Time to upgrade? CAd Workstation

[RogL]

Hi All-

I asked the office IT guy (I sublet office space from another firm) who told me that he gets a better discount from Dell so he would get me a quote. I asked for a cost quote on the computer above - the Dell Precision 3500 with the Intel Xeon W3530 processor and the 1GM ATI Firepro V4800 graphics card and 6 GB RAM.

The IT guy came back with a quote form Dell which he said was functionally equivelent: I am curious if you experts would agree that this is essentially the same machine, it is a good price if the same but its a ottoally different model so I am curious why.

He came back with a quote for a Dell OptiPlex Minitower (I wanted a standard tower) model 780 with a Core2 Quad 9550 with VT/2.83 GHz, 12M, 1333FSB (317-2463) with 8 MG of RAM (non ECC 1333MHz DDR4, 4x2GB, Dell OptiPlex 980 and the video card is 1 GB NVIDIA GeForce GT330

Does this seem like an equivilent machine? Its the Dell OptiPlex and not the Precision? Is there a difference in the machine itself? and the processor is different. I havent heard anyone mention the Dell Optiplex, why this model and not the precision.

I would appreciate any thoughts on this machine versus the other one. I am on the main offices network currently for internet access but I want the ability to move my machine somewhere else if I change offices. Thanks, Roger

 

[mfenn]

LOL, that guy is full of shit.

A Q9550 is in no way, shape, or form the equivalent of a W3530. The Optiplex also has a generally lower build quality than the Precision. The GT330 is also not a pro-grade card which can potentially cause issues in AutoCAD.

 

[chaznsc]

Hi All-

I asked the office IT guy (I sublet office space from another firm) who told me that he gets a better discount from Dell so he would get me a quote. I asked for a cost quote on the computer above - the Dell Precision 3500 with the Intel Xeon W3530 processor and the 1GM ATI Firepro V4800 graphics card and 6 GB RAM.

The IT guy came back with a quote form Dell which he said was functionally equivelent: I am curious if you experts would agree that this is essentially the same machine, it is a good price if the same but its a ottoally different model so I am curious why.

He came back with a quote for a Dell OptiPlex Minitower (I wanted a standard tower) model 780 with a Core2 Quad 9550 with VT/2.83 GHz, 12M, 1333FSB (317-2463) with 8 MG of RAM (non ECC 1333MHz DDR4, 4x2GB, Dell OptiPlex 980 and the video card is 1 GB NVIDIA GeForce GT330

Does this seem like an equivilent machine? Its the Dell OptiPlex and not the Precision? Is there a difference in the machine itself? and the processor is different. I havent heard anyone mention the Dell Optiplex, why this model and not the precision.

I would appreciate any thoughts on this machine versus the other one. I am on the main offices network currently for internet access but I want the ability to move my machine somewhere else if I change offices. Thanks, Roger

The model he had quoted is limited to 8gb of ram, so right there its not an equivalent machine. The 3500 can go to 24gb. You also mention the Optiplex 980, so I am a little confused as to what he quoted you. The Optilplex is the rung DOWN from the Precisions.

What price did he get on the "similar" machine?

chaz

 

[RogL]

Thanks for the feedback, it seemed odd to ask for one spec and get something back totally different. It is an Optiplex 780, the mention of the Optiplax 980 is under the Memory spec on the Dell quotation sheet just the way I wrote it (i.e. 8 GB, Non-ECC, 1333Mhz, 4x2GB, Dell Optiplex 980 part 330-3676) so it must be part of the memory spec.

I also checked an autocad website and the graphics card was not on the approved list, like was mentioned above. The price seemed good, about $1,100. The original one priced out at about $1,450 and only for 6 GB of RAM. By the way, if the Precision RAM needs to be in incements of 3, I wonder why Dell goes from 6 all the way to 12 GB and skips 9 GB? odd

All things being equal, am I safe to assume its best to stay with the first Precision machine the T3500 and skip the Optiplex?

All the various chips are confusing, why do they need so many models?

Thanks for any thoughts, R

 

[beginner99]

By the way, if the Precision RAM needs to be in incements of 3, I wonder why Dell goes from 6 all the way to 12 GB and skips 9 GB? odd

Have you ever seen 3 GB RAM sticks? No? I think that answers the question then.
RAM comes in the powers of 2. 128 -> 256 -> 512 -> 1024 -> 2048 -> 4096

3x2 GB = 6 GB
6x2 GB = 12 GB
3x4 GB = 12GB

 

[chaznsc]

Thanks for the feedback, it seemed odd to ask for one spec and get something back totally different. It is an Optiplex 780, the mention of the Optiplax 980 is under the Memory spec on the Dell quotation sheet just the way I wrote it (i.e. 8 GB, Non-ECC, 1333Mhz, 4x2GB, Dell Optiplex 980 part 330-3676) so it must be part of the memory spec.

I also checked an autocad website and the graphics card was not on the approved list, like was mentioned above. The price seemed good, about $1,100. The original one priced out at about $1,450 and only for 6 GB of RAM. By the way, if the Precision RAM needs to be in incements of 3, I wonder why Dell goes from 6 all the way to 12 GB and skips 9 GB? odd

All things being equal, am I safe to assume its best to stay with the first Precision machine the T3500 and skip the Optiplex?

All the various chips are confusing, why do they need so many models?

Thanks for any thoughts, R

I think if you are leaving your options open, the Optiplex is off your list. If you are running something like AutoCad LT, then the Optiplex may be what you need. My thinking is a few hundred dollars over three years is nothing compared to the frustration of a slow box.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks for the feedback, it seemed odd to ask for one spec and get something back totally different. It is an Optiplex 780, the mention of the Optiplax 980 is under the Memory spec on the Dell quotation sheet just the way I wrote it (i.e. 8 GB, Non-ECC, 1333Mhz, 4x2GB, Dell Optiplex 980 part 330-3676) so it must be part of the memory spec.

I also checked an autocad website and the graphics card was not on the approved list, like was mentioned above. The price seemed good, about $1,100. The original one priced out at about $1,450 and only for 6 GB of RAM. By the way, if the Precision RAM needs to be in incements of 3, I wonder why Dell goes from 6 all the way to 12 GB and skips 9 GB? odd

All things being equal, am I safe to assume its best to stay with the first Precision machine the T3500 and skip the Optiplex?

All the various chips are confusing, why do they need so many models?

Thanks for any thoughts, R

I would stick with the Precision, for the reasons outlined in the thread. Like Chaz said, $300 is nothing over the life of the machine.

As for the proliferation of chips, you'll have to ask Intel.

 

[chaznsc]

I would stick with the Precision, for the reasons outlined in the thread. Like Chaz said, $300 is nothing over the life of the machine.

As for the proliferation of chips, you'll have to ask Intel.

My precision arrive this weekend and is SCREAMS.

 

[mfenn]

My precision arrive this weekend and is SCREAMS.

:thumbsup: