Advice please re building a computer to run autocad 2007/8

[jonboy]

Hi folks, hope you;ll forgive a non autocad user intruding on you!

I am building a system for my little sister (not so little now!) to run autocad 2007 on, maybe upgrading to 2008 soon.

She doesn't know anything about computers so no point asking her for advice. I can build a good gaming system but have no idea what kind of horsepower autocad needs, apart from the spec on AA's website.

Proposed spec is:

cpu - amd x2 4400
ram - 2gb
hd 320gb
19" lcd monitor - so will be higher than 1280 by 1024.

As to graphics card, I need advice even more - AA's website lists standard specs, and higher specs for running 3d modelling, so:

1) is this 3D bit a required part of the program for most people, or not necessary in most cases?

2) For 3D, AA only seems to support workstation class cards, ie nvidia quadro or ati firegl - are these really necessary or will a decent gaming 3d card that is roughly the equivalent of this eg ati x800 or maybe x1800 do just as well - these are much cheaper than the workstation cards!

3) Would a firegl v5100 be adequate? I can get one second hand for about £100 - or is this overkill for most people?

4) Is the system spec I listed ok, or overkill, or too slow? I'd like it to be usable for at least a couple of years. Sister coming to end of studies so not much spare cash at the moment.


Lots of questions there, thanks for your time!

Jon

[ReMark]

The proposed spec looks fine. As for the graphics card, unless your sister plans on doing a lot of 3D work, you can pick up a good graphics card (minimum 128MB vidRAM) for $250. There's no need to spend more on the video card than you would on the rest of the parts. Any extra $$ can be put to better use by investing in another 1GB of RAM.

Recommendations for video cards can be found online at CADalyst Magazine. You might also consider buying rather than building a machine. Try Xi Computers or IBuyPower. The first is a dedicated CAD computer manufacturer while the second is geared more towards the gamer.

Gamers and CAD users tend to have very similar needs and generally push their machines harder.

[chulse]

You might want to check that your video card is supported by autodesk though:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...linkID=9240618

[Alan Cullen]

jonboy.....

We do a bit of both.....if the computer can drive the latest games......it can definetly drive the latest acad.......but as has been said previously......make sure you have at least 2 gig of ram......that way your little sister can do anything with acad and still play her games...as we all love doing.....

[chulse]

You Aussies have it made, having time for games...
And the pub...

[Alan Cullen]

Hang on, chulse.....

you got it all wrong.......we have the pub.......then we have time for games......

[chulse]

Fair enough...

Smithwicks for me

[Alan Cullen]

Smithwicks ??????

Bloody yanks.....

[chulse]

it's Irish...

[Alan Cullen]

And means.......????

Don't forget.....my heritage is Irish......and I can still get boody cranky....