New PC for Acad

does anyone have a list of sites that one could use to investigate the best
computer and peripherals required to run Acad 2005? Or, has anyone done the
research recently and would like to share their findings? I'm a 80% 2D, 20%
3D cad guy and work with files that range from 1 to 4MB usually. Cost is not
much of a criterion for purchase but I would like high quality proven
products. Especially interested in what the best new graphics cards are
these days...
Dave
DDP

 

Dave -

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thanks Dean. I gave up on Cadalyst mag years ago after tiring of wading
through the ads but will be their website a try.
Dave

 

I use a Dell Inspiron 5150 laptop. I opted for the UXGA display, and I am running 2.0 gig of RAM. Seems to work well.

 

running 2.0 gig of RAM. Seems to work well.

thanks, but I need a new desktop computer...already have a laptop running
Acad 2005.
Dave

 

Dave: Assume you will buy a separate "seat" for the desktop? Heh!

Look for a machine that is designed with "open" architecture", i.e., nothing but processor and processor related support chips on the motherboard. DO NOT succumb to sales pitches which tout having graphics support on the motherboard.

Consider dual hard drives with on-board ram cache. Also consider partitioning your hard drives into logical drives, an old technique but sometimes handy for putting stuff in places you can remember.

Go for the best graphics card with as much on-board video ram as you can afford -especially helpful for 3D work.

A gigabyte of RAM is fairly inexpensive but verify that the RAM chips are the faster ones.

I've had better luck with AMD processors that Intel ones mainly because many of them use reduced instruction sets that give you a little edge on "apparent" processor speed at any clocking speed. If you can haggle for a machine with next-to-the-fastest-processor speed at a lower price, go for it; you'll never see the difference on the screen. Pay the extra price for the fastest processor if bragging rights are important to you.

Stay away from proprietary machines which process data "in their own special way". Compaq is one that needs serious investigation in the proprietary department ALTHOUGH I have had '02 and R14 running on a Compaq laptop with no problems.

NEVER buy a computer from the back of a truck or at a HUGE computer sale at your local coliseum on a Saturday or Sunday "week-end only" sale. Same goes for software.

Good Luck!

 

<<Assume you will buy a separate "seat" for the desktop?>>

If I'm not mistaken, the stand-alone license allows for installation on two
computers -- as long as you're the only one using it and you're not using
them both at the same time.

 

this is true, but I happen to have two licenses as I used to have an
employee...
Dave