Multiple processors or more memory

[cadmasteruk]

In choosing a workstation (actually for work, not gaming or media - mostly AutoCAD), which is better, multiple processors (dual Xeon) or lots of memory (I have seen 132GB offered) for best performance?

 

[King Dranzer]

What else will you be using it for??

Autocad uses single core performance. As much memory possible and it is GPU intense program.

 

[cadmasteruk]

Office tasks - Word & Excel, web browsing, email.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Well for that you certainly won't benefit from (and don't need) dual or multi processor setup.

And RAM-wise, as much as you can afford is always a good idea, but no need to go over the top for the tasks you have in mind.
AutoCAD will use the most RAM out of the tasks you've mentioned:

RAM requirements for AutoCAD 2016:

For 32-bit AutoCAD 2016: 2 GB (3 GB recommended)
For 64-bit AutoCAD 2016: 4 GB (8 GB recommended)

(figures are from Autodesk website): https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-AutoCAD-2016.html

That 132GB RAM you mentioned is overkill in the extreme, and buying a board which supports that much (plus the cost of the RAM itself) would be an unnecessary expense and a waste of money for your needs, even if the system was used for gaming at some point in the future.

 

[cadmasteruk]

Thanks for the responses, I suspected that memory would be the better option, but thought it best to see what others thought. The 132GB machine was a used HP I saw for sale for a reasonable price.