Hey guys,
[Skip this paragraph if you don't want to waste your time with the backstory]:
Hoping someone can help me out of a minor bind...
My client has pushed (well, nudged, I don't want to blame them for giving me business) me into supplying desktops for their staff of Engineers/Drafters, which is not our primary business. But since they hinged their acceptance of our proposal on this, I had to agree. As this should tell you, we're in a pretty inferior bargaining position with this client - this rather large company needs us a lot less than we need them. So we need to get build these as cheap as possible.
ANYWAYS, to the QUESTION:
I need to build 40 desktops that meet the required specs for AutoCAD 2010, at the cheapest possible cost.
In particular, which processor?
And, any hints on where to get the cheapest prices on components, particularly software and monitors?
ADDITIONAL INFO:
Here's the specs they gave us, but it wasn't their tech guy - they got it from the AutoCAD website, but I think they got mixed up b/w the requirements for a 32-bit system and a 64-bit system.
GIVEN SPECS - which may not be set in stone:
3 GHz Dual-Core Processors
2GB RAM - minimum
200 to 250 GB Hard Drive
Read/Write CD Drive
22-Inch LCD Monitors
Software: Windows XP, Microsoft Office Suite (including Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, and Access)
AUTOCAD SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
AutoCAD requirements are on their website: http://usa.autodesk.com/ad
I wanted to copy&paste them here to make it easier for y'all, but it's too long.
I'll put the processor req'ts though:
For 32-bit AutoCAD 2010
(with XP 32-bit):
* Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon® dual-core processor, 1.6 GHz or higher with SSE2 technology
or
(with Windows 7 32-bit):
* Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon dual-core processor, 3 GHz or higher with SSE2 technology
For 64-bit AutoCAD 2010
(with Windows XP Professional x64 edition (SP2 or later)):
* AMD Athlon 64 with SSE2 technology, or AMD Opteron® processor with SSE2 technology, or Intel® Xeon® processor with Intel EM64T support and SSE2 technology, or Intel Pentium 4 with Intel EM64T support and SSE2 technology
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You're saying Dell has the cheapest prices for buying individual components, or whole desktops? The best price I found for a complete Dell system using the client's specs was $1400 including tax - and that required me to try to beat their 5 comp limit on their promotion.
Any idea on which processor given by AutoCAD requirements is the cheapest?
And what are some good sites to get cheap deals on components?
If you want a cheap processor that is still fairly powerful, I would recommend an AMD Athlon II X2 240 http://www.cpubenchmark.ne
Great info -
I came across the Athlon II X2 250 @ $76.00 from Newegg, and wasn't sure if there was something that I didn't know that would make it a bad choice.
Your answer gave me a lot more confidence if I end up going with that choice.
Actually, what would you go with out of these processors and prices that I found (as well as the AMD you suggested):
Intel Pentium D 830 for $80
D 945 for $110
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 for $150
E8400 for $180
Or go with the AMD X2 250 for $80?
I have the E8400 and think it is a great all-around cpu; I use it 24/7 in my video server. However, it only scores 2163 in the benchmark, whereas the Athlon II X2 250 scores 1660 but costs less than half. If total cost is a factor, it is very attractive and a solid performer. I would not consider the Pentium D cpus at all, as they are much slower (benchmark of 794 for the PentiumD 830 and 1192 for the PentiumD 945). If absolute performance is the most important consideration, then the E8400 is the best choice.
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by: hutnorPosted on 2009-10-30 at 01:37:56ID: 25700986
Dell may have the cheapest parts but depends where you live i guess