DarinB

Ok, I got a bit more info on the processing. I took screen shots of normal (no CAD programs open), and processing (3d model). It looks like only a few cores are working on it and the thread count didn't go up. So, I guess something with 20+ threads won't matter?

Would it be more beneficial to get something with more cores/threads or would it matter at all?

The software is Vectric V-carve Pro. It's a CAD/CAM software for designing and creating toolpaths for CNC routers.

The 18 threads is from the computer's resource monitor while calculating, not from the program specs.

It's a cad program, but it doesn't use the GPU for calculations. I'd like to keep it under $1k for the system. I don't really run anything else on it.

I am looking to upgrade my computer due to a specific program I run. I currently have it on a Lenovo Thinkpad with an i7-2760QM. It's not painfully slow, but the program will use 18 threads with 135% CPU frequency. CPU usage is about 30% when it is calculating. This is a CPU based program, not GPU. I have a Quadro GPU, but it is not even budging when the program is calculating, even though the program is set to use the Quadro. So, is it better to get something with a higher thread count than the 8 I currently have or something with a higher frequency, or both? I'm looking at a desktop this time, not laptop. Any suggestions on which way to go on the CPU? Thanks