andy1uk87 :
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Im currently looking for a computer which will handle Autodesk Revit and Civil 3D but Im a complete newby when it comes to ordering a computer and picking parts. I would appreciate some help with this.
The link I have posted above is a spec which seems to comply with Autodesks requirements for this software.
Would this be sufficient for the job and if not what would you recommend.
thanks
Andrew
Andrew,
As it happens, the two applications listed: Autodesk Revit Structure and Autodesk Civil are among the most demanding 3D Autodesk applications, because they are visualisation, design and data plus structurally analytical. This requires a workstation card to allow the proper drivers to support viewports, a wide data bandwidth, a good level of double precision, and the ability to have more than 4-cores is preferable. In combination, results would be best using an LGA2011 system with ECC error correcting RAM, and a as Autodesk applications are CUDA accelerated, a Quadro workstation GPU. If you look at the list of GPUs for Revit:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/syscert?siteID=123112&id=18844534&results=1&stype=graphic&product_group=2&release=2016&os=8192&manuf=all&opt=1
> the list is entirely Firepro and Quadro- no GTX or Radeon HD.
The list for Infrastructure Design Suite, probably because of the inclusion of so much more strenuous structural anaysis / simulation is even shorter:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/syscert?siteID=123112&id=18844534&results=1&stype=graphic&suite_group=109&release=2014&edition=2&os=8192&manuf=all&opt=1
My recommendation is to buy a used Xeon E5 workstation, for example:
HP Z420 Xeon E5-1620 3.6GHz/16GB/500GB/Nvidia Quadro NVS290 Win7 Pro Workstation > sold for £325.12
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-Z420-Xeon-E5-1620-3-6GHz-16GB-500GB-Nvidia-Quadro-NVS290-Win7-Pro-Workstation-/381369800265?hash=item58cb695649&nma=true&si=rDiBdPEjj4h%252FHLM2Ly%252Br3MV8BZc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
> and in this example, change the GPU to a (used) Quadro K2200 or K4200 (bother 4GB). The K4200 is preferable for larger and more complex projects as it is 256-bit. I used a K2200 happily on smaller work, but eventually changed to a K4200.
Add an SSD of 250GB or greater (Samsung 850 EVO, or Intel 730 or 530) and make a partition for the OS and applications and another for the active projects. Make partitions on a 1TB HD for archiving / backup, and a partition to store a system restore image that can quickly recreate the entire system in the event of drive failure or virus. If you are working on very large infrastructure, you might eventually have 32GB of RAM.
In the future, if you are using Revit in rendering mode, you may wish to change to a 6 or even 8 core CPU. If this likely, when you search for a system, look for an E5-1650 or 1650 v2 or E5-1680 v2, though the 1680 is very rare.
HP Z420 Workstation E5-1650 v2 3.5GHz 8GB RAM 500GB HDD K600 Win7 Pro G3E87US > sold for £788.17
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-Z420-Workstation-E5-1650-v2-3-5GHz-8GB-RAM-500GB-HDD-K600-Win7-Pro-G3E87US-/301696156440?hash=item463e7e0318
Other systems upon which to cop a butchers:
Dell Precision T3600 w/ Xeon E5-1650 3.2GHz Hex Core CPU, 500GB HDD, 8GB RAM > sold for £420.00
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Precision-T3600-w-Xeon-E5-1650-3-2GHz-Hex-Core-CPU-500GB-HDD-8GB-RAM-/271953731576?hash=item3f51b49ff8&nma=true&si=rDiBdPEjj4h%252FHLM2Ly%252Br3MV8BZc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Dell Precision T5810 Workstation Xeon E5-1650 8GB 500GB Nvidia Quadro K620 2GB > £889.98
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Precision-T5810-Workstation-Xeon-E5-1650-8GB-500GB-Nvidia-Quadro-K620-2GB-/301727354199?hash=item46405a0d57
I don't usually link to an active listing, but this is an example that there are sometimes good mid-range Precision T5810's at a reasonable cost.
HP Z420 Workstation E5-1650 v2 3.5GHz 8GB RAM 500GB HDD K600 Win7 Pro G3E87US > sold for £788.17
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-Z420-Workstation-E5-1650-v2-3-5GHz-8GB-RAM-500GB-HDD-K600-Win7-Pro-G3E87US-/301696156440?hash=item463e7e0318
Overall, my recommendation would be to start with an E5-1650 or E55-1560 v2 system if within budget.
The good features of these systems is that they are near ready for use- only plug in a more appropriate GPU and drives.
Cheers,
BambiBoom
1. HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 six-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz > 32GB DDR3 ECC 1866 RAM > Quadro K4200 (4GB) > Intel 730 480GB (9SSDSC2BP480G4R5) > Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > 600W PSU> Logitech z2300 > Linksys AE3000 USB WiFi > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440) > Windows 7 Professional 64 >
[ Passmark Rating = 5064 > CPU= 13989 / 2D= 819 / 3D= 4596 / Mem= 2772 / Disk= 4555] [Cinebench R15 > CPU = 1014 OpenGL= 126.59 FPS] 7.8.15
2. Dell Precision T5500 (2011) > Xeon X5680 six -core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz, 24GB DDR3 ECC 1333 > Quadro K2200 (4GB ) > Samsung 840 250GB / WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card > Linksys WMP600N PCI WiFi > 875W PSU > Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (1920 X 1080)
[ Passmark system rating = 3490 / CPU = 9178 / 2D= 685 / 3D= 3566 / Mem= 1865 / Disk= 2122] [Cinebench 15 > CPU = 772 OpenGL= 99.72 FPS] 7.8.15
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