CAD Workstation

[NRAWhite]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at building a workstation for CAD work, I will be using primarily SolidWorks. I am unsure what would be best, I am currently using a Lenovo laptop equipped with an i5 5200U (2.2GHz) and a Nvidia GT series GPU. I am completely okay with used hardware and want to keep the price to a minimum. I would like it to be fairly small (mATX) if possible and quiet too. Any input would be great Thanks!

 

I am in the UK so GBBP would be great.

[HansEberhart]

whats the exact budget?

 

Du you want to render or just create models with this PC?

[NRAWhite]

1 minute ago, HansEberhart said:

whats the exact budget?

 

Du you want to render or just create models with this PC?

I don't have an exact budget; at the moment, but as little as possible. And i would be rendering a few things, mainly just design though.

[Zeinone]

1 minute ago, NRAWhite said:

I don't have an exact budget; at the moment, but as little as possible. And i would be rendering a few things, mainly just design though.

monitor(s) needed, peripherals? Or just the PC hardware and the case ?

[NRAWhite]

1 minute ago, Zeinone said:

monitor(s) needed, peripherals? Or just the PC hardware and the case ?

I have 1600x900 monitor now and have all the other peripherals required. I would like a new pair of monitors, but not necessary. I will pick them up as and when.

[HansEberhart]

okay. I think you should get atleast 8Gb ram 16Gb is better but more expensive and a Intel CPU since those are better in per core performance.

As GPU i would recommend a Nvidia gtx or a cheap Quadro for rendering since the majority of render egines can use those (Vray for instance).

Mobo could be a generic mATX one if you dont plan to overclock it

And case mabye something like the fractal design core 1000.

[Zeinone]

1000$ with a pair of monitors:

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DKhBQ7
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DKhBQ7/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($239.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($49.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Team Elite Plus 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($51.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: A-Data Premier SP550 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($34.88 @ OutletPC) 
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($45.89 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card  ($304.99 @ Micro Center) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($24.99 @ NCIX US) 
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 
Monitor: Acer G237HLbi 60Hz 23.0" Monitor  ($99.99 @ Micro Center) 
Monitor: Acer G237HLbi 60Hz 23.0" Monitor  ($99.99 @ Micro Center) 
Total: $987.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-08 14:23 EDT-0400

 

1200$ without pair of monitors: 

 

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pzgRjX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pzgRjX/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1220 V5 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($197.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X150M-PRO ECC Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($139.99 @ Mac Mall) 
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($55.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.80 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card  ($679.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case  ($37.99 @ Micro Center) 
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 
Total: $1201.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-08 14:24 EDT-0400

 

I don't think you could go any better for the price of 1000$ for cad work and some gaming here and there. Let me know if something concerns you.

[HansEberhart]

Those two setups have a good value dont know if they are too expensive.

Mabye use some ECC Ram to decrease the possibilety of system crash when rendering

[brob]

3 minutes ago, NRAWhite said:

I don't have an exact budget; at the moment, but as little as possible. And i would be rendering a few things, mainly just design though.

As little as possible provides no guidance. This is close to "as little as possible". Would I want to use it? Not unless I literally could not afford anything better.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  (£97.98 @ Ebuyer)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B150M-DS3H Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  (£61.46 @ Ebuyer)
Memory: Kingston FURY 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory  (£31.99 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  (£37.98 @ Novatech)
Case: Cooler Master N200 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  (£40.77 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX TS 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  (£31.75 @ More Computers)
Total: £301.93
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-08 19:33 BST+0100

[NRAWhite]

4 hours ago, Zeinone said:

1000$ with a pair of monitors:

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DKhBQ7
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/DKhBQ7/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231 V3 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($239.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B85M-DS3H-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($49.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Team Elite Plus 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($51.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: A-Data Premier SP550 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($34.88 @ OutletPC) 
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($45.89 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card  ($304.99 @ Micro Center) 
Case: Fractal Design Core 1000 USB 3.0 MicroATX Mid Tower Case  ($24.99 @ NCIX US) 
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 
Monitor: Acer G237HLbi 60Hz 23.0" Monitor  ($99.99 @ Micro Center) 
Monitor: Acer G237HLbi 60Hz 23.0" Monitor  ($99.99 @ Micro Center) 
Total: $987.69
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-08 14:23 EDT-0400

 

1200$ without pair of monitors: 

 

 

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pzgRjX
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/pzgRjX/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1220 V5 3.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($197.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X150M-PRO ECC Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard  ($139.99 @ Mac Mall) 
Memory: G.Skill NT Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory  ($55.99 @ Newegg) 
Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($54.80 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB Video Card  ($679.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case  ($37.99 @ Micro Center) 
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Newegg) 
Total: $1201.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-04-08 14:24 EDT-0400

 

I don't think you could go any better for the price of 1000$ for cad work and some gaming here and there. Let me know if something concerns you.

On either of these, would I not be better using a Quadro card over a GTX?

[Zeinone]

1 hour ago, NRAWhite said:

On either of these, would I not be better using a Quadro card over a GTX?

Well it would if you fully commit to CAD, on an overall level a regular nvidia will win

 

[NRAWhite]

11 hours ago, Zeinone said:

Well it would if you fully commit to CAD, on an overall level a regular nvidia will win

 

I will be using it for CAD and Univeristy work, Ihave done a little digging and can add a gaming GPU down the road if I set it up right.