New computer for home.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

I was looking to buy a new computer for mastercam so I can work at home when needed. I'm going to purchase it from the Dell Outlet. Here are some general question:

 

Windows 7 Ultimate or Professional?

 

32bit or 64bit?

 

Quadcore or Dualcore processor?

 

Are two 768mb quadro cards as good as one 1.5mb quadro card?

 

Would it be better to purchase the computer with one 768mb quadro card then add another one later?

 

If I go wth a 64bit operating system I was thinking about just starting with 4000mb of ram then buying more when it drops in price.

 

I'm looking to spend around $2000 for the entire system and want dual 21.5 or up monitors. By looking on the site this seems possible if I go with a single quadro fx1800.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

Heres one sytem I am looking at. This does not include the monitors.

 

Precision T5500

(System Identifier: 0GXF6BT2)

 

 

•Precision Workstation T5500 Tower

•Genuine Windows 7 Professional

 

System Price : $1,329.00

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Operating System

Genuine Windows 7 Professional

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Memory

4 GB DDR3 ECC SDRAM 1066MHz (3 DIMMs)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hard Disk Drive

320 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Video

768MB NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Certified Refurbished

Certified Refurbished

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Upgrade

Integrated Intel chipset SATA 3.0Gb/s controller

125V Power Cord

Quiet Key Keyboard

Precision T5500 Power Suppply

Primary Heatsink

Bezel

USB Optical two button mouse

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Processor

Processor: Quad Core Intel Xeon Processor E5530 2.4GHz,8M L3,5.8GT/s, turbo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Software Upgrade

64BIT Operating System DVD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Base

Precision Workstation T5500 Tower

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Media Bay

16X DVD ROM Drive

[gcode]

64 bit and a boatload of RAM won't get you

anything in Mastercam but it will make for a more stable system.

I don't know if dual FX-1800's would be better than a single FX-3800

 

If it were me I'd swap out the 7200rpm hard drive for a 10K Western Digital Veloicraptor

($200 from AMazon.com).

A lot of guys are using a solid state drive for the OS and a Velocirapotor for storage now.

 

Check out these 2 threads

Max RAM

 

Benchmarkers

 

Here's

a benchmark site for CPU's and video cards.

There is a search utility in the "find a page"

dropdown on the upper right

[BenK]

Thanks I was trying to find the thread that had that CPU benchmark.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

Thanks for the links gcode. Another question I have is at work we us windows xp 32bit if I use windows 7 64bit at home will my files be compatible on the 32bit work system.

[gcode]

quote:

---

if I use windows 7 64bit at home will my files be compatible on the 32bit work system.

---

yes

[jeff]

Windows 7 Ultimate or Professional?

You don't need Ultimate, as far as I know, the only difference between Pro and Ultimate is networking crap.

 

32bit or 64bit? 64 bit for sure!

 

Quadcore or Dualcore processor?

Your choice here really.

 

Is this pc strictly for Mastercam?

[jeff]

quote:

---

Thanks for the links gcode. Another question I have is at work we us windows xp 32bit if I use windows 7 64bit at home will my files be compatible on the 32bit work system.

---

Yes, on Win7 64bit, any 32bit program is stored in the x86 folder.

It's a non-issue really.

[The_Evil_Machinist]

Mac

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

jeff,

 

This system will be used primarily for mastercam.

 

Here is another system I like it is just a little over my price range:

 

Precision T5500

(System Identifier: 0GE5J0Z2)

 

 

Precision Workstation T5500 Tower

Genuine Windows 7 Professional

 

System Price : $3,069.00

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Operating System

Genuine Windows 7 Professional

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Memory

6 GB DDR3 ECC RDIMM 1333MHz (3 DIMMs)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hard Disk Drive

300 GB Serial-Attach SCSI 3Gbps 3.5-in Cabled Hard Drive (15K RPM) 2nd Drive

146 GB SAS Hard Drive 3.5(15K RPM) 2nd Drive

146 GB SAS Hard Drive 3.5(15K RPM)

450 GB Serial-Attach SCSI 3Gbps 3.5-in HotPlug Hard Drive (15K RPM) 2nd Drive

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Video

1 GB NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Software Upgrade

Windows Live

64BIT Operating System DVD

Trend Micro 16.6 PC-cillin 30 Day

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Processor

Processor: Quad Core Intel Xeon X5570 2.93GHz, 8M L3, 6.4GT/s, turbo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Upgrade

Dell USB 6-Button Laser Mouse

Desktop Chassis Configuration w/ 1394 Card

125V Power Cord

Quiet Key Keyboard

Bezel

Precision T5500 Power Suppply

Chassis Intrusion Switch

Primary Heatsink

SAS 6i/R Controller Card - For Connecting Internal SAS Hard Drives

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Media Bay

16X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Certified Refurbished

Certified Refurbished

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Base

Precision Workstation T5500 Tower

[Ron Branch @ Verisurf]

I picked up a 7500 with 12 gig and FX1800 card with dual Sata 15k Raptor Hard drives for about that much. This thing smokes and I am really happy with it.

[Rob @ Target Machine]

There are some really nice deals on the refurb site. You gotta keep a close eye on what's available and grab a nice one in your price range when it pops up.

 

I'm more than happy with mine.

[crazy^millman]

The refub site rocks and you get the same warranty as a new system. I got the 3 year at no extra cost.

[The_Evil_Machinist]

Mac wants you...