In our previous two posts we have been discussing the increasing confusing topic of “minimum system requirements” for CAD workstations. In the first post we looked at the reasons why businesses should not be asking what the “minimum system requirements” when specifying new and upgrade hardware. In the second post we examined how the developer’s “minimum system requirements” should be used as a starting point to specify new and upgrade hardware. In this post we are going to look at the system specifications that we here at Kung Fu Drafter give to our coworkers and clients.

First of all let’s look at the developer’s “minimum system requirements” and what they mean. For Civil 3D Autodesk sets the “minimum system requirements” for 32-bit workstations as the following:

• Microsoft® Windows Vista or XP SP2 or SP3
• Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon® dual-core processor, 3 GHz or higher
• 4 GB RAM – suggested /3GB switch
• 7 GB disk space, 2 GB free after installation
• 1,280 x 1,024 display, 128 MB or greater, Direct3D®-capable graphics card
• Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 7.0 or later
• DVD drive

In our previous post we discussed that this specification leaves little room for improvement. One area for possibly improvement is the workstation’s processor. We also looked at the logic that we use to determine a processor purchase and made some recommendations.

We here at Kung Fu Drafter believe that any investment in hardware should be specified with two main ideas in mind. One being a workstation’s specification should operate at the upper limit of the available budget. The second is that a workstation’s specification should allow for the purchase of hardware that is more than capable of handling its main application. We feel that this approach best provides a workstation specification for a workstation that will be more than capable of handling its main application. It also specifies a workstation that will be usefull for years rather than one that requires repeated annual upgrades.

To further guarantee that a workstation gets the maximum performance possible we recommend migrating new workstations to a 64-bit operating system. Specifically speaking, we recommend Microsoft’s Windows Vista 64. Autodesk recommends Windows Vista over Windows XP due to improved memory management tools in Vista.

Migration to a 64-bit operating system allows for increased access to a workstation’s memory. That is to say that instead of limiting Civil 3D’s access to 2 gigabytes of RAM (3 gigabytes where enabled) each instance of Civil 3D on a 64-bit operating system has access to 4 gigabytes of RAM. This limitation is due to the fact that Civil 3D (and many other CAD applications) is currently not available in a native 64-bit version. Other applications, such as Autodesk’s AutoCAD 2010 and Map 3D 2010, are available in native 64-bit versions. These native 64-bit versions of CAD software will have access to the full amount of RAM installed on the workstation. The operating system itself has the potential to access virtually limitless RAM (Vista’s support limitation is 128 gigabytes of RAM). What this means is that a 64-bit workstation, by default, has a greater ability to access and distribute RAM to memory hungry applications running on it. Even if multiple instances of the same application are opened at the same time, each instance has potential access to at least 4 gigabytes of RAM. Recently a very informative post has been made at the Being Civil blog outlining an informal experiment to determine the performance potential of a 64-bit CAD workstation.

The specification for a 64-bit (and 32-bit) CAD workstations should be made with growth potential in mind. That approach begins with the purchase of a motherboard for the workstation. Once a processor has been determined a compatible motherboard is required to install the processor onto. This motherboard should accommodate recent advances in graphic card ports (PCI-e for example) and also at least 8 gigabytes of DDR2 (or faster) RAM. This motherboard allows for a basic transition from 32-bit to 64-bit and/or the addition of RAM in the future. For workstations being specified with 64-bit OS’s we recommend motherboards that accommodate at least 16 gigabytes of DDR2 (or faster) RAM.

This brings our recommended CAD workstation specification to the following:

• Windows Vista 64 (SP 1)
• Intel Core 2 processor (3.2 GHz or higher with 1000 MHz or greater FSB)
• Asus P5Q series motherboard (16+ gigabytes of RAM capable, PCI-e 2.0)
• 8 gigabytes of DDR2+ RAM (16 gigabytes depending on use and budget) (4 gigabytes per unit)
• 80 to 100 gigabyte hard drive (We prefer Seagate. Anything but Western Digital)
• nVidia Quadro FX series dual output graphics card (512 megabytes of RAM, 1 gigabyte if possible)
• DVD RW drive
• Dual 19” LCD displays (we prefer standard vs. widescreen)

We feel this specification will produce a CAD workstation more than capable of handling any industry standard CAD application in use at the time of this writing. Furthermore we feel that this workstation specification will allow for multiple system upgrades in the future before replacement will be necessary.

We know that this simple workstation specification is a bit of an anti-climatic conclusion. However, with the ever escalating power and capabilities of modern CAD software comes the ever increasing demands we place on out workstations. For this reason we felt that the topic warranted a thorough discussion not just of what the “minimum system requirements” are, but what a workstation should be. What it should be is this: versatile, reliable and powerful.

As CAD managers and professionals we rely on our workstations on a daily basis. We push them. We abuse them. And while we never stop to appreciate that they work, we make note of ever instance of failure. In many ways we here at Kung Fu Drafter view our workstation much the same as we view the horses we own. They are powerful and loyal creations that make it possible to earn our living on a continuing basis. It is for this reason that we feel the topic of their specification deserves more than the minimum ...

- KFD -