Need help with Autocad 2011/ Matlab 7 build Under1k

[dimmzeta73]

My buddy just had his computer die on him and he needs a new one for under $1000.00. I know stuff about gaming computers but I don't know too much about autocad 2011 and matlab7 rigs.

His monitor is a 32 inch HD TV, i believe it's a bit older and pushed its highest res at 720p if that matters.

Help me out community, pretty pretty pleeeeze!

 

[tecmo34]

My recommendation would be to build the PC around the Phenom II X6 1055T with at least 8GB of RAM. You don't need that much GPU power since it isn't a gaming PC. so concentrate on your Processor power and RAM.

 

[guanyu210379]

If it will be used only for CAD, matlab and watching movies (no games), you can also consider getting workstation GPU such as FireGL V7700, etc.

BTW :
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/261222-13-build-advice

 

[cadder]

The last 3 CAD computers I've built for my company have been a little over $1200. I used i5-750 CPU, 8gb ram, Gigabyte motherboards, usually FireGL V3600 GPU's, 64 bit Win7, Antec 300 cases, Xigmatek cpu coolers and extra case fans.

AutoCAD will doesn't have any special requirements for hardware up to a point. With the 32 bit version you can get by with any normal cheap POS video card, after all lots of people run it on ordinary laptops. If you go with the 64 bit version then appropriate video card drivers are harder to find so we found that we had to stick with a video card that Autodesk had tested and certified.

We got by for a long time with 32 bit Autocad, and still do for our work, but we are doing some work in Revit now and our Revit models worked better in the 64 bit version with 8GB of ram so we built new machines accordingly.

The most important thing in Autocad is CPU horsepower. My workstation is older and has a Core 2 Duo running at 3.8GHz. Our new i5 machines can barely beat it. If you aren't doing any rendering then at this time the quad core doesn't benefit you so you could even go with the faster i3 dual core processors. Other than rendering, autocad will run just as fast on one core as it will on 6 cores.

Our latest machine we built with a Quadro FX380 GPU, which is also certified by Autodesk. It was a little less than the FireGL and so far is working fine. But like I said you buy the fancy video card because it is certified to work with autocad, not because it helps performance in any way.

One of our new machines was built with an SSD for the OS/program drive, but so far we can't tell that it is any faster than the machines with mechanical hard drives.

I can't address the requirements of Matlab.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Is the budget flexible at all? This is what I would build in that price range:

PNY VCQFX580-PCIE-PB Quadro FX 580 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Workstation Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133273&Tpk=fx%20580 $159.99

Intel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3 LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128412

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.360551 $394.98 (CPU + motherboard combo)

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275&cm_re=g.skill_ddr3_1333_4gb_cas_8-_-20-231-275-_-Product $108.99

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275&cm_re=g.skill_ddr3_1333_4gb_cas_8-_-20-231-275-_-Product $108.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181&Tpk=samsung%20f3%20500 $54.99

Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030&cm_re=24x_sata-_-27-118-030-_-Product $21.99

Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.359996 $104.98 (Case + PSU combo)

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754&cm_re=windows_7_home_oem_64-_-32-116-754-_-Product $99.99

Total - $1,054.90

 

[dimmzeta73]

Wow guys thanks for all the tips! The budget is now......930.00 after some talk to my buddy, I think he spent too much money on booze or something...

anyway, thanks for all the tips, this is really going to help us out!

 

[dimmzeta73]

Best answer selected by dimmzeta73.