CAD/CAM/Control Software workstation.

[bkboggy]

Hi,

I'm trying to put together a low budget workstation for use with some of the CAD/CAM and Mach3. My budget is $500 and I won't spend more than that on hardware because I can't break the limit.... that's the reality. I don't need anything beyond belief powerful for professional use, just something that will get me started for personal use. Later down the road I can build a bigger and better one when I make more money... lol

So, the setup is:

ase (*$64.99 + free shipping*): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147104

Power Supply (*$49.99 + s/h cost*): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182016

Motherboard (*$74.99 + s/h cost*): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128376

Processor (*$63.50 + free shipping*): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103300

Memory (*$49.99 after $20 mail-in rebate + free shipping*): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220314

Video Card (*$84.99 + s/h cost*): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814195073

Hard Drive (*$64.99 + free shipping*): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148395

DVD/CD Burne (*$21.99 + free shipping*): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136144


For video cards, I don't know whether to stick with that

ATI FirePro V3700 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814195073

Or one of these nVidia XFX cards:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150332

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150344

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150322


ATI seems to have better open GL capability and that's what matters in CAD/3D, so that ATI card is the best choice for the money, right?

Also, not sure what OS I should go with.... XP Pro or Vista Home Premium....
Seems that more programs support XP than Vista and I see a lot of people have issues with Vista. I didn't like it when I used it on my wife's computer... I like XP more, but I have to make sure it's the right OS.

Please help me out with some advices.

[mc-motorsports]

I would settle for an ugly case (just a box, nothing fancy, $18 at Microcenter) and spend a little more for a bigger processor. Other than that, you should be good!

For example, I have 2 computers, same OS, one is 2.4g processor and 2g RAM... The other is 3.6g processor and 1g RAM... The 3.6g processor works much better with CAD/CAM for very comlicated drawings and generating complicated tool paths. Just my experience.

[bkboggy]

My big issue is the video card. Some say work station cards are good, but after reading these:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/25...er-workstation

and

http://area.autodesk.com/index.php/f...010/P10/#48487

I don't know...

[mc-motorsports]

Originally Posted by bkboggy My big issue is the video card. Some say work station cards are good, but after reading these: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/25...er-workstation and http://area.autodesk.com/index.php/f...010/P10/#48487 I don't know...

I'm no computer guru, and almost all of that goes right over my head. But from discussion here on CNC Zone, don't skimp on the video card, depending on how complicated your drawings get, you'll need it!

Go cheap on the case for sure, more processor and the best video card you can afford. Your RAM is fine at 4g, power supply just supplies power and if you can find a smaller hard drive to save money, you won't need a 500g, get an external drive later. Plus, if your OS goes to ****, you can always unplug the external drive and not worry about losing your files.

If your not going to connect to the interspace, try to get your OS from a friend and save $150 (I didn't do that and no nothing about that)...

MC

[bkboggy]

What video card would you recommend?

[bkboggy]

Is Dolphin Partmaster Pro a good CAD/CAM package? The reason I ask is because I've never heard of it and it got recommended. If it's good, then I would base my parts on it as well.

[mc-motorsports]

Originally Posted by bkboggy What video card would you recommend?

LOL! Hopefully somebody who knows something about computers reads this and chimes in!

Honestly, I just know that you need a good one. I paid a friend to build my last computer, and I have no clue what video card he put in it or why he chose that particular card.

If I was in your shoes, I would ask the guys who are doing online gaming, I'm sure they have pleanty of forums, just tell them what motherboard and processor your wanting to use, or what fits your budget and they always know what video cards work best.

The only thing that I can honestly say is a built in video card sucks compared to a plug in card. And yes, I'm refering to CAD/CAM, and that's not even in terms of rendering images. I have drawings complicated enough that it signifigantly slows down my computer just to rotate the ISO view, even if it's just a wireframe.

For CAD/CAM, #1 is the processor, #2 is RAM, #3 is the video card... almost all equally important. You won't need a fancy case or a HUGE hard drive, like I said, an external drive to save your files can be a MAJOR bonus, you've heard of the "blue screen of death", right? AKA: the MICROSOFT VIRUS?

4G of RAM might even be overkill, you can always upgrade later, that's assuming your on a tight budget.

SO, IMO, and from my experience:

Cheap case, expensive cases and fancy looking cases don't preform any better.

BIG processor/matching motherboard, don't skimp there, processors aren't cheap and may not be able to upgrade depending on if it will work with the motherboard.

Best Video Card you can afford. Been discussed many times, get a professional opinion on what will work best with your motherboard/processor.

Probably 160g hard drive, get an external down the road when you get a chance to save a couple of bucks, it will save your ass if your HD goes to hell.

CD/DVD, just make sure you atleast get a +/- RW double layer, they are cheap enough, no reason to skimp here.

Power supplies? Should be able to get one for around $20, I did. It just supplies power, no biggie.

OS, what ever you can get your hands on. Free is the right price, especially if your not going to connect to the internet.

That's how I would pinch my pennies. And if your planning on using this with Mach3, make sure you have the printer port (LTP1?) to make life easy. I wouldn't be suprised if a lot of motherboards don't have the printer port anymore, everything is going USB. But then again, Gecko also makes USB interfaces? I think?

But honesty, maybe post up on a gaming forum where they are building thier own computers. Anything that works good for them will probably work great for us. And some of those guys treat thier hobby like it's thier job.

MC

[bkboggy]

Thanks for the info MC. It's hard to keep under $500 with all the temptations. I had myself under that a few times and then jumped back up. Have to keep telling myself that I don't need anything extreme, it's for personal simple use.

[mc-motorsports]

Just spend the money on the stuff you need (or need NOW) and skimp where you can or upgrade later in order to meet the budget. Chrome doesn't make a car go faster, know what I mean?

MC

[bkboggy]

Yeah. Well, the reason I got that case on the list is because of the amazing cooling capability it has.

[mc-motorsports]

Originally Posted by bkboggy Yeah. Well, the reason I got that case on the list is because of the amazing cooling capability it has.

I run a 3.6g with a simple aluminum heat sink and cheap fan, no problem with a cheap case. You can also watch the processor temp in BIOS, no problems. They gaming guys know all about that stuff, they use water cooled processors, but I think they "over-clock" them also.

MC

[bkboggy]

True. Thanks for all the information, MC.