Opinions, please, on a new system.

[eklektikus]

Dell T1500 Workstation

Processor – Quad Core Processor Core i7-860, 2.8 GHz, 8MB

OS – W7 Pro – 64-bit

Memory – 8GB, DDR3, Non-ECC, SDRAM, 1333 MHz, 4x2GB

Graphics Card – 1 GB NVIDIA Quadro 600, Dual Mon, 1 DP & 1 DVI

Hard Drive – 500 GB SATA, 3.0 Gb/s, 7200 RPM w 16 MB DataBurst Cache

Optic Drive – 16X DVD +/- RW

Monitor – 30” (single monitor for the time being)

 

I was looking at going with a T3500 Workstation with a Dual Core Intel Xeon W3503, 2.4 GHz, 4M L3, 4.8 GT/s for the processor, ram of 12 GB, 1333 MHz, DDR3, SDRAM, ECC (6 DIMMS) and a 738MB Quadro FX1800 (same HD and OD), but in that configuration the price was running an additional $1200.00. I have been working with AutoCAD on a laptop for a year and a half now. My wife says the company can use the tax write off and my eyes say they could use the rest from squinting at a laptop screen. (Also, my nerves would like to get away from the “stutters” encountered in AutoCAD on the laptop.) 98% of my work is currently in 2D but I want to be able to move on to a more involved 3D environment. I normally need to have at least MS Office and Acrobat 9 Pro running at the same time as AutoCAD. This may be my one shot, but; will I be more than happy with the T1500 arrangement, or do I bite the blasted bullet and drop an additional $1200.00+? Thank you to everyone for any constructive input.

[ReMark]

I think the configuration that you have posted would serve you well. Look at the computer details (for my home computer) under my avatar. They are similar in some respects. When I was telecommuting on Friday I was running the following programs concurrently: Win7 Ultimate, FireFox 3.6 (with three tabs open), Winamp (the only time I get to listen to music while working!), Microsoft Access, Excel, the Windows calculator and Norton antivirus 2010. I was working in AutoCAD 2010 on a 3D project at the time. Oh, and I had MSN Messenger up and running as well. Nary a blip to be had. So go for the first system unless the money is burning a hole in your pocket then 'splurge' for the second system. Have a darn good excuse for the wife when she asks about the price difference though or have a diamond and sapphire tennis bracelet waiting under the Christmas tree for her!

[Jack_O'neill]

Sounds like a great system to me. I'm already envious of the 30" monitor. I currently use dual 21's, though I have given some thought to going to one very large single monitor.

[f700es]

This should be fine for some time time to come

[Glen1980]

I'm stuck with a single 19" monitor, which now has nose prints all over it

 

I have Dell i7 860 2800 (at home, nothing that fancy at work!) running W7 64 but with only 4GB RAM and it is a bit clunky when starting up, but it runs full ACAD 2011 fine when I do 2d drawings.