Building a system for Solidworks/Autocad

[mnewsham]

With a pre-built like that you are probably going to get a bare minimum PSU (only enough to run what they gave you) Depending on the case configuration i would get a decent 550Watt PSU and a GTX 460 1gb.

 

[Davidh373]

The graphics card seems like it should be inadequate but have not tried it yet. Are there any gaming (specifically, since I need to keep my costs down) cards that would work well with the software listed? Thanks

I myself (for 3D) would go with at minimum a 470 (prolly a 570 these days) and a 650W psu. Make your own thread, give us a budget and we'll be able to assist you with more accuracy.

 

[mfenn]

Hi all,

I'm kind of lost here. I am a graduate architecture student. I just got a course description and we will be using the following software this semester:

3d Studio Max 2011 (with Vray v2.0)
Autocad 2011
Rhino 4.0
CS5 (photoshop, illustrator, premiere intensive)

I have purchased a HP Pavilion Elite HPE-570t

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2600 quad-core processor with Turbo-Boost [up to 3.8GHz, 8MB cache]
8GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM [4 DIMMs]
1GB ATI Radeon HD 5450 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter]

The graphics card seems like it should be inadequate but have not tried it yet. Are there any gaming (specifically, since I need to keep my costs down) cards that would work well with the software listed? Thanks

For future reference you should have started a new thread instead of (unintentionally) hijacking this one.

Anywho, I would try the software with you current GPU first. As mnewsham said, upgrading it is probably going to be a PITA in an HP.

 

[yh125d]

With such a strong CPU, I'd bet you'd be fine with the system as-is. You'll just be doing student learn-y stuff probably, not super intense pro work. Either way, try it out before you buy anything else

 

[Techcam]

Have you ever used SolidWorks? Unigraphics? IDEAS? CATIA?

This is NOT about how many polygons/second the card can handle. It's about support!!!

If the OP puts a gaming card in there, loads up SolidWorks and it crashes he has to call SolidWorks for support. When they hear he doesn't have a Quadro card in there, ... the only thing he's gonna hear is 'click'.

Got it?

Hi folks. I'm new here but i couldn't help but concur with KGB. You sound like a CAD/CAM guy and know what you're talking about. That being said.....I do Acad 3d modeling and am familiar with the programs you mention (Proe, Solidworks, Inventor, etc.) I would think that the Quadro FX380 is Solidworks certified and the best bet. If the user is going to do any design with features such as knurling or chrome plating then the integrated video or GeForce or gaming type cards will not work. If finite element analysis is being performed....erroneous results may be produced unless the Solidworks certified adapter is used. I used to get away with ATI and intergrated type adapters for simple Autocad training and learning 2d blue prints, but SW requires you to stick with their criteria. Solidworks and KGB is correct. Anything else is just conjecture and the user will be disappointed. Just my $.02.....

 

[Techcam]

This is a follow up to my previous post about the graphics adapter for Solidworks 2009-2011. I have just purchased the ATI Firepro V3800 and have found it works excellent for Soildworks and Autocad and many other applications. Purchase around $109.

 

[PG]

I know I am really late to the party for this thread, but I wanted to make a point just in case other people are searching for info on video cards for solidworks or other professional applications.

One point is that there is a bigger difference between professional video cards and gaming cards that just support. Professional cards have certain features enabled that gaming cards do not. Because the pro cards have these extra features enabled, they have a much higher performance in apps like Solidworks, Pro/E, etc.
Here is a good example: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-firepro-v8700,2154-10.html

That is a professional CAD type benchmark done using an ATI 4870, and it's professional counterpart, the FirePro V8700. The cards have the same GPU, but they have different drivers and perform very differently in professional apps. The FirePro card is 3 or 4 times faster across the board, and I bet more accurate in what gets displayed on the screen too. No, you can't simply install the pro drivers for the 4870, it won't work that way.
So a weak pro card can smoke a high end gaming card in pro apps. I have seen benchmarks showing this. I can't find it now, but I remember one test where an 8800gt got destroyed by the quadro equivalient of an 8600GT in Solidworks, and the quadro equivalent had slower memory than a real 8600GT.

Also note that you don't get Realview in Solidworks unless you have a professional card.
And no, the pro cards are not faster at games because of their unlocked professional capabilities. In fact they are slower at games.

So just understand the pro cards have big performance differences, are more accurate for rendering, and you get support.
But if you are on a tight budget and can't afford one, lots of people use gaming cards and are productive.
I just want people to be more aware before spending money.