System processor

[paulski77]

Hi, a quick simple question, I'm buying a new desktop pc but not sure on an i5 or i7 processor for Revit Architecture 2012. Is there any advantage getting an i7 over an i5 ie. will Revit run happily with an i5 processor or do I need an i7? Thanks

[ReMark]

First choice: Xeon. Second choice: i7.

[tzframpton]

Revit will run fine on a higher-end Core i5. But a Core i7 is much more preferred, especially more cores and threads, since Revit takes advantage of multi-core and multi-threaded processors since it's a database driven, parametric environment. In other words, Revit is always processing a lot of information, not just "visuals".

[f700es]

Tanner, does Revit work well with a GeForce card? We are due 1 machine coming up and I am looking at a high end graphics machine instead of a work station.

[f700es]

First choice: Xeon. Second choice: i7.

 

If money is not option then I agree. Now if there is a budget then it depends on what the budget is. I have found that the low-end Xeon to not be worth the money myself. My work machine was about $2k new and I compared it to a 6 - 8 month newer PC and it beat it on most of the criteria. Xeon cpus are expensive and so is the ECC ram that goes with it.

I think one has to weigh the budget with what you can buy.

[tzframpton]

Tanner, does Revit work well with a GeForce card? We are due 1 machine coming up and I am looking at a high end graphics machine instead of a work station.

Most certainly. Revit utilizes Microsoft's DirectX driver so performance between workstation level cards and gaming cards are neck and neck. See here for an example: