Suggestions for CAD workstations from engineers
Engineers suggest prioritizing a fast CPU, a specialized professional GPU, and a minimum of 32GB of RAM for CAD workstations in order to achieve a balance of performance and cost. The Dell Precision 3680, which has lately proven to be a popular choice for single-threaded operations necessary for many CAD workflows, is a solid candidate. Other well-liked options are HP Z series and Dell Precision workstations. The operating system and active files should be stored on a quick NVMe SSD, while projects should be stored on a bigger secondary SSD.
Main items to concentrate on
• Central Processing Unit:
Since many CAD operations are single-threaded, a fast clock speed is essential for the CPU.
• Advice: Use an Intel Core i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9 high clock speeds (e.g., Intel Core i7-14700).
• GPU:
A specialized professional graphics card is necessary for handling large files, rendering, and seamless 3D modeling.
• Suggestion: Use the NVIDIA RTX professional series (such as RTX 2000 Ada) or a comparable product from another manufacturer, such as AMD, to guarantee that it has plenty of VRAM.
• RAM:
Adequate memory capacity helps prevent bottlenecks and enables multitasking with huge files and complicated assemblies.
• Suggestion: While 32GB is the industry norm, 64GB+ is recommended if you use BIM or simulation software for a lot of multitasking.
• Storage:
For optimal workflow efficiency, a quick primary drive and a big secondary drive are necessary.
• Main: a 1 TB NVMe SSD for the operating system and currently used software.
• Secondary: At least 2TB of SSD storage for project files and libraries.
Well-known line of workstations
• Dell Precision:
The Precision 3680 stands out for its excellent single-threaded performance, which is ideal for a variety of CAD applications, and provides a fair mix of performance and value.
• HP Z Series
Renowned for outstanding performance in challenging environments, as evidenced by the Z8 G4 and ZBook Power G9.
• ThinkStation by Lenovo:
It's a great option for professionals who need high-performance workstation functionality while they're on the road since it's versatile.
Additional factors
• Cooling: To ensure consistent performance, a high-quality air or liquid cooler is required for cooling.
• Power Supply: A 650W–850W 80 PLUS Gold rated power supply is advised for stability and potential future improvements.
• Operating System: Verify that your Windows 10 or 11 operating system is 64-bit.
