100 gaming card.

[Dos_Box]

Are they? Damn

 

Thats like saying Aston Martin are really just Renault

 

The other spec I forgot to mention was "PLEASE NOT DELL" thats what the current ones are, really not impressed with them

 

 

Oooh! So I drive an Aston! Do Astons break down a lot? If they don't then it's not an Aston

[SYNACK]

Don't touch Alienware with a barge pole, they are junk unreliable and not as fast as they claim to be. You want something really quick which actually lasts more than a day outside its warrenty period try one of these

 

HP with VoodooDNA

[Griffo]

Oooh! So I drive an Aston! Do Astons break down a lot? If they don't then it's not an Aston

 

LOL, Sorry, no offence meant but I just dont like them (they do come off rather well in an accident though) same goes for Citroen, Peugot and Fiat

[teejay]

You want to look at workstation class machines rather than standard desktops. Look at Dell, HP or Sun under the Workstation sections.

Desktop class machines really don't cut the mustard for high end stuff except games.

[Messa]

You want to look at workstation class machines rather than standard desktops. Look at Dell, HP or Sun under the Workstation sections.

Desktop class machines really don't cut the mustard for high end stuff except games.

 

^^^^

[SYNACK]

Here is the HP area that you probably want to be looking at for the best reliability and best acceleration CAD wise. I had not read the other comments and clarifications before I posted the shiny HP hotrod above

 

Mechanical Computer Aided Design

 

Featured Solutions for MCAD

 

The comments above are correct in regards to most of the graphics cards just being a bit of an onboard bios tweak away from their proffessional guises but the onboard firmware has long since been locked down very solidly and as yet I have found no reliable way to unlock them (not looking too hard though). Besides this configuration is totally unsupported along with the fact that the cooling is often more robust on the Pro cards.

 

The other big and possibly most important thing with the pro range of cards is the drivers. These are huge in comparison to the consumer ones and provide special profiles that allow for the hardware acceleration of CAD, GIS and some pro 3D rendersoftware. This is the biggest reason to get those cards as they are able to integrate with the large CAD software properly. Aditionally the drivers are locked to the pro cards so there is no easy reliable way to get this extra and in some cases massive speed boost by installing these drivers on a standard card.

 

Here is a list of certified applications that can benifit: http://h20331.www2.hp.com/Hpsub/cache/458336-0-0-225-121.html

 

Under the cost no object heading this is probably what you would be looking at:

HP xw8600 Workstation (RB438UT) specifications - HP Small & Medium Business products

 

From an astetic point of view more of a high performance commercial truck than the hot rod I recommended above but build to do a lot of work for a very long time reliably.

 

This one is probably where you would end up though if pricing was being taken into consideration:

HP xw4600 Workstation (RB461UT) specifications - HP Small & Medium Business products

Edited February 11, 2009 by SYNACK

[tmcd35]

The comments above are correct in regards to most of the graphics cards just being a bit of an onboard bios tweak away from their proffessional guises but the onboard firmware has long since been locked down very solidly and as yet I have found no reliable way to unlock them (not looking too hard though). Besides this configuration is totally unsupported along with the fact that the cooling is often more robust on the Pro cards.

 

The other big and possibly most important thing with the pro range of cards is the drivers. These are huge in comparison to the consumer ones and provide special profiles that allow for the hardware acceleration of CAD, GIS and some pro 3D rendersoftware. This is the biggest reason to get those cards as they are able to integrate with the large CAD software properly. Aditionally the drivers are locked to the pro cards so there is no easy reliable way to get this extra and in some cases massive speed boost by installing these drivers on a standard card.

 

It might be a good idea if I clarified my comment on Pro vs Consumer graphics cards. I am in no way suggesting that anyone should try and hack a consumer graphics card to accept a Pro bios and drivers.

 

What I was trying to suggest is that unless you are going to be doing some pretty high end and complex 3D rendering, it is unlikely the cost difference would justify any nominal speed gains you'll get by buying Pro over Consumer.

 

In terms of spending money, I'd look at system RAM first and foremost. Then the processor - prefering larger cache to clock speed and clock speed over cores., but if I could afford the fastest quad-core with the most cache then sure why not? Finally I'd look at the graphics. Again memory first, then processor.

 

At this level memory is likely to be a bigger bottle neck than processor speed at this level. I doubt most school Technology department would see any difference between a £100 GeForce and a £2000 Quadro Pro. A professional Jumbo Jet desinger on the other hand would.

 

As other have said you're looking a 'Workstation' class machines from the likes of HP, Lenovo and Dell.

[penfold]

I want to know how you managed to get someone to say "They will need to be capable of running 3D Graphics programs, the bigger the better, the cost is not a problem" if only more people would say this our job would be so much easier. We could actually spend the money for what was needed rather than skimping all the time:p

 

Seriously though, are the Tech dept really going to be doing stuff that needs a such high end machines? I agree with tmcd35, I doubt most tech dept would see a big enough difference in speed to justify the cost. But after reading your post I take it your Tech Dept is expanding or just in real need for an update? You might want to be a little checky and suggest to get quotes for more stuff(IWB, projector etc)

[Nedders]

@Griffo - As soon as you know the specification you are after, a quote could be provided from the forum sponsor - SCLonline!!! Just PM/email with the quantity and I will have it over to you in a jiffy

[Griffo]

I want to know how you managed to get someone to say "They will need to be capable of running 3D Graphics programs, the bigger the better, the cost is not a problem" if only more people would say this our job would be so much easier. We could actually spend the money for what was needed rather than skimping all the time:p

 

Me Too!

 

I keep asking the head for an idea of the budget but all I get is "Don't worry about it"

 

This is the second project like this in the last month and neither are going to be cheap

 

He is retiring at the end of the year, whether that has got anything to do with it I dont know, but while he is offering it we're not complaining

[john]

I'd third or fourth the nVidia Quadro / ATI CAD CAM VGA Cards, if you use Solid Works or Pro Engineer or any other from industry CAD software, if you get support from the manufacturer they always seem to ask what VGA Card are you using, if its not a real "pro" card they try and blame anything and everything on it so if they are chucking money around I'd go for the real CAD CAM cards to ensure that is a tick in that box. On top of that 4GB ram and X64 windows licences.