Picking Perfect Workstation

7/29/2019 Picking Perfect Workstation

1/5

Picking the Perfect Workstation:A Buyers Guide for Maximum CAD/CAM

Performance and Reliability

October 2011

Sponsored by Lenovo and Intel


2/5

Picking the Perfect Workstation: A Buyers Guide for Maximum CAD/CAM Performance and Reliability

Sponsored by Lenovo and Intel | www.cadcamperormance.com1

Workstations are the engines that power design creativity and engineering precisionbut they

arent always at the top o the IT agenda. IT managers need to understand that the hardware

needs o the CAD/CAM team are dierent rom those o other users who rely on desktop systems

or laptop PCs.

CAD/CAM managers and IT managers dont always agree on the type and requency o workstation

purchases, but oten the hardware that meets end-user needs is the same solution that rees up IT to

work on more strategic activities and ocus on broader business goals.

The cost o running modern CAD applications on inappropriate or outdated hardware costs industrie

billions o dollars each year. This buyers guide is designed to help decision-makers solve that problem

Use it to better understand what types o workstations provide end users with the power they need

to work productively, while minimizing energy costs and the need or IT support.

Perormance Considerations

For workstations to perorm at their best, they need to provide ample computing power or thesotware theyre runningas well as the tasks that designers and engineers need to perorm.

Obviously, an engineer whos working with complex simulation tools needs a more powerul

confguration than a designer working on a 2D blueprint.

Always aim to buy a workstation or maximum productivity, not minimum requirements. I you only

build a confguration to the minimum specifcations, youll miss out on the ull potential o your

CAD/CAM sotware, and end users will likely miss deadlines, make more mistakes, and request

more support rom IT. Whats more, youll be more likely to have to purchase a new workstation

sooner than expected, especially i the next version o your sotware raises the system requirements.

Buying the least powerul workstation may seem like a good decision in the beginning, but the

couple o hundred dollars you save on the purchase price will end up costing you much more in

the long run.

That being said, what are the components you should look or in specifc workstation confgurations

1. CPU

As the brain o a workstation, the central processing unit (CPU) carries out the instructions o the

CAD/CAM application your machines are running. CAD/CAM sotware is much more specialized

than business applications like Microsot Word, or example, so having a powerul CPU is important:

Complex tasks and calculations require dual-core or quad-core processors at a minimum. (At the

same time, six-core or eight-core processors are overkill or 2D.)
http://www.cadcamperformance.com/http://www.cadcamperformance.com/


3/5


The Xeon amily o Intel processors or the equivalent is recommended or all CAD/CAM use cases:

Use Case CPU

2D design Intel Xeon

E3-1245

3D Modeling; Part and Intel Xeon

simple assembly design E3-1270

Intensive modeling; Complex design Intel Xeon

in context and system assembly W3690

High-end modeling; Simultaneous Intel Xeon

use o multiple applications X5687

Simulation and rendering; Multiple motion Dual Intel

simulations in complex assemblies Xeon X5687s

2. GPU

The graphics processing unit (GPU) is a specialized circuit that diverts memory so you can create

and manipulate graphic images quickly and smoothly. As designers and engineers work with more

complex 3D models, the need or a more powerul GPU increases. Discrete Quadro graphics card

rom NVIDIA or the equivalent are recommended or all 3D CAD/CAM use cases, while Intel

integrated graphics are suitable or 2D work.

Use Case GPU

2D design Integrated Intel HD

Graphics P3000

3D Modeling; Part and NVIDIAsimple assembly design Q2000

Intensive modeling; Complex design NVIDIA

in context and system assembly Q4000

High-end modeling; Simultaneous NVIDIA

use o multiple applications Q5000

Simulation and rendering; Multiple motion NVIDIA

simulations in complex assemblies Q6000

3. RAM

The amount o RAM installed in a CAD/CAM workstation can dramatically impact perormance.Without enough memory, a system starts caching data to its hard drive, which can lead to latency,

system crashes, and other rustrations.

The type o memory you install in a workstation is also important. Memory errors are the leading

cause o system crashes, and have also been shown to make systems more vulnerable to security

breaches. Workstations with Error Correction Code (ECC) memory provide a much more stable

environment, resulting in ewer computer crashes and better data integrity. Several studies confrm

that ECC memory reduces the likelihood o a system crash by 25 times.


Workstation TCO:

Dont Sweat the

Acquisition Price

A workstations initial purchaseprice only represents 1020%

of the total cost of ownership

(TCO). Smart shoppers will buy

new, energy-efcient machines

with performance features and

remote-management tools that

minimize ongoing support and

maintenance ex penses.


4/5


Use the chart below as a guide to determine memory amounts or specifc CAD/CAM use cases:

Use Case RAM

2D design 4 GB ECC

3D Modeling; Part and 6 GB ECC

simple assembly design

Intensive modeling; Complex design 12 GB ECC

in context and system assembly

High-end modeling; Simultaneous 16 GB ECC

use o multiple applications

Simulation and rendering; Multiple motion 16 GB ECC

simulations in complex assemblies

4. OSThe operating system on your workstation has a big impact on memory. You can have all the RAM

in the world installed in your system, but i you run a 32-bit OS youll only be able to access about

3 GB. Instead, go with 64-bit Windows 7. This will enable users to access more RAM more easily

and with more stability, saving time and giving you other management and security benefts.

5. Hard Drive

CAD users need hardware with much aster hard-drive speeds and a larger cache than regular

ofce PCs. CAD fles may include hundreds, or even tens o thousands, o separate components.

The hard drive is critical to reducing lag time.

SATA drives o at least 250 GB are appropriate or all 2D and most light 3D use cases, while

500GB SATA drives are ideal or most other 3D applications.

Move up to a 450 GB SAS drive or users running complex simulation tools. The most common o

these server-class drives operate at 15K RPM and oer better reliability (about twice the mean-time

between-ailure spec) compared to popular SATA drives. The tradeo is that they run louder and can

be considerably more expensive, but in certain cases theyre worth it.

6. Monitors

Bigger is always better when it comes to monitors, as a larger work area improves speed and

accuracy. For about $100 more than a 19-inch model, a 22-inch monitor oers 31% more work

area. Using 24-inch monitors increases usable workspace by up to 57%.

I at all possible, confgure your CAD/CAM workstations with multiple monitors. Microsot researchers

have demonstrated that using a second monitor can improve productivity by about 10%and even

up to 50% or specifc tasks like cutting and pasting.

Having CAD running on the primary displaywhile viewing specs, related drawings, and even

email on a second displayeliminates the need to constantly switch among windows on a single

monitor. You can also spread the CAD/CAM application across both monitors when working on

very large drawings or complicated assemblies.


Desktops or Workstations:

A 2D Dilemma?

Putt ing 2D users on a regular

desktop is doing them a disservice.

For as little as $650, an entry-

level workstation, certied to

work with your preferred CAD/

CAM software, will give you and

your 2D users a lot more bang for

the buck. Follow these simple

guidelines for a great ROI:

Choose a workstation with

an entry-level Xeon processor

from Intel. This will give you

much greater performance

than an Intel Core processor

Dont waste your money on

a discrete graphics card.

Integrated graphics are just

ne for 2D use

Make sure you get ECC memory

to prevent system crashes

and lockups

Use a 64-bit OS to maximize

memory use


5/5

4

Cost-Cutting ConsiderationsWhile better perormance can lower costs and raise revenue through greater reliability and

productivity, there are other considerations that have a more direct and measurable impact on

your businesss bottom line.

7. Energy Efciency

Todays workstations consume about hal as much energy as machines built just a ew years ago,

so its important to look or models that are EPEAT Gold-rated and ENERGYSTAR 5.0-compliant.

I you have several workstations in one room, youll also save on cooling costs.

Green machines have other advantages, including reduced amounts o packaging and vendor-led

recycling programs. These can add a great deal o value i youre buying tens, hundreds, or even

thousands o workstations at a time.

8. Remote-Management Tools

One o the biggest costs o a workstation over its lietime alls under the category o management

and support. Many new workstations minimize these costs with remote-management tools, powered

by Intel vPro Technology.

Such tools enable remote security patch updates, system restorations, and troubleshooting, even i

a workstation is turned o or cant boot. Desk-side visits are kept to a minimum, and IT sta is reed

up to take on additional projects. According to a study conducted by TBR, remote-management

technology reduced the time associated with management tasks rom 50% to 80% over previous

methods. Host-based confguration simplifes the provisioning process, and eatures like accelerated

encryption oer even more peace o mind.

ConclusionBuying new workstations can be an expensive undertaking, but the capabilities o powerul new

machines can help you realize ROI more quickly. I you make smart purchasing decisions, you can

minimize your total cost o ownership and satisy the perormance needs o your end users. Both o

these goals contribute to a more efcient workplace and a stronger bottom line.

For more resources and tools discussing how you can improve CAD/CAM perormance, visit

www.cadcamperormance.com.


Sponsored by Lenovo and Intel | www.cadcamperormance.com

Get More Value from Your

Old Workstations

You dont have to throw your old

workstations away or pay tohave them recycled. If you decide

to keep your older machines, you

can hand them down the design

chain or even give them to ofce

workers who could use a more

powerful PC. This strategy helps

employees perform at their best

and gives you a better return on

your hardware investment.

If you prefer to discard or

recycle your old workstations,

ask your workstation vendor

whether or not they have an

Asset Recovery program. You

might be surprised how much

cash or credit you can get from

your old machines.
http://users/leomarchis/Library/Caches/Adobe%20InDesign/Version%207.0/en_US/InDesign%20ClipboardScrap1.pdfhttp://www.cadcamperformance.com/http://www.cadcamperformance.com/http://users/leomarchis/Library/Caches/Adobe%20InDesign/Version%207.0/en_US/InDesign%20ClipboardScrap1.pdf

Picking Perfect Workstation

Documents

Transcript of Picking Perfect Workstation