Graphics cards

Hi all,
just had tentative agreement from my boss to build a new box for
Solidworks (currently 2005 SP0.1), just wanted to get some opinions on
suitable graphics cards. Can I get away with an ordinary high end
gaming card (Geforce 6800 GT or Ultra maybe) or will I see significant
gains from a Quadro thingy?

N.B. needs to be available in the UK

Many thanks in advance
Keith Kerwin
Development Engineer
BSL Gas Technologies Ltd.

 

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/VideoCardTesting.html

If you pick something not supported, support will have trouble helping
you. Stay to something on the list.

 

Don't use a high end gaming card, if you want to work at a sensible pace.
Yes the Geforce cards do work, but very slowly on an Assembly bigger than 50
parts.
I have one at home,(Nvidia 5700-256Mb and also the ATI FGL8700( even
slower)), but at work, I have a Quadro4 XGL 900 and the difference is
amazing.
Also you do not get realview with the gaming cards.
Graphic card, Memory, Processor, Hard Drive, in that order to get the best
machine.
Just my 2 Cents

 

sigh - there goes most of the budget.........
but I think you're probably right about using a 'proper' graphics card
Pete

The thing that's actually causing me most grief at the mo' is saving,
opening and rebuilding, particulary drawings - CPU usage indicator in
task manager is 100%, memory usage less than half, network connection
pretty much idle. The current system is a P4 1.9GHz, 1 Gb ram, Quadro 2
MXR, Windows 2000 SP4 and all Solidworks (2005 SP0.1) files stored on
the network server.

I tend to save quite often, because even though 2005 seems to be pretty
stable I still don't trust it not to lose work for me by 'terminating
due to unhandled errors'. Trouble is, my boss seems to appear behind me
every time I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting for something to save, so it
looks like I'm not doing any work!

 

sigh - there goes most of the budget.........
but I think you're probably right about using a 'proper' graphics card
Pete

The thing that's actually causing me most grief at the mo' is saving,
opening and rebuilding, particulary drawings - CPU usage indicator in
task manager is 100%, memory usage less than half, network connection
pretty much idle. The current system is a P4 1.9GHz, 1 Gb ram, Quadro 2
MXR, Windows 2000 SP4 and all Solidworks (2005 SP0.1) files stored on
the network server.

I tend to save quite often, because even though 2005 seems to be pretty
stable I still don't trust it not to lose work for me by 'terminating
due to unhandled errors'. Trouble is, my boss seems to appear behind me
every time I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting for something to save, so it
looks like I'm not doing any work!

 

That's great, about the boss being there, get him to watch how long it takes
to save a file.
Quote, "time is money, you tight git!", and he will either get you a new
machine or give you the sack!!, lol

I started with the Quadro2, but it really is Pentium3 era, and for old
software.
The case to point out is that for modern software you need modern pc's.
Yes the initial cost is high, but so is waiting for file saves costly, not
only in time and stress, but also in lost and forgotten ideas.

My BIG boss haves a nice big jag to impress the clients, (so he says), so
why can't you use a ford, I asked ?
"Because he can't do HIS job properly without the proper tools for HIS job",
was his answer.
"Exactly, I have the same problem", I replied.
For once, and only once, he was speechless!
I got the machine!, hehe, but less coffee breaks. Grrr :-(

A good boss listens and acts, a bad boss just moans about money and does
nothing.

ps. Try showing him these posts, it may help, ok, pigs may fly, but it's
worth a go!

 

sigh - there goes most of the budget.........
but I think you're probably right about using a 'proper' graphics card
Pete

The thing that's actually causing me most grief at the mo' is saving,
opening and rebuilding, particulary drawings - CPU usage indicator in
task manager is 100%, memory usage less than half, network connection
pretty much idle. The current system is a P4 1.9GHz, 1 Gb ram, Quadro 2
MXR, Windows 2000 SP4 and all Solidworks (2005 SP0.1) files stored on
the network server.

I tend to save quite often, because even though 2005 seems to be pretty
stable I still don't trust it not to lose work for me by 'terminating
due to unhandled errors'. Trouble is, my boss seems to appear behind me
every time I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting for something to save, so it
looks like I'm not doing any work!

 

I don't think the graphics card will have much impact on your problems. If
the CPU is at 100%, then a faster processor should help, but drawings aren't
very graphics card intensive. Neither are saving, opening and rebuilds.

When you say memory usage is at half, do you mean that you are using only
half of your 1GB of RAM? If so, then memory won't help either. If you mean
you are using half of your total memory and it is set to, say, 3X your
physical memory, then more memory would help, but usually you will see your
CPU usage drop as you thrash your memory.

You might try loading some sample parts and drawings locally, then compare
your working time. If you see a big reduction, you can talk to the IT people
about how fast the network is. A faster network, or a way to load locally
could help in that case. Although, again, I wouldn't expect your CPU to be
pegged if you are spending time waiting for data to come over the line.

Jerry Steiger
Tripod Data Systems
"take the garbage out, dear"

 

I wonder why my post got posted three times?

Anyhow, convincing my boss (and the MD) that I needed a new machine
wasn't too hard - they just said to tell them what I wanted and they'd
find the money from somewhere. (I should mention at this point that my
company is a very special place - I don't think that would ever have
happened in many 'normal' organisations!).

That aside, I don't want to take the p*** by spending thousands which
is why I offered to build the system myself, but that does mean that
I've got to make sure the stuff that I choose is reasonably future
proof.

At the moment I'm thinking something like a Quadro FX1300 PCI Express
would be quite reasonable, coupled with a 'just behind the cutting
edge' 64 bit Athlon, and about 2 Gig RAM. Does anyone have any
comments?

Also, does anyone know the difference (in performance terms) of
registered and un-registered RAM used dual channel?
Thanks all

Keith Kerwin

 

P4 2.8 2Gb Ram Sata Raptor drives, Nvidia 900 xgl.

My cpu is always at 100% when opening assemblies, even locally.

 

Pete,
I like the look of the Raptor drives - how do you find them?

So if processors are used flat out when opening assemblies etc, then
the more processor grunt I have the better - perhaps I should push my
luck and try for an Athlon64FX O))

Does anyone know why my posts are getting reposted so many times: I
don't think it's anything that I'm doing wrong...... I realise it must
annoy people, so I'll have to go back to lurking and hope someone else
asks the right questions!

 

I get my Raptor drives from www, dot, insight, dot, com/ uk
Make sure you use the /uk, or you will end up on a site, that has no
computer parts at all!
You can navigate from there, to anywhere in the world, then.

If you want, you can buy direct from western digital.

You could be making multiple postings, by sending more than once, they don't
always appear straight away.
Sometimes you have to come out of the newsgroup, look at another, then come
back and your posting will be there.

If you already know this, then forget what I have just written!






See you have already! , lol