Help Me Build a PC for autoCAD

[birdflyer]

Budget (including currency): $1,250, but under $1,000 preferred

Country: Merica

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: autoCAD Civil 3D

_______________________________________________________________________________

Greetings Community,

1. I am working to build a system that will be used for autoCAD Civil 3D and other surveying related programs. The most prevalent part of this build is the possibility of needing "certified graphics hardware." (This would be cards like the Radeon Pro W7500 etc.--check the link above.) However, I am not convinced that this build will actually need a certified GPU, as I have a friend that also uses Civil 3D for surveying on a RTX 3060 mobile without any known issues. I have compiled some possible builds, and I would love to hear whether AMD or Intel would be better to go with because, I am frankly confused.
2. My understanding is that while Civil 3D benefits from a decent GPU, it is primarily CPU bound, and thus something equivalent to a 3060 should be more than adequate (PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!).
3. An additional note is that this build will need to be reliability focused, as the individual using this would like to use it for a very, very long time. To put it into perspective, he is just now retiring is XPS from 2004 (20 YEARS OLD!).

AMD BUILD:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/NgbYL9

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor  ($305.97 @ Amazon)
• Motherboard: Gigabyte B650M DS3H Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard  ($119.99 @ Amazon)
• Memory: Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory  ($93.99 @ Amazon)
• Storage: Patriot Viper VP4300 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
• Case: be quiet! Pure Base 600 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.90 @ B&H)
• Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS PLUS 850 Gold 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($109.99 @ Newegg)
• GPU: AMD Radeon Pro W7500 ($429.00)

Total: $1213.83

 

INTEL BUILD:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/4QDvbL

• CPU: Intel Core i5-13600KF 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor  ($250.00 @ Amazon)
• CPU Cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black CPU Cooler  ($29.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
• Motherboard: Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard  ($134.99 @ Amazon)
• Memory: Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory  ($93.99 @ Amazon)
• Storage: Patriot Viper VP4300 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
• Case: be quiet! Pure Base 600 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.90 @ B&H)
• Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS PLUS 850 Gold 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($109.99 @ Newegg)
• GPU: AMD Radeon Pro W7500 ($429.00)

Total: $1202.85

 

BUILD WITHOUT CERTIFIED GPU, BUT HIGHER TIER POWER DELIVERY FOR (WHAT IS HOPED TO BE) ADDED RELIABILITY AND LONGEVITY:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Lmqfh3

• CPU: Intel Core i5-13600KF 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor  ($250.00 @ Amazon)
• CPU Cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black CPU Cooler  ($29.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
• Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 AERO G ATX LGA1700 Motherboard  ($219.99 @ Amazon)
• Memory: Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory  ($93.99 @ Amazon)
• Storage: Patriot Viper VP4300 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
• Video Card: MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ventus 2X 12G GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 12 GB Video Card  ($279.99 @ B&H)
• Case: Antec P10 FLUX ATX Mid Tower Case  ($74.99 @ Newegg)
• Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS Plus Platinum 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($159.88 @ Amazon)

Total: $1173.82
 

[PC HEROES]

2 hours ago, birdflyer said:

Budget (including currency): $1,250, but under $1,000 preferred

Country: Merica

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: autoCAD Civil 3D

_______________________________________________________________________________

Greetings Community,

1. I am working to build a system that will be used for autoCAD Civil 3D and other surveying related programs. The most prevalent part of this build is the possibility of needing "certified graphics hardware." (This would be cards like the Radeon Pro W7500 etc.--check the link above.) However, I am not convinced that this build will actually need a certified GPU, as I have a friend that also uses Civil 3D for surveying on a RTX 3060 mobile without any known issues. I have compiled some possible builds, and I would love to hear whether AMD or Intel would be better to go with because, I am frankly confused.
2. My understanding is that while Civil 3D benefits from a decent GPU, it is primarily CPU bound, and thus something equivalent to a 3060 should be more than adequate (PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG!).
3. An additional note is that this build will need to be reliability focused, as the individual using this would like to use it for a very, very long time. To put it into perspective, he is just now retiring is XPS from 2004 (20 YEARS OLD!).

AMD BUILD:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/NgbYL9

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700 3.6 GHz 8-Core Processor  ($305.97 @ Amazon)
• Motherboard: Gigabyte B650M DS3H Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard  ($119.99 @ Amazon)
• Memory: Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory  ($93.99 @ Amazon)
• Storage: Patriot Viper VP4300 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
• Case: be quiet! Pure Base 600 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.90 @ B&H)
• Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS PLUS 850 Gold 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($109.99 @ Newegg)
• GPU: AMD Radeon Pro W7500 ($429.00)

Total: $1213.83

 

INTEL BUILD:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/4QDvbL

• CPU: Intel Core i5-13600KF 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor  ($250.00 @ Amazon)
• CPU Cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black CPU Cooler  ($29.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
• Motherboard: Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard  ($134.99 @ Amazon)
• Memory: Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory  ($93.99 @ Amazon)
• Storage: Patriot Viper VP4300 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
• Case: be quiet! Pure Base 600 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($89.90 @ B&H)
• Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS PLUS 850 Gold 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($109.99 @ Newegg)
• GPU: AMD Radeon Pro W7500 ($429.00)

Total: $1202.85

 

BUILD WITHOUT CERTIFIED GPU, BUT HIGHER TIER POWER DELIVERY FOR (WHAT IS HOPED TO BE) ADDED RELIABILITY AND LONGEVITY:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Lmqfh3

• CPU: Intel Core i5-13600KF 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor  ($250.00 @ Amazon)
• CPU Cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock 2 Black CPU Cooler  ($29.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
• Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 AERO G ATX LGA1700 Motherboard  ($219.99 @ Amazon)
• Memory: Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory  ($93.99 @ Amazon)
• Storage: Patriot Viper VP4300 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($64.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
• Video Card: MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ventus 2X 12G GeForce RTX 3060 12GB 12 GB Video Card  ($279.99 @ B&H)
• Case: Antec P10 FLUX ATX Mid Tower Case  ($74.99 @ Newegg)
• Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS Plus Platinum 750 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($159.88 @ Amazon)

Total: $1173.82
 

Hello. I was looking over you lists and I came up with one of my own for you and it is under your budget. I switched out a lot of things for better parts overall and was even able to save you a good bit of money.

 

1. I changed the CPU to a Intel Core i5 12600KF. The Intel CPUs are known to be more reliable and might last a lot longer.

 

2. I went with a much better quality Motherboard. An ASUS PROART B760. It has fantastic VRMs to help Cool the Board so that it lasts much longer.

 

3. I threw in a Low Profile Air Cooler for the CPU hoping that it will be low enough to not only Cool the CPU but the VRMs as well. Having a Tower style Cooler would not get the added benefit of helping with the VRMs.

 

4. To save money I went with a DDR4 Motherboard so that you could save even more on the RAM. 32GB 2x16GB 3200MHz CL16 to have a speedy PC.

 

5. I was able to get you 2TB of Blazing Fast M.2 Gen4 Storage. It also has 2GB of DRAM Cache to help load things even quicker.

 

6. I stuck with the same RADEON PRO GPU that you had.

 

7. I had to change the Case that you had for one with better Airflow, The PURE Base 600 had next to no intake ventilation. So I went with the Be Quiet! Pure Base 500DX. It has a Full Mesh Front Panel and 3 140mm Fans. If you don't like the RGB then just turn it off with the RGB Software from ASUS or Be Quiet!. Also I would take the Fan that is in the top of the Case and add it to the Front.

 

8. I switched out the PSU that you had for a lower Wattage one but still more than enough to power everything.

 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/vm8BTY

 

CPU: Intel Core i5-12600KF 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor  ($140.00 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright SI-100 72.37 CFM CPU Cooler  ($26.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus PROART B760-CREATOR D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard  ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Silicon Power GAMING 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory  ($50.97 @ Amazon)
Storage: Acer Predator GM7000 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($93.50 @ Amazon)
Case: be quiet! Pure Base 500DX ATX Mid Tower Case  ($79.90 @ Newegg Sellers)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 - TT Premium 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($79.99 @ Newegg)
Custom: AMD Radeon Pro W7500 ($429.00)
Total: $1030.25

 

If you have any questions please let me know. I can be reached here or I can be reached much quicker on Discord. Here is my Discord: Wizardsnapper#2772

[birdflyer]

6 hours ago, PC HEROES said:

I changed the CPU to a Intel Core i5 12600KF. The Intel CPUs are known to be more reliable and might last a lot longer.

This is an interesting choice, but I like it due to possible upgrade path from 12th gen to 14th gen in the future. Likewise, it does cut about $100 off the build, which might be necessary if I need to lower the costs a bit.

 

7 hours ago, PC HEROES said:

I went with a much better quality Motherboard. An ASUS PROART B760. It has fantastic VRMs to help Cool the Board so that it lasts much longer.

This board does seem to be decent, especially for the price with a rebate. If I am able to order the components before the rebate ends, this might be what I go for. However...

7 hours ago, PC HEROES said:

To save money I went with a DDR4 Motherboard so that you could save even more on the RAM. 32GB 2x16GB 3200MHz CL16 to have a speedy PC.

I am hesitant to go DDR4 in a new build these days--especially one that will be upgraded/need to last as long as possible. If I go with DDR4, I might as well go with an AM4 build, as I think I can actually get better price-to-performance for an EOL platform.

 

7 hours ago, PC HEROES said:

I threw in a Low Profile Air Cooler for the CPU hoping that it will be low enough to not only Cool the CPU but the VRMs as well. Having a Tower style Cooler would not get the added benefit of helping with the VRMs.

I like this idea, it's not something I had given much thought to, so I might just go with a non-tower cooler. Alternatively, I could also install more fans, which probably isn't a bad idea anyway.

7 hours ago, PC HEROES said:

I was able to get you 2TB of Blazing Fast M.2 Gen4 Storage. It also has 2GB of DRAM Cache to help load things even quicker.

The quoted TBW for this drive is about half of what I would like for an endurance focused system. The GM7000 has a rated 1300 TBW at 2TB, where the VP4300 at 2TB is rated for 2000 TBW. Likewise, the individual using this computer won't need more than 1TB; if he does, it can be upgraded.

7 hours ago, PC HEROES said:

I stuck with the same RADEON PRO GPU that you had.

This is actually the component that I still have the most questions about. Not sure that I need to spend $500 on a $200 GPU for Civil 3D...

7 hours ago, PC HEROES said:

I had to change the Case that you had for one with better Airflow, The PURE Base 600 had next to no intake ventilation. So I went with the Be Quiet! Pure Base 500DX. It has a Full Mesh Front Panel and 3 140mm Fans. If you don't like the RGB then just turn it off with the RGB Software from ASUS or Be Quiet!. Also I would take the Fan that is in the top of the Case and add it to the Front.

Understandable, I forgot to mention that the individual using this computer will need a 5.25" bay for an optical drive. Likewise, the case should look professional and feel quality. I agree that the PURE Base 600 doesn't have great airflow. I could switch over to the Fractal Pop mini though, as it has a mesh front as well as a place for a 5.25" drive. However, I am not a huge fan of the glass side panel and the more flashy appearance for this build. Nevertheless, I am undecided. If the individual didn't need a 5.25"  bay, I would probably get the Fractal North, due to its professional appearance, quality build, and decent airflow.

 

7 hours ago, PC HEROES said:

I switched out the PSU that you had for a lower Wattage one but still more than enough to power everything.

Well, yes, you are correct that I don't need quite that much wattage, but I wouldn't trust this PSU for almost any build, let alone an endurance focused build. The PSU is one of the most vital components to an endurance focused build. Due to the limited information on the reliability of power supplies, it is difficult to determine what's actually decent, but I will say that I would rather overspend on this component than end up having issues down the road.

 

 

Overall, thanks for your input, you gave some great feedback!

 

[brob]

12 hours ago, birdflyer said:

However, I am not convinced that this build will actually need a certified GPU, as I have a friend that also uses Civil 3D for surveying on a RTX 3060 mobile without any known issues.

 

Autodesk does not certify gaming GPU for use with AutoCAD. That said, its system requirements for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024 do not require a workstation GPU. The specification is for a GPU with 8GB VRAM and DirectX 12. See https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-Autodesk-Civil-3D-2024.html

 

Consider an i5-13500. It runs cooler than the other CPU mentioned in this thread and has performance just below the 7700X and i5-13600KF.

 

The RTX 4060 has better DirectX 12 and general performance than either the RTX 3060 or W7500.

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-13500 2.5 GHz 14-Core Processor  ($247.49 @ Newegg) 
CPU Cooler: Deepcool AK400 66.47 CFM CPU Cooler  ($27.99 @ Amazon) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte B760 AORUS ELITE AX ATX LGA1700 Motherboard  ($156.99 @ Amazon) 
Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory  ($89.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Western Digital Black SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive  ($114.99 @ Adorama) 
Video Card: Asus DUAL OC GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB Video Card  ($299.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Fractal Design Pop Air ATX Mid Tower Case  ($79.99 @ B&H) 
Power Supply: be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply  ($73.50 @ Newegg Sellers) 
Total: $1090.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-11-23 13:31 EST-0500

[birdflyer]

On 11/23/2023 at 10:38 AM, brob said:

Autodesk does not certify gaming GPU for use with AutoCAD. That said, its system requirements for AutoCAD Civil 3D 2024 do not require a workstation GPU. The specification is for a GPU with 8GB VRAM and DirectX 12. See https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-Autodesk-Civil-3D-2024.html

 

Consider an i5-13500. It runs cooler than the other CPU mentioned in this thread and has performance just below the 7700X and i5-13600KF.

 

The RTX 4060 has better DirectX 12 and general performance than either the RTX 3060 or W7500.

Hey, thanks for the great insight--I will definitely consider this info!