Machines for AutoCAD

[ionoxx]

Guhday all!

I require a little assistance. I don't use or know AutoCAD but a friend of mine is having a hard time with some work he has to do with AutoCAD 2005.

He has an AMD Athlon 1.33GHz, 512MB PC2100 and a 40GB Hard drive. The AutoCAD file he's trying to work with is 5MB, and from what i've seen from my girlfriend's 37KB AutoCAD homework, 5MB sounds huge.

His machine keep's locking up when he tries to view different layers and is generally slow. My question is, will adding more ram fix the problem or will a new build with a much faster processor be required?

 

[albundee]

there probably is a cheaper, and faster solution for your problem.

but i'd build a whole new rig all together.

Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB DDR2 (or more - my friend who's an architect who lives and breathes CAD uses 4GB of ram loves it)
WD Raptor (to load cad, do ur work, not really a storage kinda drive)

that will give u some major improvements right there. especially for CAD

 

[ionoxx]

Is AutoCAD more CPU intensive? Memory Intensive? Or even HD intensive?

I'm thinking not HD cause its a 5MB file. Load time is not an issue as much as speed while working.

 

[pkme2]

You can check how a CAD computer is put together.

Here's the info.

Ready made, you have Dell, HP and IBM. Using AutoCAD requires a workstation and ordinary computers need not apply.

If your friend is having problems with AutoCAD, then the problem is with the computer.

 

[zephyrprime]

If you're serious you'll want a workstation graphics card (quadro or firegl). Those are expensive by the way.

 

[ionoxx]

But if i want to build a machine on a budget, for 2D AutoCAD. He's an architect. His current junkbox has a commit charge of 256MB of ram when opening that file. CPU would be the limit or will the Quadro really do something as well.

Cause i was thinking:

Antec NSK6500 Case
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Skt AM2
1GB OCZ DDR2 Value Pro
ASUS M2NPV-VM
Seagate 7200.10 250GB SATA

and using the integrated video.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

dude... CAD is all about the graphics card.. Integrated is a joke. If hes serious, then forget budget and get a Quadro or FireGL. CPU would still be best as a Core 2 Duo. And a good amount of memory. Once again depending on how intense hes going he'll want a minimum of 2GB and may want 4 or beyond if he does heavy work.

 

[ionoxx]

Even with 2D AutoCAD? The graphics car does that much?

 

[RebateMonger]

I have two client offices that do AutoCAD full time. Both offices are full of unimpressive PCs. 2.0-2.4GHz P4s. Many have 512MB of RAM and are using cheap graphics cards.

I find this a bit weird. I'd expect them to be using dual monitors and fast CPUs. Not a single one does.

 

[pkme2]

It seems that you may not have a proper understanding of what is necessary to work with AutoCAD.

You need a decent processor and a better than average graphics card. If you linked to the above Link here you would get an understanding of what suggested to work with AutoCAD.

You can ask more questions, but it won't get the right answers you need to solve your dilemna.