Help, engineering computer

H

haasr

New Member
Help, engineering computer build

I am looking to build a computer for running 3D design software, such as SolidWorks. I want to be able to work with large assemblies with no problems. I will also be running FEA, including computationally intensive analysis like non-linear drop tests. Also running Mathematica and Matlab.

My budget is flexible at this point in time, I am looking to spend around $2000, but can go higher if necessary. Any advise or help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
 
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linkin

linkin

VIP Member
Just some questions: how multithreaded are these programs? do they scale up to 6 cores? Just trying to decide between a hexacore and a quadcore, if the programs only use 4 cores or so, to fit your budget better.
 
H

haasr

New Member
I was told by Algor, one of the FEA programs I would be using, that they are able to use multiple cores, but to which extent I do not know.
 
Remeniz

Remeniz

New Member
I think to recommend components to you for this specific build would cost a lot more than $1000.

How far can you stretch the budget?
 
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2048Megabytes

2048Megabytes

Active Member
So the question now is the Phenom II Six-Core Processor or the Core i7 Quad-Core Processor. Which would be better for him?

I think I favor the Core i7 930 or the Core i7 870 Processor on this one.
 
bomberboysk

bomberboysk

Active Member
2048Megabytes said:
So the question now is the Phenom II Six-Core Processor or the Core i7 Quad-Core Processor. Which would be better for him?

I think I favor the Core i7 930 or the Core i7 870 Processor on this one.
Click to expand...
For heavily multithreaded applications, the 1055 or 1090T are the better option. However, unless you go with 4GB dimms hes gonna be limited to 8GB overall memory....he may be better off with a 930 & 12GB of memory for this application.
 
2048Megabytes

2048Megabytes

Active Member
Take a look at these components to start:

Intel Core i7 930 Bloomfield (2.8 gigahertz) Quad-Core Processor - $290
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225&cm_re=i7_930-_-19-115-225-_-Product

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R Motherboard - $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...gabyte_motherboard_ATX-_-13-128-423-_-Product

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12 gigabytes (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) RAM - $450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_re=ddr3_1600_240-pin-_-20-231-358-_-Product

SILVERSTONE ELEMENT ST75EF 750 Watt ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - $131
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256049

Edit:
Here also is a Windows 7 installation disk:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Installation Disk OEM - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...116754&cm_re=windows_7-_-32-116-754-_-Product
 
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bomberboysk

bomberboysk

Active Member
2048Megabytes said:
Take a look at these components to start:

Intel Core i7 930 Bloomfield (2.8 gigahertz) Quad-Core Processor - $290
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225&cm_re=i7_930-_-19-115-225-_-Product

GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R Motherboard - $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...gabyte_motherboard_ATX-_-13-128-423-_-Product

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12 gigabytes (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) RAM - $450
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_re=ddr3_1600_240-pin-_-20-231-358-_-Product

SILVERSTONE ELEMENT ST75EF 750 Watt ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - $131
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256049

Edit:
Here also is a Windows 7 installation disk:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Installation Disk OEM - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...116754&cm_re=windows_7-_-32-116-754-_-Product
Click to expand...
Agreed, would go with two kits of 6x2 though, 4GB dimms are just too cost prohibitive IMO.
 
bomberboysk

bomberboysk

Active Member
I'd go with this though, 8-8-8-28 vs 7-10-10-24:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144465

Or, 8-8-8-24:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231304

For an overall build, i would suggest something along these lines:

CPU+Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.459222

HDD: Possibly multiple of these drives if more storage is needed? Not sure how much you will be storing on the computer. Use coupon code EMCYWZX27 for $16 off each drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

Ram, 2x:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144465

Case: Really personal preference on looks and such, the 690 II is one of my favorites
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112239
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 (Promo code EMCYWZX22 $7 off)

GPU: If i recall correctly, solidworks and some other programs support CUDA either natively or with plugins, and the GTX 460 is a pretty decent card for CUDA applications, also, as long as you register the card within 30 days it has a lifetime warranty.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130564

PSU: $19.50 off with promo code XFXPOWER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207003

Optical Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E1682711804016

That would end up at $1293.42 before shipping, but after coupon codes if using the 690 II Advanced and a single 1TB Drive.
 
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H

haasr

New Member
I was told by an ALGOR rep that he recommended 8 gigs of ram or more. The consensus seems to be the i7 930 over the 1090T, why is that?

That ended up being less expensive than I had thought.
 
2048Megabytes

2048Megabytes

Active Member
A single core has more processing power with a Core i7 930 Processor over the Phenom II 1090T. It will run the program a little better than the Phenom II Processor would.
 
bomberboysk

bomberboysk

Active Member
haasr said:
I was told by an ALGOR rep that he recommended 8 gigs of ram or more. The consensus seems to be the i7 930 over the 1090T, why is that?

That ended up being less expensive than I had thought.
Click to expand...
The 1090T would be a better option if there was a cost effective way of adding more memory,as 4GB DIMMs are quite cost prohibitive at this point in time.In any case the performance between the two will be relatively close(in any case, you could grab an aftermarket heatsink and overclock the i7 930 for even faster speeds), and the 12GB of memory would help quite alot for the programs you are using. Also, for any single or not very well multithreaded applications you use, the 930 will be faster.


2048Megabytes said:
A single core has more processing power with a Core i7 930 Processor over the Phenom II 1090T. It will run the program a little better than the Phenom II Processor would.
Click to expand...
In heavily multithreaded applications, the 1090T holds a slight edge.
 
2048Megabytes

2048Megabytes

Active Member
bomberboysk said:
The 1090T would be a better option if there was a cost effective way of adding more memory,as 4GB DIMMs are quite cost prohibitive at this point in time.In any case the performance between the two will be relatively close(in any case, you could grab an aftermarket heatsink and overclock the i7 930 for even faster speeds), and the 12GB of memory would help quite alot for the programs you are using. Also, for any single or not very well multithreaded applications you use, the 930 will be faster.



In heavily multithreaded applications, the 1090T holds a slight edge.
Click to expand...

I misspoke. What I meant to say was a single core of the Core i7 930 would slightly beat the single core of the Phenom II 1090T Processor. A single core of the i7 930 obviously would not beat all of the Phenom II 1090T six-cores. Both processors are very good presently.
 
bomberboysk

bomberboysk

Active Member
2048Megabytes said:
I misspoke. What I meant to say was a single core of the Core i7 930 would slightly beat the single core of the Phenom II 1090T Processor. A single core of the i7 930 obviously would not beat all of the Phenom II 1090T six-cores. Both processors are very good presently.
Click to expand...

Oh, i know you weren't saying a single core of the i7 930 wouldnt beat a Phenom II X6 1090T, the nehalem cpus are quite a bit faster clock for clock than the comparable phenoms. It just barely edges an advantage to the 1090T when all threads are utilized, however for most uses a 930 would more than likely be faster, unless a program specifically can take advantage of all cores.
 
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