Workstation for Engineer

[abmcdonald]

Hi,

Looking for a workstation that will do some FEA (Creo parametric, Ansys) for small jobs and for programs such as Catia and Solidworks. If possible I would dual hat this with some gaming.

I am not fussed if i go AMD or Intel and have a budget of about 3K.

Thanks for your help.

 

[profoundnoah]

What country do you live in? Are you looking to get a prebuilt, or build it yourself? There are plenty of boutique builders out there, but some of them charge an exuberant premium.

 

[abmcdonald]

What country do you live in? Are you looking to get a prebuilt, or build it yourself? There are plenty of boutique builders out there, but some of them charge an exuberant premium.

Hi, Definitely build myself. Australia

 

[profoundnoah]

Here's an article highlighting potential components of hardware that you may want to look over. I'll get to work on a parts list in the meantime: https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-SOLIDWORKS-150/Hardware-Recommendations

 

[abmcdonald]

Here's an article highlighting potential components of hardware that you may want to look over. I'll get to work on a parts list in the meantime: https://www.pugetsystems.com/recommended/Recommended-Systems-for-SOLIDWORKS-150/Hardware-Recommendations

As I am conducting FEA, i need an ECC compatible CPU. So I was looking at Threadripper or Xeon chips.

At work I used a Z440 workstation and this was sufficient to do all the tasks I envisage of doing myself. However, I am not keep on the HP pricetag....

 

[profoundnoah]

Whoops, just saw your most recent post. Do you happen to remember the specs of that workstation? I may be able to put together an equivalent. Do you require unbuffered or registered ECC?

 

[King Dranzer]

What is your max budget

 

[abmcdonald]

What is your max budget

I am flexible. Can spend up to 5K or possibly more if it provides value... This is for my own business and would like to do limited FEA as required to support engineering analysis.

 

[abmcdonald]

Whoops, just saw your most recent post. Do you happen to remember the specs of that workstation? I may be able to put together an equivalent. Do you require unbuffered or registered ECC?

Here are some specs for workstations to work for Ansys.

http://www.boxx.com/solutions/manufacturing-product-design/ansys

http://www.boxx.com/guru/apexx-2-2203?GuruSessionId=d47839bd-d779-4a59-b6e6-4415a182bfc8&ModelNumber=A2-2203&ConfigName=APEXX%202%202203&referrer=/products/workstations/legacy&highlight=PROD226

 

[King Dranzer]

Here is the list (Threadripper):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Threadripper 1950X 3.4GHz 16-Core Processor ($794.90 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Noctua - NH-U14S TR4-SP3 140.2 CFM CPU Cooler ($79.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus - ROG ZENITH EXTREME EATX TR4 Motherboard ($429.58 @ OutletPC)
Memory: Kingston - ValueRAM 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($181.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston - ValueRAM 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($181.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston - ValueRAM 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($181.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Kingston - ValueRAM 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($181.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($197.97 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Gold 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($173.00 @ Newegg Marketplace)
Video Card: PNY - Quadro P5000 16GB Video Card ($1789.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design - Define XL R2 (Black Pearl) ATX Full Tower Case ($119.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair - RMx 1000W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $4473.28
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-07-23 11:29 EDT-0400

Here is the list(Skylake-X):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i9-7940X 3.1GHz 14-Core Processor ($1149.82 @ Newegg Marketplace)
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H115i PRO 55.4 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($129.99 @ Newegg Business)
Motherboard: Asus - WS X299 SAGE EATX LGA2066 Motherboard ($484.43 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 64GB (4 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($583.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 500GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($197.97 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital - Gold 4TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($173.00 @ Newegg Marketplace)
Video Card: PNY - Quadro P5000 16GB Video Card ($1789.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design - Define XL R2 (Black Pearl) ATX Full Tower Case ($119.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: Corsair - RMx 1000W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($159.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $4789.16
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-07-23 11:34 EDT-0400

Both CPUs perform on par when it comes to multi-threaded workload with minimal difference but when it comes to single core performance Skylake-X CPU is way ahead of Threadripper. I recommend Skylake-X build.

 

[profoundnoah]

Overall those look like REALLY nice builds. Slight problem though- those prices are in USD, dranzer. Those lists are significantly higher in AUD. Sorry about the delay OP, I live in the states and was up extremely late last night finishing Crime & Punishment. I'll get to work on a build at once. What core count is your Ansys license?

 

[profoundnoah]

Alright, OP, here's what I've come up with (feel free to change it to your liking):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Threadripper 1920X 3.5GHz 12-Core Processor ($1059.00 @ Mwave Australia)
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($138.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: ASRock - X399 Taichi ATX TR4 Motherboard ($299.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Memory: Kingston - ValueRAM 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($292.60 @ Newegg Australia)
Memory: Kingston - ValueRAM 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($292.60 @ Newegg Australia)
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($145.00 @ Centre Com)
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 1TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($299.05 @ Amazon Australia)
Video Card: PNY - Quadro P2000 5GB Video Card ($753.00 @ Amazon Australia)
Case: NZXT - S340 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($134.20 @ Newegg Australia)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($169.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit ($184.00 @ Shopping Express)
Total: $3765.45
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-07-24 04:24 AEST+1000

ALL OF THIS DEPENDS ON YOUR LICENSE:
The 1920X strikes a happy medium between frequency and core-count. If you want more cores, the 1950X (16 cores is around 300 AUD more). Core i9 chips dont even support ECC (for whatever reason, so much for SHEDT huh?).

I went with 32GB because I don't know the scale/size of your projects. 64GB is pricey and might not even be necessary for your work case.

Storage was a bit interesting and you have a few options here. I went with a 970 Evo to store Windows, Solidworks, and the rest of your software on. You could probably squeeze in a few of your projects as well, but space would be a bit cramped. That's why I went with a 1TB SSD, given you could easily transfer projects that you want archived to it, while still retaining fast loading times. Additionally, you could go for a 500GB 970 Evo and a high-capacity HDD, then ditch the 1TB SSD. It's all particular to your use case.

The GPU was a bit interesting. The p2000 is a great entry-level card, but from what I've read Ansys likes a faster CPU more than any good GPU, unless you're doing CFD simultaneously. Otherwise, it's also a very good chip for Solidworks etc.

The rest of the stuff is personal preference, but will still perform very well for your use case. If you require ECC REGISTERED RAM, then the only direction I can point you in would be the Xeons (significantly more expensive.)

 

[abmcdonald]

Alright, OP, here's what I've come up with (feel free to change it to your liking):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD - Threadripper 1920X 3.5GHz 12-Core Processor ($1059.00 @ Mwave Australia)
CPU Cooler: Corsair - H100i v2 70.7 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($138.00 @ Shopping Express)
Motherboard: ASRock - X399 Taichi ATX TR4 Motherboard ($299.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Memory: Kingston - ValueRAM 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($292.60 @ Newegg Australia)
Memory: Kingston - ValueRAM 16GB (1 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($292.60 @ Newegg Australia)
Storage: Samsung - 970 Evo 250GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($145.00 @ Centre Com)
Storage: Western Digital - Blue 1TB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($299.05 @ Amazon Australia)
Video Card: PNY - Quadro P2000 5GB Video Card ($753.00 @ Amazon Australia)
Case: NZXT - S340 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($134.20 @ Newegg Australia)
Power Supply: SeaSonic - FOCUS Plus Gold 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($169.00 @ PCCaseGear)
Operating System: Microsoft - Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit ($184.00 @ Shopping Express)
Total: $3765.45
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-07-24 04:24 AEST+1000

ALL OF THIS DEPENDS ON YOUR LICENSE:
The 1920X strikes a happy medium between frequency and core-count. If you want more cores, the 1950X (16 cores is around 300 AUD more). Core i9 chips dont even support ECC (for whatever reason, so much for SHEDT huh?).

I went with 32GB because I don't know the scale/size of your projects. 64GB is pricey and might not even be necessary for your work case.

Storage was a bit interesting and you have a few options here. I went with a 970 Evo to store Windows, Solidworks, and the rest of your software on. You could probably squeeze in a few of your projects as well, but space would be a bit cramped. That's why I went with a 1TB SSD, given you could easily transfer projects that you want archived to it, while still retaining fast loading times. Additionally, you could go for a 500GB 970 Evo and a high-capacity HDD, then ditch the 1TB SSD. It's all particular to your use case.

The GPU was a bit interesting. The p2000 is a great entry-level card, but from what I've read Ansys likes a faster CPU more than any good GPU, unless you're doing CFD simultaneously. Otherwise, it's also a very good chip for Solidworks etc.

The rest of the stuff is personal preference, but will still perform very well for your use case. If you require ECC REGISTERED RAM, then the only direction I can point you in would be the Xeons (significantly more expensive.)

THanks for the help. Appreciate it.