Engineering PhD student PC specifications

[Rashmi Wijesundara]

Hello I am a Phd student in biomedical engineering focusing on robotics. I need a PC for running solid works, MATLAB, visual studio code, Ansys, ROS and maybe someother simulation and machine learning softwares.

I am looking at two options from Dell technologies

1. Precision 3260 Compact Workstation
2. Precision 3660 Tower Workstation

I was wondering if these options are okay or is it better to have a Xeon Processor? or are there any recommendations from DELL.

Thank you

[Electronics Wizardy]

Does it need to be from dell?

Whats your budget?

 

The compact version mostly limits your GPU options, and limits CPU a bit with the not as good thermals. You also don't have additional slots if you need those. 

 

I'd o i5/i7/i9. The xeons don't make much sense unless your spending a good amount more of a xeon W system.

[starsmine]

your department may have some recommended specifications based off of the software you are using. 

[Rashmi Wijesundara]

22 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Does it need to be from dell?

Whats your budget?

 

The compact version mostly limits your GPU options, and limits CPU a bit with the not as good thermals. You also don't have additional slots if you need those. 

 

I'd o i5/i7/i9. The xeons don't make much sense unless your spending a good amount more of a xeon W system.

Thank you for the response. Yes our university prefers to buy from DELL.  There's no specific budget, but i would prefer something less than 3000 dollars, can go up to 5000 if its justifiable. Can you recommend me something good from the DELL website? 

[Rashmi Wijesundara]

22 hours ago, starsmine said:

your department may have some recommended specifications based off of the software you are using. 

Thank you for the response . Its my advisor who is getting it for me, so i was told to choose one.