Computer for Design Work Using Solid Edge

[feminazi]

I am going to need to put together a computer for my girlfriend to work at home using Solid Edge.

I would appreciate some advice on the configuration of the setup . . .

I am obviously thinking of a Core 2 Duo, but should I get an entry-level one and overclock it or get a bit higher-clocked one and not overclock it as much?

Core 2 Duo
4 gigs of RAM
RAID 0 2x320 GB SATA
Separate hdd for data storage?
ATI X1950 Pro?
18x DVD Burner
Nice mouse obviously

I figure a decent gaming card is OK but not as good as a design card, but the design card costs a few hundred bucks more . . .


I want to get RAID 0 even though this article (http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2101 ) seems to indicate it doesn't help anymore with newer computers, but I have an older computer that it makes a huge difference on so I am a bit biased . . . what do you guys think?

Is there anything else I am missing?

Solid Edge works OK on my old computer (Athlon Thunderbird!!) I think because I run a lean setup and I have RAID 0. It being a standalone workstation helps performance as well, right?

Thanks for any input in advance, I am not exactly an expert on this!

[matkun]

Raid 1 is much safer, especially if it's your girlfriend's computer. She would get upset if it screwed up and she was unable to work for a longer time or lost data..

I had 2 320GB 7200.10's in a Raid 0 using NVRaid, but one started reporting bad from SMART, so had to backup what I could off the array, destroy it and reinstall on a single drive non-raided. Atleast Seagate RMAed came back and they gave me a 400 gig to replace the 320 I sent them.

Raid 1 offers similar read performance, only thing you'd miss is write performance. Does Solid Edge write lots of big files, or is it more manipulating big files in memory and only writing them once when you save the file?

[Amourek]

I would only consider RAID-0 with faster drives (10k RPM Raptors). Though I must say if her work is important you should consider a hardware RAID solution with redundancy, or at the very least a RAID-0 array + an extra drive to do scheduled backups.

[Impossibles]

Jebus that's overkill.

I use Inventor and Solidworks, at work I use a P4 3.0Ghz, 1GB RAM, x9800 pro video card and everything runs smooth like butter.

Unless she's designing airplanes (the whole things, not just parts) something equal to or greater to that will be fine.

[Outsider]

+1 on the overkill thing.
I would spend the money more on a better OpenGL video card.

I've been running Catia v5 at work also on a P4 2.8 with 1 gig and everything was also very smooth.
Processor speed is not that crucial. It's ram that's usually the limiting factor, but with 4 gigs, you won't have any problems.

You also mention:
RAID 0 2x320 GB SATA
Separate hdd for data storage?
You want extra storage? The 2 x 320gig drives isn't enough?

[feminazi]

It sounds to me like I should go with one hard drive and not go too wild with the system because it will be fine with a lot of RAM and a basic Core 2 Duo and perhaps a workstation graphics card but not necessarily even that is required.

I wonder if buying 2 gigs to start and seeing how it would go would be wise?

Should I avoid Windows Vista for awhile?

[cwb27]

Should I avoid Windows Vista for awhile?

Check the software developer's website and see what they say.

[Impossibles]

It sounds to me like I should go with one hard drive and not go too wild with the system because it will be fine with a lot of RAM and a basic Core 2 Duo and perhaps a workstation graphics card but not necessarily even that is required.

I wonder if buying 2 gigs to start and seeing how it would go would be wise?

Should I avoid Windows Vista for awhile?

Sounds about right, I wouldn't even go 2GB...1GB should be plenty.

[feminazi]

Apparently Solid Edge will not install on non-supported operating systems, I wonder if that includes Vista?! It excludes everything but Windows XP apparently but they don't mention Vista specifically.

http://www.solidedge.com/overview/system.requirements.htm

[Impossibles]

Apparently Solid Edge will not install on non-supported operating systems, I wonder if that includes Vista?! It excludes everything but Windows XP apparently but they don't mention Vista specifically.

http://www.solidedge.com/overview/system.requirements.htm

Solid Edge is pretty small compared to the big boys in the 3D modelling market, so I wouldn't count on them being 100% Vista capable for a long while.

[feminazi]

Solid Works is more popular? It has similar requirements as Solid Edge, doesn't it?

[erikr]

I use SolidWorks 2006 at work. I handle large assemblies with hundreds of parts. The difference is significant going from 1Gb to 2Gb.

For general CAD use, 1Gb of RAM is fine.

[feminazi]

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4795751&posted=1#post4795751

Would this Quadro FX1300 be better than a newer games card like a current-gen Geforce 8800 GTS or an ATI 1950XT?

It would be better for some very specific applications but much slower overall?

[Drthorne]

the Quadro cards let you turn on some features in Solidworks like realview. this one is used, but it's a great price. I find the nvidia cards work better for Solidworks
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=410293

list of certified video cards for Solidworks
http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/videocardtesting.html

[feminazi]

That is a very reasonable price, but I have to get the software and system for home first . . . saving pennies slowly but surely! :)

[Drthorne]

you'll need lots of pennies, the software cost between $6000 - $8000