You might be able to get away with only 64mb-128mb of memory, but realistically, you should be using 512mb or 1gb. As far as processors, I am not sure if NASTRAN is multi-threaded (dual processor support), but any of the ~2ghz processors from either AMD or Intel should work fine. For OS, look into Win2K or XP Professional, anything else would be a bad idea.
Any decent graphics card will do, since you are using more processor power than rendering power. Still, try going for a 32mb graphics card. If this machine is strictly or NASTRA use, 32mb should be fine, but if it is going to do other modeling tasks, you might consider 64mb. "The attempt and not the deed confounds us."
It needs Win2000. It you have big memory sticks beware on AMD motherboards sometimes hung..like VIA chipsets. I've hung using KT133A chipset. Intel chipset like BX or later can support bigger memories. Installing Patran2000 is painful. From now i dont have idea how to connect FrameViewer Help to Patran so it can click from Patran. Connecting to the solver is others pain. From now i have connect thru nastran, abaqus. But i fail connect it to Ansys and Marc. It give the input but the automatically executing program fail.
Recommended :
1. 128 MB memory or later...
2. Pentium II or later
3. Nice supported 3D graphics (Nvidia chipset better)
4. 200MB Swap minimum Paging Memory Space recommended 500mb
5. Nice 17 monitors for minimum 1024x768 resolutions.(min 15)
6. Recommended using Ethernet card and turn off media sensing on Win2000 (try knowledge base installing abaqus on
