Question 3000 $ CAD Build issues
Question 3000 $ CAD Build issues
Hello everyone.
I’m working on designing a 3000+ euro rig for professional purposes. The client mainly uses CAD software such as RHINO and LUMION. I have experience assembling PC components, especially for gaming, but I’ve never built a rig for CAD before.
The main question is: besides selecting a workstation GPU like a QUADRO, should I make any other adjustments to a high-end setup?
The build needs to include a keyboard, mouse, and screen.
So far I’m considering these parts:
CPU: RYZEN 7 7800X3D (400 euros)
MOBO: Gigabyte X670 Aorus Elite AX (rev. 1.0) (300 euros)
RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32GB DDR5 (140 euros)
PSU: Corsair RMx Series RM850x (2021) 850W (160 euros)
SSD: 1x Kingston KC3000 SSD 1TB M.2 (80 euros)
1x Adata XPG Gammix S11 Pro SSD 2TB (90 euros)
GPU: PNY RTX A4500 20GB GDDR6 (1500 euros)
This totals around 1200 euros.
For the GPU, I was thinking about a PNY RTX A4500 20GB GDDR6 (1500 euros).
These are just initial ideas; I’m sure improvements are possible. My main concern is whether these standard components will work well in a workstation configuration.
Thanks a lot!
Typically you should opt for a platform that utilizes ECC DRAM for any kind of workstation. All Zen 4 CPUs support ECC, though not every motherboard does, so verification is important. On the Intel side, models from 12500/13500 and above (assuming 14th gen) generally meet this requirement, but you must confirm with a W680-based board. For the described tasks, it doesn’t seem necessary to use Xeons or Threadripper, as they add significant cost without added benefit. If your focus is on software that relies heavily on DRAM or multiple GPUs, these options will be most suitable.
You’re unlikely to need a 3dvcache CPU for these tasks since performance would suffer. When choosing between AMD and Intel, consider your specific software to see if any advantages exist, given their frequent trade-offs in productivity tools.
From a quick search on Google, I found that RHINO prefers fast clocks and more cores, making a 13900k / 7950x a good choice. (13900k vs 7950x isn’t recommended, as it’s likely a waste of money.) It’s unclear which CPU is better for your needs, but the 8950x with gains seems superior to both 13900 and 14900, especially considering the benefits of the AM5 platform. My understanding is that RAM should be sufficient, around 32 should work. And LUMION favors GPU power over CPU power, so a stronger GPU is preferable.
Having additional GPU VRAM is crucial. GPU drivers operate only on physical memory addresses and cannot utilize virtual memory, such as swap space. The greater the amount of GPU RAM available, the better, as it refers to dedicated physical RAM for the GPU without fragmentation. CAD typically requires significantly more memory than gaming. For games, lower resolution textures are often feasible, though certain CAD and AI programs may demand more VRAM.
There are GPUs with more VRAM that can be quite useful for CAD systems. Even if the system doesn’t need high speed or large files that use a lot of VRAM, it would still fail on a setup with plenty of regular RAM but limited VRAM. You might even look for something with over 24 GB of VRAM. This is why sometimes a lower-end Quadro (in terms of speed) could be chosen instead of faster GPUs, such as those with 48 GB of VRAM.
I would conduct some research in this area.
Our workstation suggestions for Lumion have been tested and fine-tuned to ensure optimal performance and dependability. Check out our hardware recommendations.
www.pugetsystems.com