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Forums >> Revit Building >> Technical Support >> Nerds only: Revit needs - L2 vs L3 cache, Ram speed, Graphics cards, SSD's, etc
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Joined: Sun, Nov 15, 2009
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Alright nerds, lets get serious. I am an architecture student, my dad is in IT, my schools computer lab is often full and christmas is just around the corner.Put the pieces together. In configuring my soon-to-have architecture-only computer, I have noticed that the difference between a processor (Intel i7)with an L2 cache and an L3 cache is about $100. Does anyone on this forum know whether revit stores enough information in the cache to make real use of the L3 cache? Or would it be more cost effective to simply get FASTER ram? But another issue is that the computer with the L3 cache comes with 3g ram, while the computer with the L2 cache has 4g... I could spend the extra money to double either option, but the computer is already going to be almost $1k so I can limit my greediness. it's all 1600MHz. if you know about how cache works, you know why all this makes sense  I'm also planning on getting a 1g graphics card, but this is basically a blind choice. I have read that revit doesnt use the graphics card to render, but I can only assume that it is still important in working multiple windows at once, when one of them is a 3d model. So here's where my nerdiness reaches it's limits: What's the difference between the different models of 1g Nvidia Geforce cards? Im looking at 9500, 9800, GT 210, and GTS 250.... and how about the ATI Radeon series? Finally, my dad tells me that Solid State hard Drives (SSD) accesses info at twice the speed of a traditional Hard Drive, and that hard drive speed is usually the first bottleneck in computer speed. The way I figure it makes sense for this computer, which will be architecture ONLY, to simply have a 64 gig SSD as opposed to a 500 gig 7,200rpm, or even 320 gig 10,000 rpm HD.
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a video card with 512 must do the trick.For now. But you want a computer to last as long as possible, so buy the 1 gig video card. Revit has many options to hide and to improve 3d views, it uses more ram than anything. I have only problems with different programs with ati, some bugs on rhino, sketchup, and some games too. Buy nvidia.
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Nvidia it is. GT220, perhaps the 240. So does anyone out there notice their RAM working extra hard with just 4g? because I'm now noticing that all the computers with the older i7 chip come with 2 sticks of ram, which would be 4g considering how expensive 2x4g is, but the newer generation i7 have 3 sticks, so running 6g is pretty cheap in comparison to 8g on the older i7.
Edited on: Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 6:10:21 AM
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Regarding the processor, the clockspeed is probably more important than the cache, probably much more important. Where are you getting your information on the CPU caches? L3 cache is generally used for "cache coherency" in multi-core processors. I'd guess that the size of this cache is more important for multi-threaded programs. Revit is not multi-threaded except for the rendering module, so I'd wonder if L3 cache makes any difference at all. As for graphics card - Revit doesn't use it for squat. Maybe a professional card like a Quadro or a Firestream (or whatever ATI's professional cards are branded) would be of some use, but in general, any card with 512MB of memory should be good. You probably would not notice a shred of difference between a GTX 295 versus an 8500 GT. Revit's display output is generated entirely by the CPU, as far as I can tell - though I am basing this on personal observation only. But I know for a fact that is how Autocad works - it's ALL about the CPU. As for SSD - we got two 80 GB Intel x25 m G2 drives in two machines here at work. One word: disappointing. Well, maybe two words: utterly disappointing. Revit seems to be an enigmatic application - one of the few applications that does not seem to be helped at all by SSD. One possible caveat: we are using network licensing, so it is possible that slows down application start-up. We are also using network storage for our central files, so no help from the SSD there either. If you are running a standalone workstation, then an SSD might be pure awesome. In network situations, it seems to be a total waste.
Edited on: Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 10:44:59 AM
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GWJT, it will be a standalone computer - I am still a student, but I HATE the lagging and skipping. Here is my current config, lets hear some comments: Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-920 2.66 GHz 8M L3 Cache - I read online that the i7 920, and even the 940, limits the memory speed unless overclocked... I have selected the 10% overclock on this config. -- Cooling Fan: XtremeGear HP-1216X Five Heatpipes Direct Core Contact Copper Heatsink CPU Cooling Fan (Extreme Silent at 20dBA & Overclock Proof)(Venom Boost Extreme OC Certified) -- Motherboard: (3-Way SLI Support) Asus P6T Intel X58 Chipset SLI/CrossFireX Mainboard Triple-Channel DDR3/1600 SATA RAID w/ eSATA,GbLAN,USB2.0,IEEE1394a,&7.1Audio Memory: 6GB (2GBx3) DDR3/1600MHz Triple Channel Memory Module Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 1GB 16X PCI Express HD: 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD - Upgrading to a 64gig SSD will cost $88 more. The way I see it, prices will drop and a year from now, a 128gig SSD will probably be under $100, and I can buy and install that myself.
Edited on: Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 12:46:17 PM
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What operating system are you going to be using? if you are 64bit 4 gb of ram is doing you no good, you need at least 8. And if you want a graphics card built for 3D CAD applications such as Revit or any of its partners or competitors I would recommend an Nvidia Quadro series or ATI FireGL, these cards are specifically designed for CAD apps. Radeons and Geforce cards are gamers cards. I use all 4 and they are all great, Quadro FX is the best of all of them. I would not waste time with an SSD yet, let the technology develop more, all its gonna do is shorten your local save time in revit.
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I am pretty happy with the attached set up.
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Yes, I plan to run 64 bit Windows 7. With the computer configured as indicated, would I be able to simply buy a fourth 2g RAM stick and drop it in? I dont know enough to be able to tell how many RAM slots the motherboard has and when I google it, all I get are generic reviews. In the configurations I've been looking at, NONE of them have an option for a Quadro graphics card. Would it be rational to try and get the computer without a graphics card at all, then buy a quadro and install it myself?
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i imagine for an i7 processor your mobo will handle a minimum 16 gb RAM.... i would try and get at least 12 if you are working on large scale commercial models. if money is an issue stick with the geforce, high end quadros can get very pricey.
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Alabaster, could you tell me what model Quadro would be rougly equivalent to a 1g Geforce 240?
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It's hard to say, price wise there is not an equivilant. Also the Geforce 240 is not on the Autodesk Certified hardware list so they may become problematic for you. A 1 gb quadro is going to be hundreds of dollars more than a Geforce card. For a full list of certified GPUs refer to this link http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/hc?siteID=123112&id=6711853&linkID=9240618
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