CAD and engineering workstations

Memory capacity before anything else

A large assembly, a detailed model or a simulation either fits in memory or it does not. When it does not, the machine begins moving data to storage and the slowdown is not gradual — it is the difference between a task taking minutes and taking hours, or failing outright.

This makes memory capacity the first specification decision for engineering work, ahead of processor speed. It is also why the number of free memory slots matters: a workstation that can be expanded when models grow is worth more than one that cannot.

Some work wants many cores, some wants fast ones

Rendering, simulation and analysis generally use as many processor cores as they are given. Modelling and sketching in most CAD packages lean on the speed of a single core, because the geometry engine works through operations in order.

Since no processor is best at both, the sensible approach is to specify for the work you spend the most time doing. If most of the day is modelling and rendering happens overnight, buy for modelling.

• Mostly modelling and sketching: favour per-core speed
• Mostly rendering, simulation or analysis: favour core count
• Genuinely both: worth discussing rather than guessing

Graphics, certification and honesty about it

Some engineering software is tested against particular professional graphics cards and drivers, and vendors publish those lists. Where your software publishes such a list and your workplace requires it, that requirement should drive the choice.

We are not an authorised reseller for any manufacturer and we do not certify compatibility on their behalf. What we can do is read the vendor requirement with you and specify a machine that meets it.