Computer Preformance Help!?

[endlessurf]

So the first thing I know I did wrong was **** off the IT guy at my new job. He likes to think of himself as the knight in shining armor defending our engineering company from attacks. When in reality he should consider himself as that green greasy crap that gets put between the skid and the ground.

 

The computer I have lacks the minimum required ram needed to run the program. Everything else is the minimum. Our files consist of the arch's drawings, pdfs, images, and line work. I can ramble out a string of commands and go to the kitchen, pour myself some tea and get back to my desk before the computer stops spinning. The last time I was able to do this with autocad was 14yrs ago.

 

i'm at the point where I will buy my own computer if I can forgo drinking so much tea. I would like to put together a computer that can keep up or blow me out of the water. Keeping the price to a minimum is required. I can walk away from this job at anytime. I need help piecing a performance computer from parts, i.e craigslist.org etc. I'm not looking for the dream list of parts but what i could piece together from used parts and new parts. I've built computers before I am looking for input on system setups that work for people that do not cost an arm and a leg. Thanks for taking the time to read my post and for your response.

[ReMark]

What kind of budget are you working with?

 

Will you be building a 32-bit or 64-bit computer?

 

What OS will you be running?

 

I would definitely consider a 64-bit OS and pair that with a 64-bit version of Civil 3D. For RAM I would say 8-12GB. A mid-range graphics card (could even be a gaming card) would do (either ATI or nVidia). Would your budget have room for a SSD or will you be forced to go with a platter type drive?

[tzframpton]

i'm at the point where I will buy my own computer if I can forgo drinking so much tea.

One thing that really irks me is when an employee feels like he has to purchase his own equipment because his employer (or decision making co-worker) think's it's not worth the investment. I've been known to voice my opinion a lot (a little too much in most cases) but this is where I draw the line.

 

My point is, if a company wants to make the investment to run $5k+ CAD software, then you need a decent rig to run it. You can always argue that you can go back to the hand drafting board. These software applications are actually extremely efficient tools - if you have the computer to run them. Why buy nails when you don't have a hammer? We're not talking a $10k setup, just something in the $1,500 to $2,000 range. "Mid grade" in other words. Also, there's leasing options available so there's not some big lump payment. Hold I.T. accountable. Print out the minimum requirements and print out your computer specs and go above I.T. - Do whatever it takes. I'm telling you first hand I wouldn't put up with it.

 

Let us know how it goes.

[tomhamlet]

A lot of companies have an "open door polocy." Read your handbook. Follow StykFacE's advice; do the research and show it to IT. If they refuse your request, go above IT.

[ReMark]

Before kicking it up the ladder I'd get IT to put something in writing first. An email from the head of IT denying your request (preferably outlining the reasons) would work. Once you have something in hand then bypass IT and go to whoever they report to.

[tomhamlet]

Before kicking it up the ladder I'd get IT to put something in writing first. An email from the head of IT denying your request (preferably outlining the reasons) would work. Once you have something in hand then bypass IT and go to whoever they report to.

 

good call. Much to learn, this young drafter has!

[ReMark]

Not to worry. I tried the same thing once and got burned. Told the boss IT said "blah blah blah" only to have the boss pick up the phone and call the head of IT who flatly denied it. "Where's your proof?" the boss asked. I had none.

[tomhamlet]

Man, that sucks. I will have to remember that little piece of info.

[tzframpton]

Not to worry. I tried the same thing once and got burned. Told the boss IT said "blah blah blah" only to have the boss pick up the phone and call the head of IT who flatly denied it. "Where's your proof?" the boss asked. I had none.

I would have twisted off immediately and bucked up. I would have gotten almost irate and I'm not even kidding. I would have stormed out of the office and went right to his, and gotten all up in his Kool-aid.

 

If I woulda got fired over it then so be it. One thing I can't stand is people who aren't self accountable. I for one hold accountability pretty quickly.

[f700es]

+1 On this! My IT guy at "a certain doughnut company located in the SouthEast" was just like this. Tell you anything he wanted just to shut you up. I caught him in so many lies it just became a 4 year long running game. Thank God, my VP was on my side. I mean I would request something and he would come back with "I didn't think you needed that." How the **** do you know what I need in my job?

 

I would have twisted off immediately and bucked up. I would have gotten almost irate and I'm not even kidding. I would have stormed out of the office and went right to his, and gotten all up in his Kool-aid.

 

If I woulda got fired over it then so be it. One thing I can't stand is people who aren't self accountable. I for one hold accountability pretty quickly.

[irneb]

I'm still of the opinion that those who'resupposed to make the IT decisions, need to have some insight about the actualwork done. At best they need to be at the coal-face, at worst they need to have had personal experience using the programs in effect.

It's very seldom indeed when IT "Support" actually has any kind of insight about CAD (and other graphics software). 99.9...% of all IT guys have at best some Office / Database / Web / Server / Network knowledge. They tend to have no clue about ACad / Revit / 3ds / Photo Shop / etc / etc. So I cannot understand why such guys have the decision making powers as to what hardware you're going to get.

The point I'm trying to make is this: Aside from the liar atidute, the very fact that one of the employees have complained about inferior hardware shows clearly that the IT guy has no clue about what the needs of the software are. And yes, price is not supposed to be an issue, if you want to work with a program of $5k+ then a $2k PC should not be "stange". You might be able to shop around and get a similar PC for a bit less, but it WILL NOT be an entry-level PC by a long shot. FWIW I'd actuall prefer a mid-to-high-end PC from 2 years ago, than a brand new entry-level.

[f700es]

Honestly, it's pretty simple. You tell the IT person that you need a machine to do "X". In our cases "X" is a group of CAD/3D products. If you are unfamiliar with these the 1st place to look is at their website and recommended specs. If you do just this simple step you will be off to a good start.

[ReMark]

Desperate to save money then do as I did for my home computer. I went on Craigslist and found someone selling a high end gaming computer they built six months previously but now had to sell because they needed money to fix their car. I got what would have easily cost me $1800+ for a mere $1000. The fact that it had a gaming card not on AutoCAD's "list" didn't make a difference. The guy threw in a 27" monitor, the keyboard, mouse and a TV tuner card too. I bought the computer three years ago and it is currently running AutoCAD 2013.

[endlessurf]

OP here. I guess I forgot to turn on email notification. Unfortunately this is one of those deals where the people in charge hired this guy to run the IT portion of the business.The people that did the hiring are too old to understand and the only thing that would make sense to them is to say X dollars yield y efficiency.

 

The ITs opinion is the civil group only needs the hand-me-downs from the structural group. Is this true....I don't know. I are dealing with large topo, 3d pipe networks, large architectural files, large landscape files, etc. I typically have to run 2-3 instances of autocad on a project.

 

From what I mention above, I would like to get some opinions on specs for a computer that would last me 5 years. "Mid-rang" is fine. I want to take the specs and shop for them on-line.

 

For those of you wondering, the purpose of this exercise is notify the principal of three possible outcomes.

1) IT updates my equipment.

2) I furnish my own equipment and hope clients don't find out I had to update the company's dated equipment.

3) Get another job.

 

I'm enjoying the IT basing going on in this thread. Leave a story, your computer specs, and the type of company that employs you.

 

Thanks to everyone that has responded so far.

[ReMark]

You want to spec a mid-range system but you want it to last five years. In my opinion that isn't going to work unless you intend on not updating your software.

 

There is no good reason I can think of why a person would have to run 2 or 3 instances of AutoCAD. One session...many drawings. Heck, I've had up to 22 drawings opened in one session of AutoCAD.

 

My company computer specs are listed to the left.

Edited November 13, 2012 by ReMark

[SLW210]

What are your current computer specs? Might just add some RAM and a Graphics card.

 

What would your budget be for new system?

[ReMark]

Is your present computer 32-bit or 64-bit?

 

What OS are you currently running?

[Handiman]

I am in the same boat, except my IT guy is the owner.

There are 2 of us that use AutoCAD 2013 100% of the time. I started here 7 months ago and waited 2 months to say anything. The other guy doesn't want to stir the pot.

The problem is my computer falls in the minimum requirments. It is a Gateway SX-2801-05 ($449.00) Intel Dual Core 3.2GHz, 6GB Ram, 64bit, Windows 7 Home Prem. with a Windows Experience Index of 4.6

So to try and show some thoughtness he purchased a new 21" monitor (smaller han the current 23") and video card (ATI Radeon™ HD 5450) (Total $145.00 per computer)

So I have put in front of his face some quotes from different CAD machine builders from the web, quotes from $1800-$2500 and his responce is I know the computers need to be replaced but we need to take baby steps.

I have also taken him a parts list from a local computer retail store that I used one of the higher quotes and it totalled $1400.00 but I will have to spend my time to assemble it and make it work. My time is worth something. I feel!

 

Am I being a bad employee by pushing this issue?

Everything in these quotes have been explainded how and where it will make us more efficient, but he feels I am just wanting the newest and greatest.

The main problem is he doesn't know enough about CAD to test it his self and won't spend the time to sit and watch over my shoulder to see the time it is taking for this thing to think. I do not concider my self that fast in CAD and I can out work this computer.

I am about to pull my hair out.

[ReMark]

You can lead a horse to water but you can't rip his lips off.

 

$1800-$2500 is mid-range for a CAD computer. You could easily spend twice that much if you really wanted/needed a high end computer.

 

Build one yourself and lease it back to the company. LoL