What hardware should I buy?

I am currently running SW2004 SP1 on a workstation built by our system
guys. It is a 2.4ghz P4, 1048KB ram, Nvidea GEforce 4, Windows 2000.
It runs SW OK for machine design, but there is too much time spent
waiting for commands to execute. We also are about to add a couple
more designers to SW and are looking at starting up with PDM works and
a new server for our workgroup.

My first question is what have others recently tried out for
workstations? I'm leaning towards a 3.2ghz P4, 2 or 3 MB ram, Nvidea
Quadro FX1000 or FX2000, Windows XP Pro. I guess I'm just wondering
if I should spend more on ram over video, processor over ram, OS, etc.

Also, how much does the workstation builder matter in the finished
product? From reading reviews they sometimes make mention of how very
similar systems sometimes have speed differences based on who built it
and what little "tweeks" they have put into the system. If we buy one
I am leaning towards a Dell or Xi, but our systems guys may want to
build it unless I have a good reason why they shouldn't.

Any advice or links to good reviews would be appreciated.

Bob

 

Bob:
I just ran SW 2003 benchmark on a box at work.
Combined 350
Graphics 150- I think. Ill check and repost
CPU 103
IO 83

This is a 1,000 box from dell. 2.26Ghz P4, 1G ram, FX500, 7200RPM HD.
Nothing special.

Compared to my 540 workstation from dell
Combined 349
graphics 130 I think, I'll check and repost.
CPU 91
IO 93

Now that's a 2,700 box. XEON PROCESSOR 2G, FIRE GL X1 128, 1G RAM,
72OOrpm HD

I was really suprised.

 

Thanks for your advice.
Bob