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Forums >> Workflow & Implementation >> Hardware >> Hardware tradeoffs
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Joined: Fri, May 1, 2009
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Hey - I'm not a Revit user myself but my brother-in-law, who knows next-to-nothing about computers and doesn't want to know about 'em, has asked me to help him put a system together. So! I have some specific questions re: hardware tradeoffs vis-a-vis Revit performance.1. The standard Core 2 Duo/Quad or Xeon?2. Is error-correcting (ECC) RAM recommended?3. A standard GPU (video card) or a workstation card such as the Nvidia Quadro?4. A single 1GB GPU or dual 512MB GPUs? Is 1GB overkill?Thanks!
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Dang, where'd my formatting go? - The standard Core 2 Duo/Quad or Xeon?
- Is error-correcting (ECC) RAM recommended?
- A standard GPU (video card) or a workstation card such as the Nvidia Quadro?
- A single 1GB GPU or dual 512MB GPUs? Is 1GB overkill?
Thanks, again!
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1. Core 2 Duo works best if you're not doing a lot of rendering as Revit is a single processor application. I've seen some screaming Duos that outperform some of the Quads. I'd go for a Core 2 Quad or an i7 if you're doing the occasional rendering, as Revit will take advantage of the multiple cores when rendering. Stay FAR away from the Xeons. They're much, MUCH slower per dollar spent. Get the fastest processor you can afford. 2. I couldn't say I've ever seen a recommendation for that. I've never spec'd it, nor felt the need for it. 3. I haven't seen the benefit in Revit of using a workstation card. I've got multiple machines running at work with FX1700s on them. I swapped one out with an ATI 4850 and it actually improved display performance. I wouldn't spend big bucks here, focus on the processor first and ram second. 4. Whatever you can afford really. I don't have experience with multiple cards, but I'm not sure Revit would benefit much. I've been using single 512 cards with no real display issues to speak of. Again, the big bucks should be spent on the processor. 5. I know, there's no five on your list, but 64 bit should be a requirement. Just making sure!
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@need4mospd: Dude, thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for. I'm surprised about the recommendation for the consumer-grade GPU but it seems to jive with other things I've read about Revit performance. I'd still love to hear more input, especially re: two GPUs with X memory or a single GPU with 2X memory. Anyone? EDIT: re: 64-bit - of course! No harm in performing a sanity check, though, so no offense taken. 
Edited on: Wed, May 13, 2009 at 10:00:07 AM
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I am also trying to spec out a new laptop to run revit and render. 1. Is it better to get a faster processor (duo core 2.5ghz vs. 2.6ghz vs. 2.8 ghz.) or a faster dedicated video card (512mb vs. 1gb), when it comes to rendering? 2. REVIT asks for 8mb of ram, is it wise to go higher ? 3. I have been thinking of getting a Dell 'gaming' computer (XPS 1730 or 16" version) since they tend to have better specs than a business computer (Precision series) for the same price. Any recommendations? Thanks!
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Rendering in Revit is CPU power only. Revit takes more advantage of high end GPU in release 2010 then it did in the past with the introduction of Direct3D instead of OpenGL. if you are running 64bit I recommend 24 gb of RAM if you are working on models that over 160 mb I have worked on a Dell Precision with dual xeon quad-cores and 128 gb of ram and i'll tell ya that I have not seen anything that could hold a candle to that machine.
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These specs will accommodate all projects in Revit up to some of the largest commercial projects. - Vista Business or Ultimate 64bit S
- Intel Core 2 DUO 2.5GHz
- 6GB Ram
- NVIDIA GeForce GPU with 512MB+
- HDD spinning at least 7200RPM
I glean from that that, for now, anyway, 8GB RAM is plenty. Since it doesn't sound like we need to be looking at 'workstation' CPUs and GPUs, I think going for a "gaming" rig makes a lot of sense. I am also going to be looking at systems from the likes of: - Alienware
- VoodooPC
- XoticPC
- Falcon Northwest
- Eurocom
- RJTech
I'd love to hear from some more users! Nathan P.S. Thanks, A2513!
Edited on: Mon, May 18, 2009 at 5:13:38 PM
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I'm running a Velocity Micro, with 64 bit Ultimate, on Revit 2009. - 850 watt power supply
- intel Core 2 Quad processor Q9450, quad 2.66 GHz cores 12 MB L2 Cache
- Intel Oversized Copper Heat Sink, with Dual Fans
- 4 GB ram
- 2 512MB EVGA GeForce 8800GT DDR3, with cooling
- 2 - 500GB Hitachi 7200 16MB Cache SATA 300, Raid 1 Mirror
I have had no trouble with the machine shutting down or any such stuff, so far. I will upgrade my ram shortly because of rendering, it can take a couple of hours to render a complicated drawing to 1200 dpi for printing purposes. Just for the user screen it renders in 5 mins or less. The one drawback is the fans. I would go for water cooled next time. Good Luck
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steve if your rendering alot with a good processor like that i would look into 3ds max! Watercooling sucks! it just looks cool.
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mbsteve, can you share your thoughts on dual 512MB video cards, as you have, vs a single 1GB card?
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- I've only done 4 or 5 full renderings, and I do not want to buy any more programs. But thanks, Watercooling really doesn't work? I was thinking more of the quiet.
- The Velocity Micro that I now have is a Gaming Computer that I added some stuff to. My previous computer had a NVidia Quadro card and Revit didn't seem to be able to take any advantage of it at in fact I think it was more sluggish.
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i guess i shouldnt say water cooling sucks, I have just had bad luck with it in the past. When it works correctly it is pretty nice. I have both worlds of high end graphics, my workstation has a quadro fx card and my laptop has 2 512 mb geforce cards. i have to say with direct3d on running Revit and 3ds Max I do get better performance from my Quadro FX but that doesnt mean my geforce cards dont perform extremely well also, I am very pleased with the performance from both.
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yea water cooled sucks because it takes occasional maintenace and your always sitting there wondering when a connection is going to break and soack everything. Heatpipe cooling solutions are the same basic principle and work really well. I am the only one that recommends to overclock the c**p out of the computer? i'm running an e2180 2.0ghz at 3.33ghz and the performance is so much better it is insane.
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