How bad is our systems? Upgrade help needed

[RipV]

We are currently looking at upgrading to NEW systems. We run SW2007 now & have 2008 but have not installed yet. Here is what I have now:
(taken from control panel/system/general)
Dell Precision 650 series CPU
XP Pro Version 2002, Service Pack 2
Xeon CPU 2.80 GHz
2.79GHz, 1.00 GB of Ram

Video Card:
NVIDA Quadro4 900XGL, 128MB

What specs should we look for for a "very good" system. We don't want the minimium.
PROCESSOR TYPE, SIZE, RAM, VIDEO CARD & SIZE ETC, the whole 9 yds.

Our modeling many times consists of imported stp files, shaped parts, assemblies & subassemblies & we experience many delays & crashes. We also run MS Office products & JobBoss V8 as well.
Any input would be appreciated so we get good systems.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[Heckler]

Add 2.0 GB of RAM for a total of 3 GB which should improve performance. Unless you want to go to a 64 Bit system.

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SWx 2007 SP 4.0 & Pro/E 2001
o
_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

This post contains no political overtones or undertones for that matter and in no way represents the poster's political agenda.

 

[RipV]

Thanks, We could upgrade what we have but are also expecting to buy complete new CPU's & hand ours off to other users in the plant who have less demands than CAD. More Ram in our existing machines would no doubt help but would we have a top notch system? or should we look for all new hardware (the 64bit, better video etc) I have read about dual Xeon processers etc but just don't know enough to spec out great system.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Check out the specs posted by StefanHamminga in
thread559-194439
thread559-200440

 

[ren3of3]

I've just put in a req for a killer system, but am planning on using it for heavy animation and rendering. I've also tried to spec something that should hold up for more than 3 years.

HP xw6400
Processors - Xeon Quad Core 5345 2.33GHz (x2)
Memory - 8GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Hard drive - 160GB 7200 rpm SATA 3.0-Gb/s
Opt Drive - 16X/48X DVD-ROM
Video Card - Nvidia Quadro FX 5500 1GB RAM (x2 in SLi configuration)

I would recommend something along these lines for what you are doing:

HP xw6400
Processor - Xeon Quad Core 5345 2.33GHz (x1)
Memory - 4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (or more, if budget allows)
Hard drive - 160GB 7200 rpm SATA 3.0-Gb/s
Opt Drive - 16X/48X DVD-ROM
Video Card - Nvidia Quadro FX 1700 512MB RAM (or FX 3700, if budget allows)

You should be able to upgrade this tower with a better graphics card and more RAM down the line, making it a little
more scalable than the Dell you're running now.






"Never offend people with style when you can offend them with substance." --Sam Brown

http://www.danielanderson.info

 

[RipV]

OK,
the powers at be here are about to upgrade my system first to see the effects & then pass it on to another & get me a new unit.

with the above mentioned system, do you see any problem with:
1)bumping the Ram up to 2-3GB, maybe even 4GB
2)upgrading the video card to an Nvidia Quadro FX 3500
(this is compatible with the Dell 650 isn't it?)

also I am curious about the NVidia cards. In doing a search for one I see there are PNY, HP, IBM, etc. Are all the same or is one better than the other?

 

[K3RSH]

Hi RipV

See my thread i started a while back. i was in the same boat as you before christmas

thread559-198546

regards

Kersh