Ok, i've been reading these forums for a few years now and finally came to a point where i needed to join to ask for some help. I'm running an old Dell Precision 870, which doesn't really cut it with with complex math data we use. My boss told me to go to dell and price out a system with a $5k budget. Sounds great, but going between processor, ram, video card and hard drive configurations is making my head hurt and even more so when i go to research it all. I know I want atleast 12gb of ram, but beyond that i have only slight ideas. But T3500 or T7500, which processor, video card and hard drive set up i'm in the dark still. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jeremy

Do you use FEA? ...a lot?

...what other process intensive applications are you running...or better said run daily? or weekly? or monthly? or yearly?

Do you run or must you run these programs concurrent with IV?

Also what OS are you stuck with? ...or are you able to run Win7?

Knowns or Obvious Choices:
- NVIDIA 300 series Graphics Card (1GB)
- 64 bit OS
- 12GB RAM minimum
- Dual 250GB+ SATA I or II drives @ 7,200 RPM min running Raid0

Processor is relevant to the answers of the above questions. The following parameters are...
- Dual CPU's?
- Xeon vs i7? the new W series Xeon's might interest you
- Quadcore? not likely.

Pay attention to the i7's spec...the idle process speed is usually noted and not the peak which can be deceiving ...so be careful as to which one you get (i.e. 1.6 Ghz Quadcore i7 will peak at 2.8 Ghz) ...Faster Ghz the better obviously.

_________________
Steve Robbins
Inventor Design Solutions & Innovations
"I believe in being an innovator " - Walt Disney
@_iDSi

No FEA, but we work with large assemblies and large complex pieces of math data, mainly molded 18-wheeler body parts. We also do alot of translating from catia and solidworks. Concurrent programs would be just MS Outlook and a media player. We will be upgrading to Windows 7 64-bit.

This should do the trick...Video Card could bump up a grade if you garnish a hefty corporate discount (30% off) ...otherwise you might only get 10-15% off

Key Notes: Dell T5500 workstation
- 1st of all you may have this system 5yrs...and I'd suspect IV will be multi-thrd by then
- Dual Xeon "Capable" for future
- 12GB Memory with reduced stick count for cheaper upgrade later
- Xeon processors ( http://www.intel.com/performance/workst ... ummary.htm )
- NVIDIA Quadro if you can afford it...3000 or 4000 series...1800 series is sufficient however get more if you can!

No need for Dual Graphics Cards yet...but this system will handle them

_________________
Steve Robbins
Inventor Design Solutions & Innovations
"I believe in being an innovator " - Walt Disney
@_iDSi

Thanks iDS!, that was a huge help.

no problem

...hate to see people pay $5k and not get an expected performing scalable workstation

Today the 2nd Processor (XEON x5650) would cost you $1,000
...and a second Quadro 1800 about $400 ...or a single Quadro 4000 2GB for $800
...to double the ram to 24GB (add 12GB...3x Sticks of 4GB DDR3 ECC RDIMM 1333mhz)
is approx $500

...of course this not through Dell...and in 2 yrs these prices will be 1/2 to 1/3...so you get the point

_________________
Steve Robbins
Inventor Design Solutions & Innovations
"I believe in being an innovator " - Walt Disney
@_iDSi

Yeah, I would much rather build one because it would be really cool, plus have flames and a #3 on the case so you know it'd be the fastest computer ever. Thanks again!

Steve, I would go with the 6 sticks of RAM and funnel the money saved towards a better video card (at least 1GB). It's likely that you wouldn't be adding more RAM immediately and you would expect that it would be much cheaper to upgrade in the future. Another trick is to order the machine from Dell with only a few sticks of RAM in it and then add to it once it gets in house. You have a little more flexibility in your RAM configuration that way.

I've got a fleet of 13 of the T7400/T7500's here in my office, with a few more on order. Our standard configuration has run around $3-4k in the past: Quad Core Xeon E5640, 12GB RAM, QuadroFX 3800, 10k HDD.

I do recommend that you invest in a longer video cable and placing this monster as far away from you as possible - as it can easily be used as a space heater in the winter.

If you want to be 100% sure, than a Quadro video card is fine. However, with Inventor using DirextX for the graphics, I would save the money and get an Nvida GeForce GTX 480 or or GTX 470.

Way overpriced IMO.... I just don't see how anyone spends more than 3K on a cad station now. There is no need.
Go over to cyberpowerpc.com and build a system there. For 3-3.5K I can build a machine that would greatly out perform your 5K dell machine..

Agreed. I would love the ability to custom build our machines. Our Corporate policy restricts us from doing so.

Your corporate policy just costs you money...
I just did a quicky on cyberpower and built a machine that would kick that Dells arse for under 3K.

Don't understand how going to Dell is okay but cyberpower is not.. The cyberpower machines come all put together just like a Dell. Open the box and go. (plus they don't load all the junk demo programs that Dell does)

Jeremy...are you stuck with Dell...that was my assumption?

As for the other comments...good points.

mcgyvr is soooo right

Scott...its a real bummer working with corps that can't see the light...the big dogs love the schmoozing...Dell and HP apparently are the best at it

Kellings...as for the Quadro Card...its not much $$$ to save when you opt for the GeForce card...and with large assemblies I'd still consider the quality of the Drivers (which means Quadro)...however I'd personally go Geforce with a custom build...I love that geeky stuff!

My point was based on the "Dell" knot tied behind Jeremy's plea for help!

_________________
Steve Robbins
Inventor Design Solutions & Innovations
"I believe in being an innovator " - Walt Disney
@_iDSi

Yeah, corporate policies are a pain in the butt sometimes, but there are pros and cons to working everywhere.

The Dell's work great for us - if we're paying a small (relative to our business) premium to satisfy our policy, so be it. For smaller companies really looking at the bottom line it would make alot of sense to see what options you have.

Ok, its been a while and still no computer, things move SLOW here. I was given the option to check out cyberpowerpc.com and I came up with this http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/saved/1CPN3M . How does that look? The didn't have some of the same stuff as what Dell offered, so I was going by what I could research quickly, any thoughts? I was very overwhelmed by their website, so I hope I put something together thats good for Inventor. Thanks for all the help.

Jeremy