CAD Workstation speeds

[Graphic]

Hello everyone,

I am looking into buying new CAD/CAM Workstations for the departments. Here is the configuration that most of us are currently using...

Twin Xeon 1.7 - 2.2 Processors 512k cache 400fsb
1gb to 1.5gb (don't know MHz)
64MB nVidia Card (Higher end when purchased)

Looking into these systems ...

Twin Dual Core Xeon 1.86GHz Processors 4MB L2 cache 1066fsb
4gb 533MHz
256 MB nVidia Quadro FX3500

The current computers we purchased 4-5 years ago. My boss would like an estimate on how much faster these new computers will be over the old systems. I believe that the Ghz rating is confusing, saying that the current ones are just as fast. Can anyone tell me a place or formula to compare the speeds of these two computers?

 

[PohTayToez]

I can see where you might see a discrepancy...

The HUGE difference is this:

Twin Dual Core Xeon 1.86GHz Processors 4MB L2 cache 1066fsb
4gb 533MHz
256 MB nVidia Quadro FX3500

You current machines only have two Xeon processors, these have two Dual Core Xeon processors, meaning that it is similiar to have four processors instead of two. Also, the new Xeons are based on the Core 2 Duo architecture, making them able to do more work per clock, which means that even if they were not dual core, they would still be significantly faster.

Also, the move from 1GB to 4GB should be nice, for CAD work 2GB seems the minimum today so you're overdue for an upgrade there.

Finally there is the FX 3500. Not the best workstation card on the market, but definitely a very solid card, and a definitely a huge leap from the FX 330 or whatever you are using now.

Overall, you can tell you're boss that these computers are going to be MUCH faster than what you currently have, and would probably be worth the upgrade.