Anyone know or actually running a CAD workstation....

[BRB]

.......with a dual core processor and/or SLI setup? Just wondering what kind of performance boost either or both of these setups provide.

[rhettro]

I just don't see SLI doing anything meaningful for CAD. For 2D drafting, neither dual core or SLI will make much difference. For OpenGL visualization, get a dedicated OpenGL video card such as an Nvidia Quadro.

[Voltaire]

...on SLI, xbit labs just did a review and the performance difference between single and SLI setup was within the margin of error - totally not worth it.

The dual core (or multi-processor) issue depends on exactly what soft you're going to run. Almost all major CAD packages are single-threaded except for maybe the FEA module so there is no gain in the app but you'd see a difference if multi-tasking.

I'm running NX2 on an Electra 525w and it's definately a Ferrari. Check it out here: http://www.electracomp.com/product.php?productid=16144&cat=0&page=1

Whatever you get get the fastest Opteron you can afford, a WD Raptor hard drive and (budget)ATI Fire GL V5100 or (midrange)Quadro FX 3450. The FX 3500 is coming out in the near future so it might be worth waiting a few more weeks for that.

Opty/FX 3450/Raptor/2GB fast memory and you'll be very happy :)

Cheers.

[Transfurzz]

...on SLI, xbit labs just did a review and the performance difference between single and SLI setup was within the margin of error - totally not worth it.

The dual core (or multi-processor) issue depends on exactly what soft you're going to run. Almost all major CAD packages are single-threaded except for maybe the FEA module so there is no gain in the app but you'd see a difference if multi-tasking.

I'm running NX2 on an Electra 525w and it's definately a Ferrari. Check it out here: http://www.electracomp.com/product.php?productid=16144&cat=0&page=1

Whatever you get get the fastest Opteron you can afford, a WD Raptor hard drive and (budget)ATI Fire GL V5100 or (midrange)Quadro FX 3450. The FX 3500 is coming out in the near future so it might be worth waiting a few more weeks for that.

Opty/FX 3450/Raptor/2GB fast memory and you'll be very happy :)

Cheers.

Welcome to sharky. :)

[Voltaire]

I appreciate the welcome. Been of fan of SharkyX for a long time - just recently discovered the forum.

Guess I should have been paying more attention :)

We have very nearly the same 'gaming' rig except I've got a 6600GT I grabbed used off eBay paired with a used Barton XP 2800+ mobile. Run HL2, FEAR, Splinter Cell etc. smooth as butter at highest quality settings.

Still don't see a reason to upgrade yet. Looks like AM2 isn't going to be reason enough yet either - waiting for X2 4800+ to hit the sub-$200 range.

XP Barton 2800+ mobile @ 2.3GHz on air
eVGA 6600GT stock clock
1GB Crucial Ballistix 2-2-2-6
WD 80GB 7200 HDD
$30 case w/400w no-name PS
Samsung 16x DVD-RW

[Nater]

What if you're using two Open GL cards in SLI? The knewer Quadro cards do SLI...

Also, I'm sure a dual core or multiple dual cores would make a huge impact in something like computational fluid dynamics. I don't know if that falls under "CAD", but it does fit the generic definition.