What kind of system would you guys recommend for someone using AutoCad?

[XcvcX]

This guy comes by work quite often and asked me if I could find out what kind of system would be best for using Auto Cad. He's taking classes and basically getting into that field.


Thanks!

 

[Sardaukar]

Well, seeing as I run AutoCAD off a home computer build, I can recommend highly what you'll want.

First step - Multiple Monitors, You'll want to use an Nvidia CUDA supported card so you can run 3 monitors. 2 monitors is bare minimum for CAD because you can transfer different drawing segments to different screens. VERY important for user-productivity. As far as a graphics card, I would recommend at least one of the 5xx series, preferably a 560, or 570 series. The reason for this, to get more then two monitors with an AMD card, you have to buy an active link Mini-Display-Port adapter which runs right around $100-130 for the bare minimum, whereas with an Nvidia display setup, you can just hook up 3 monitors and go. Being an AMD fanboy doesnt cut it for an actual workstation, you wont be running designs any quicker with a pricier card. Don't worry abot getting an FX series card, those are absolute work beasts for doing video design and editing/photoshopping, not needed for CAD work.

Get an SSD (Solid-State Drive). Again, its all about productivity and making sure things load up and transfer quickly, a simple 128gb Sata 2 or Sata 3 SSD will do wonders for making things run smoothly.





CPU - 4/6 cores cores, all around, get yourself either an Intel or AMD chip, if your getting an AMD - I would recommend the 1060T, for Intel either an i5 2600k, or an i7.

RAM/Memory - 4 gigs works for smaller projects, but try not to skimp and get yourself 8+ gigs of memory to work with, even a medium sized project can bog you down if you aren't careful.

The most important things all around are listed there, for running Auto CAD. VERY IMPORTANT - make sure you actually enable CUDA support in the Software, You have to manually go into the program settings to enable it.. that alone will make a night and day difference!

 

[Jolin88]

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To get more than two monitors with amd you need nothing at all
my Radeon HD6950 supports 4 screens, stock, no cables, no nothing extra needed

also : CUDA has nothing to do with multiple screens, CUDA is a way to use graphic cards for CPU calculations

 

[Sardaukar]

also : CUDA has nothing to do with multiple screens, CUDA is a way to use graphic cards for CPU calculations

No poop, really? Why do you think I said it has to be enabled in the software for CAD to put it to use? I never said anything about it being used for multiple screens. Do you think I'm new to computers?


As far as 'supporting 4 screens', I claim bullcrap, and say that you havent ever actually TRIED it before, have you? I can guarantee to you, with AMD's crap multi monitor support, you NEED active link connectors. I shoudl know, my current CAD computer is using an HD6950, and while ALL the boxing and tech support says it will support "up to 4 monitors, 6 with active link TPI's" What they dont tell you, is that anythign after 2 monitors requires a USB powered active Mini-DP plug. What they ALSO dont tell you, is that they support 'passive' link's in their list and claim it works, and they run about 60-70 bucks for one.. but in fact they dont work. I had to spend an extra $240 buying 2 active link's just to support the monitors I was using. And that price is on top of the already expensive graphics card.



Save some money, use Nvidia when going CAD and multiple monitors.