I am looking to build a new machine for our office.  I am planning on i7 quad core, 16GB RAM (4 x 4GB DDR3-1866), 256GB SSD, FirePro v4900 (possibly Quadro K2000 or FirePro W5000). 

Is there any reason to go with the i7-4820k (LGA2011) over the i7-4770k (LGA1150)?  I am planning on overclocking.  Processor price is about the same.  The 2011 motherboards are a bit more expensive but they fit in the budget.  The only big difference I can see in possible performance is the quad channel memory.  I can also fit the i7-4930k in the budget but I am not sure it will matter for what this machine is used for. 

We don't do much rendering or simulation.  Almost all assemblies are under 1000 parts.

Thanks!

Mike

Charles,

Thanks for the reply!  I am not worried about upgrade options.

Do you still recommend the GigaByte F3-1866C9Q-32GXM or is there another one you recommend?  I have used ASUS MBs in the past with good results but it has been a while since building a PC. 

Thanks again!

-Mike

Charles,

When the next test cycle comes around, would you be able to look at graphics card performance (spin test, frame rate) with a part on screen that has been meshed in SW Simulation?  I see a noticeable difference between the V4900 in my tower (slow), my old Quadro FX3800 (quick) and my laptop's K1000M (tolerable).  For some reason it seems all the additional lines on screen to display the mesh really tax the graphics card versus a model that has lots of edges (at least in SW2012 which I am currently on).

I can probably provide a model that would serve as a reasonable benchmark piece if that would be useful?

Dave

First,

I have been lurking this forum a bit the last few days looking for answers to Admin type questions, and I have found your posts to be ver helpful.

Second,

Thank you for this, I did some pretty extensive research before building our companies new machines and you have re-affirmed that the hardware purchased was appropriate :-). T1700's, FirePro W5000's, SSD, and 16gb RAM.

Edit:

sorry also do you recommend a tool to Burn in systems? preferrably something low cost if not free.

Hello

I should start off by saying this computer is not for me but a graduation present for my girlfriend. She does a lot of simulations on different software which doesn't require a graphics card and uses Solidworks from time to time. The simulations last for days so I already went out and bought a motherboard with ECC support and 32gb ram which may be unnecessary but it has already been done.

I am not sure which graphics card I need to buy or if on board graphics will do. It seems like a waste if she uses this program for just a couple hours a week. She specializes in conveyor belts and hoppers if that helps. This would be typical of the most complicated design she would deal with:

http://www.agrinomix.com/images/prod_reviews/soil_mixing/photo1.jpg

From there I think it is exported and then the simulation starts.

My questions:
Is if it is really necessary to buy a k600 graphics card when the onboard p4600 is supported by solidworks?

Has anybody compared p4600 to k600 using the latest drivers and found the k600 to be substancially faster?

What actually happens when the graphics card is not powerful enough?

Are the powerful cards only necessary when lots of special effects are turned on?

Please go easy on me. I do not know anything about this program but I do want to buy her what she needs.

Charles,

I am puting together a new system right now. This will be for professional use and I am worried about downtime. Do you think there is any merit to spending way too much on an off the shelf station, or something more like this: http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=14-105-007%7c1%2c22-236-356%7c1%2c20-147-193%7c1%2c19-116-901%7c1%2c17-139-040%7c1%2c23-126-193%7c1%2c20-313-080%7c1%2c27-136-270%7c1%2c13-131-983%7c1%2c32-416-804%7c1%2c24-005-344%7c2%2c11-146-114%7c1

also any thoughts on the spec? going to mostly be doign SW 2014 with some Photoview and epdm

Thanks,

David A. - TVSWUG

david not to hijack your post to Charles but i thought i would mention my experience with the big builders versus building your own or buying one from perhaps XI or another smaller assembler that does not use proprietary hardware.

I have had 3 HP XW workstations all lose motherboards AFTER warrantee. At this juncture you are face with the decision of buying their proprietary and grossly outdated and overpriced motherboard for $800+ or do you spend the $2500 on another machine. if this computers main board that was off the self, it would have cost <$100 to repair and probably 3 hours of time after software installs which you would have to do anyway's.  I will not buy from HP or any builder that uses proprietary hardware.

I realize downtime costs money but i agree with charles that you will not get a more reliable computer by paying too much for it. I have 2 XI computers running for 3 years w/no issues. I just built a new computer with off the shelf parts (my third build) and ya it was a pain but i do not feel it is less reliable than my 3 HPs that died.

For 11 years I taught full time at an engineering college and all the computers were Dells. All students had mandatory laptops and they were constantly being send back for back HDD or memory or display issues. Our workstations were also Dells and less than impressive.

Its ironic that all my computers that have died were built by HP, all others were placed to pasture due to obsolescence.

my two bucks!

Vincent,

So long as the integrated graphics is really the P4600, then it should work with SolidWorks. If it turns out not to be up to snuff (for SolidWorks or for her other programs), you can always add a better graphics card later.

Jerry S.

I do some SW work at home and have been scraping by on the PC I have.  It is FAR from ideal and is painful to use on anything sightly complex.  It stated as a pretty decent gaming computer 8 years ago and some parts have been replaced over time as they failed, the video card being the most recent causlty.  I am debating how far to go with an upgrade.  Key parts are listed below;

Current Specs:

GIGABYTE GA-H61MA-D3V http://bit.ly/1toKs6y

Intel Celeron G530 Sandy Bridge 2.4GHz http://bit.ly/TxXBhy

Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) http://bit.ly/1pg9Hpe

GeForce 7600GT http://bit.ly/1k87DzI

I plan to replace the video card with the Quadro K600.  The rest I am not sure of.  I know the CPU is a big limiting factor, but my MB is LGA1155 so I cannot use the recomended CPU above.  Would another 3.4GHz+ processor that fits my MB (Intel Core i7-3770 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz?) or should I get a new MB too?

Thank you.  I guess I did not suscribe to this thread as I never got an email that there was a responce, but I had already ordered that exact processor and will have it tomorrow.