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Need some help speccing a pc

  • 21-10-2010 9:47am
    #1
    darragh o meara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,237 ✭✭✭


    Hi all :)

    Im currently studying mechanical engineering and need to buy a PC for using the likes of Autocad and Solid edge ( Both drawing packages )

    Can anyone help me regarding what kind of spec I should be looking at to run these kind of programmes properly?

    Ie.
    Do I need a big graphics card?
    Do I need big amounts of ram?
    etc
    etc

    Hopefully some of ye will be able to offer some advice please.

    Darragh


Comments

  • #2
    Fysh
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 11,106 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    A decent processor and a generous amount of RAM would be good starting points, definitely. A discrete graphics card (opposed to integrated graphics like Intel HD for example) would also be a good idea, based on the AutoCAD system requirements and Solid Edge system requirements.

    Are you looking for a desktop or a laptop?
    What's your budget?
    If you're in college, have you checked whether you can get educational discounts through your college?
    Have you checked whether your college has any campus licence for you to run these software packages? (AutoCAD tends not to be cheap, and I'd imagine Solid Edge isn't either, and I don't imagine your college expects you to go warezing software in order to do coursework...)


  • #3
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,563 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    get the spec of the computers in college that the apps are running on and then price up a similar machine. that will give you an idea of what your budget will get you speedwise

    but remember that a laptop will be a lot slower than a desktop of the same GHz / memory size because they are optimised for power saving

    integrated graphics card especially on a laptop will save you a lot of money (cheapest laptop can cost less than a high end graphics card !) , and it's fine for browsing the internet or watching videos, but as Fysh says you really want to consider something better if the guys inside say it's needed


    also there is no point in you buying a second hand laptop unless you get it for far less than a new one of the same spec , do you know any gamers ?


  • #4
    darragh o meara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,237 ✭✭✭darragh o meara


    Thanks for the replys. I will be buying a Pc for the job as I already have a laptop. As per question above we will be supplied with copies of the programme and academic licence to use it for homework/ asignments etc.

    The consensus around the college is to go high on ram and a decent graphics card mated to a dual core processor.

    Would ye have any recommendations for a graphics card. Suitable for the job? I'm not into gaming but I do the OSS bit of video editing although usually on my mac!


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