Thread: Puter recomendations for solidworks 2012 and FeatureCAM

I'm looking for a new computer for solidworks 2012 and featureCAM. I'd like to run windows 7 64 bit. FeatureCAM wants an nvidia graphics card, and SW has quadro 2000 and 4000 graphics cards on there accepted list. I'd like to keep the cost at around 2k.

I found this z210 workstation from Hp.

CompUSA.com | VA750UT#ABA | HP Z210 VA750UT Workstation PC

What do you guys think? Anything else I should look at?

Thanks in advance

We just got new ones from dell with Quattro 4000, i7 processor, 8 gig ram and some other stff. Everything runs great. About 2k happy so far

thank you...nice post

All else being equal the build quality of the HP workstations is head and shoulders above Dell's.

My apprentice and I both use SW 2012 and FCam in the machineshop, and we are using upgraded older HP xw8400 workstations. Both have dual quad core cpus at 3Ghz and 8Gb of ram, and a 120Gb SSD. His has a AMD FirePro V3750 and mine has a Quadro FX 580. Both are low end, cheap workstation cards that handle SW and FC effortlessly (unless you're doing HUGE assemblies). The AMD card has the edge performance wise, and also FC's antialiasing works far better on the AMD.

Both are running windows 7 x64 and handle all the parts and small/medium assemblies that we work with effortlessly. The newer Xeons would probably be desirable if you're doing a lot of simulation/analysis, but honestly I do a fair bit of that and haven't felt the need to upgrade yet.

I cannot understate the performance benefit of using an SSD instead of a conventional hard drive for this kind of work!

Originally Posted by Edster

I'm looking for a new computer for solidworks 2012 and featureCAM. I'd like to run windows 7 64 bit. FeatureCAM wants an nvidia graphics card, and SW has quadro 2000 and 4000 graphics cards on there accepted list. I'd like to keep the cost at around 2k.

I found this z210 workstation from Hp.

CompUSA.com | VA750UT#ABA | HP Z210 VA750UT Workstation PC

What do you guys think? Anything else I should look at?

Thanks in advance

SOLD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



....Just add more RAM at least 8k more to get around 12k. RAM is cheap and will allows bigger swap files so the hard drive isn't working so hard, wich make SW run better.

Originally Posted by len_1962

SOLD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



....Just add more RAM at least 8k more to get around 12k. RAM is cheap and will allows bigger swap files so the hard drive isn't working so hard, wich make SW run better.

Wouldn't an I7 be better than a Xeon?

Originally Posted by dstryr

Wouldn't an I7 be better than a Xeon?

here's a link to that same ?

Xeon Vs i7

Xeon vs i7 Processors

cpu - What is the difference between an Intel i7 and a Xeon quad core processor? - Super User

Originally Posted by len_1962

here's a link to that same ?

Xeon Vs i7

Xeon vs i7 Processors

cpu - What is the difference between an Intel i7 and a Xeon quad core processor? - Super User

I guess nothing lol .

Nividia quadro fx 2800m

soild state hard drive

64 bit

i7

windows virtual xp mode


I have not come across a program i couldn't run

Originally Posted by dstryr

Wouldn't an I7 be better than a Xeon?

If they're from the same family/architecture, they actually come from the same wafer. The chips that pass the highest performance threshold tests are selected as Xeons. The rest are I7s, and among those, the higher performing chips get a higher clock speed.

The Xeons are more or less a waste of money for a CAD/CAM machine since the CPU isn't the bottleneck. The money is better spent toward a higher end Quadro card, higher capacity SSD, or a larger monitor.

Xeons are more often use on servers as well as gaming machines, where the user overclocks the CPU. The I7s cannot be overclocked, so I7 gamers overclock the motherboard instead, which can cause more problems.

from an Intel employee.


1.Re: Xeon Vs i7


Jennifer Sanati Apr 12, 2011 10:07 PM (in response to Tlaloc)



If your primary usage for this system is 3D modeling, I recommend an Intel Xeon E3-based workstation with the Xeon E3-1270 SKU for comparable price/performance - additional performance details here. Intel Xeon-based systems also support Error Correcting Code (ECC) memory that delivers enhanced reliability by automatically detecting and correcting memory errors.



If instead you’re mainly interested in a system for gaming purposes and you plan to overclock the CPU, the 2nd Gen Core i7-2600K is probably optimal as it supports overclocking which is often desirable for high-end desktop, gaming applications.

Thanks for the advise guys, I ended up ordering the HP Z210 yesterday from compusa. We've got a sales guy from compusa and he knocked off about a hundo from the sale price. It showed up today and looks like a nice puter. I like the plane jane case, and there's lots of room inside. We'll see how good it works tomorrow when I get SW installed.

Memory is cheap while it's still in production, so I max it out ASAP when I build or buy a system:

RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, SSD at Crucial.com

I have the dell XPS 15 custom ordered with everything in the world you can imagine. My dad is a CIO and he has been doing computers for as long as they have been around, so I am fairly knowledgeable. I run solidworks 2012, all of the adobe suite, gibbscam, and just a few other programs. I got all sorts of goodies, and I'm sure there is better available now, but the things I would recommend for sure....

Nvidia Graphics card,
I7 Processor,
Crucial m4 Solid State hard drive (A MUST!!) Solidworks and Gibbs boot sooooooooooooo much faster, Computer went from booting in 53 seconds to 12 seconds lol.
9 hour battery. Lasts about 5-7 while running Solidworks continuously.

I have these things on my xps 15 and it works great. I can design and program all at the same time. I may have 10 parts open and try and render in photoview, and of course no issues. Hope this helps

save some money and build your own computer. You'll get a better computer for the price. Also you will get quality parts...not walmart's crap. I've been using solidworks for many many years now, with many new and used computers. Their "apporved" graphics cards are not near as "approved" as they claim. I would get the biggest graphics card availabile, I7 or better. Also make sure you have some upgrading capabilities down the road. I just build a compture for my brother in law. it supports up to 32 gig of ram. Windows 7 64bit is also a must.

Rader - Jesus, you have no idea on what your talking about. The cpu is the bottleneck...faster processor/cpu the faster you can render.

I built so many computers... My workstation at home is an I7 (3770K) overclocked to 4.8ghz. I will snap a picture of my workstation when I get home... computer is watercooled running 3 intels ssd, 4 moniters, 3 graphics cards, two 1tb storages.. plus server storage..16gb of ram. All less then you spent on that one workstation.



I wish you would have waited.. I could have built you a computer with 6 core I7 with two ssd in raid 0 (fast).

SSD are best thing in the computer world

Originally Posted by m98custom1212

Rader - Jesus, you have no idea on what your talking about. The cpu is the bottleneck...faster processor/cpu the faster you can render.

I built so many computers... My workstation at home is an I7 (3770K) overclocked to 4.8ghz. I will snap a picture of my workstation when I get home... computer is watercooled running 3 intels ssd, 4 moniters, 3 graphics cards, two 1tb storages.. plus server storage..16gb of ram. All less then you spent on that one workstation.



I wish you would have waited.. I could have built you a computer with 6 core I7 with two ssd in raid 0 (fast).

SSD are best thing in the computer world

Be quiet. The only thing radar is wrong about is that i7's can't be oc'd. Xeon's and i7's of the same arch are from the same wafer (recent gens at least). The Xeons are higher binned and have the ECC circuitry intact. OP is using featurecam and solidworks, rendering is of no concern whatsoever. i7 or Xeon will both be fine. There is more to be gained here from the 8-16 available cores using Xeons than the higher clock of the i7. Geometry performance and full OGL compliance of the GPU are the critical factors. For example, my HD7970 in my home pc flat out destroys my quadro in my workstation at work in solidworks for shaded, but switch to either of the hidden line display modes and it chokes. So unless your three graphics cards happen to SLI'd quadros or crossfire'd firepros noone is interested. They're not anyway, or your computer would have cost several times MORE than his workstation.

And lastly, NEVER EVER EVER use raid 0 for important work.

Originally Posted by gregormarwick

Be quiet. The only thing radar is wrong about is that i7's can't be oc'd. Xeon's and i7's of the same arch are from the same wafer (recent gens at least). The Xeons are higher binned and have the ECC circuitry intact. OP is using featurecam and solidworks, rendering is of no concern whatsoever. i7 or Xeon will both be fine. There is more to be gained here from the 8-16 available cores using Xeons than the higher clock of the i7. Geometry performance and full OGL compliance of the GPU are the critical factors. For example, my HD7970 in my home pc flat out destroys my quadro in my workstation at work in solidworks for shaded, but switch to either of the hidden line display modes and it chokes. So unless your three graphics cards happen to SLI'd quadros or crossfire'd firepros noone is interested. They're not anyway, or your computer would have cost several times MORE than his workstation.

And lastly, NEVER EVER EVER use raid 0 for important work.

Yes they are same arch (same socket) hence why you put an i7 and xeon in the same motherboard

I dont use raid 0 for important work.. Why do you think I have server? and two 1tb storage drives in raid 1?

If you would look you would see that quardo are being phased out.. The most powerful quardo card is like 8800gt gaming card..

What processor do you have at home? What do you think your using when your calculating them toolpaths? Your gpu?

Another thing no such thing as a 16 core xeon... its 8 cores 16 threads mirroring 16 cores... That processor is $2000+ anyways

The point is I have more performance.. more monitors.. for less money

I would have told him to look at 2600K, 3770K, 3930K good heatsink and overclock it.

Originally Posted by m98custom1212

Yes they are same arch (same socket) hence why you put an i7 and xeon in the same motherboard

I dont use raid 0 for important work.. Why do you think I have server? and two 1tb storage drives in raid 1?

If you would look you would see that quardo are being phased out.. The most powerful quardo card is like 8800gt gaming card..

What processor do you have at home? What do you think your using when your calculating them toolpaths? Your gpu?

Another thing no such thing as a 16 core xeon... its 8 cores 16 threads mirroring 16 cores... That processor is $2000+ anyways

The point is I have more performance.. more monitors.. for less money

I would have told him to look at 2600K, 3770K, 3930K good heatsink and overclock it.

OK.

Fair enough you have a server with twin drives in raid 1. You didn't say that. You said you'd build him a pc with twin SSD's in raid 0.

Quadro ain't getting phased out. The 4600/5600 G80 (8800) based quadros came out in 2007. Yes they lag the consumer releases a bit, but not that much. AMD are better in that respect.

I have a 2600K at home. Yes it calculates toolpaths. So what?

Never said there was a 16 core Xeon. Traditional 16 core workstation is quad/quad. My workstation is dual/quad. Physical cores. Yes they are expensive.

Certainly you have greater performance for your application, which would appear to be gaming. I built my home pc for gaming too. The i7 is a great processor, but the Xeon will always outperform it for truly CPU intensive workloads. Remember that hyperthreading is absolutely worthless if the physical core is at 100% utilisation, and true parallelism will get you there quicker than fast clocks for this kind of work. Featurecam and solidworks are both multithreaded. And once more, even if you have three SLI'd 690's in your rig it won't do you the blindest bit of good in either app since they will only ever use a fraction of the capacity of the geometry engine and practically none of the fill rate, but they still won't work all they great since the drivers don't fully support them.

Thanks for all the advice everyone

I thought I'd post an update.

I got the z210 and really like the puter. It's much faster than what I'm used to. Windows 7 works well too. I wasn't impressed with vista on my wifes computer so I was a little nervous at first. There are still a few things I don't like about 7 compaired to xp but if given more time to acclimate I might not even care.

I ended up maxing out the ram at 32g of ECC memory. The puter could take 16g of non ECC or 32g of ECC so I figured might as well max it out that way a few years from now I'm not going to have to hunt down memory. Around here puters start on my desk and as I get newer ones the old ones find other jobs around the shop that don't need the latest and greatest so it will be here for a while.

Now for my next dillema. Friday morning the puter doesn't want to boot. I figured it was because I installed some optional updates the day before. So I get it to boot in safe mode and try to uninstall the updates. Couldn't get to windows update in safe mode so I couldn't figure out what was installed to uninstall it. Try to go back with a restore point to find out that restore points were not enabled in the computer and I forgot to even look at this so got nowhere with that one. Then I backed up all my files that I could in safe mode. To my surprise the computer booted normally. I didn't trust it so I re-booted it again and got a SMART warning of imminent failure on my c drive. Just when I got all my programs installed and everything set up the way I like it too. So I went out and bought a spare 500g hdd and installed it and backed up my system with windows backup.

So now what should I do? Install a new hdd. Maybe two in a raid 1 so I don't have to worry about it again. I have an extra hdd installed so I can setup windows backup to backup the my documents folder every day so maybe I dont need the raid 1. I was thinking about a new ssd, maybe a crucial m4 500g drive. Would be a perfect time to install it, but how long will it last. I'm pretty sure it will outlast the first one though

Now how to re-install the os and my programs. I can either do a clean install of win 7 and reinstall all my programs. Or I can use the system backup I made to install everything the way it was. There wasn't too much junk installed originally but there were a few programs I'd like to git rid of.

Btw, I'm not upset at HP or the computer itself. I've had a lot of computers and this is only the second (knock on wood) hard drive failure I've had. It kinda sucks though both of them were on new computers.