Recommended video cards for Microstation Connect

I found these recommendations to be very useful for higher end CAD (3D design and Modeling) users within our organization. 

CAD Workstation Specs for 2021

• CAD applications tend to mainly run on a primary core. It is better to have fewer, faster cores than more, slower cores.
• Only processors with high amounts of cache and hyper-threading (Intel’s simultaneous multithreading) should be considered. No Intel i5 processors. Use highest-frequency Intel i7 and Intel i9 processors, with the i9 being preferred.

Processor/Cores

• Intel Core i9-99xx (3.1 – 4.0 GHz)
• Intel Core i7-10850H ((2.7-5.1 GHz)
• Processor selection is the one thing you can’t upgrade later, so don’t go cheap on your processor — get the higher-speed Intel i9.

RAM and SSDs

• RAM you install should be the highest speed the processor supports, and all available RAM slots should be populated with consistently sized RAM modules.
• Bump the RAM up to 64 GB for high-end power users (read/write speeds of 7,000/5,000 MB/sec).
• Minimum for CAD, buy 32 GB of the fastest RAM your workstation will support.
• Storage: 1-TB NVMe-based SSD as the boot disk so the operating system, all software, and current project files are loaded from a fast SSD.
• Buying the RAM and SSD systems specified will give you performance for years to come, without having to replace any components or spending time on upgrades. Should not skimp on RAM and SSD components —buy the right components now and be done with it for the life of the machine.

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs)

• Be sure the GPU can handle higher-resolution 4K monitors (3840 x 2160).
• Be sure the GPU can support your typical requirements (which, for CAD, means at least two monitors).
• Bump the GPU up for aggressive 3D application users that create videos, renderings, or training content.
• The RAM and SSD specifications are more important than GPUs, do not buy an expensive GPU without getting the minimum 32 GB of RAM and 1-TB SSD recommended.
• 6-GB GPU, like an NVIDIA GeForce 2060 series, (good minimum)

On the CPU note, not a lot of enterprise option provide this option, but if you can, look into an AIO liquid cooler for the CPU. As my understanding is a CPU only go into turbo speed if it's temp is under certain threshold. A standard air cpu cooler isn't effective in keeping the temperature below that threshold. 

And yes, I'd follow Oto's advice and look into AMD processors. For highend workstation and server CPU, Intel seems to lag AMD in recent years in terms of processing power. 

Hi Tuan Le,

Almost (or even more) important than CPU cooling is case cooling.  I have seen many cases where the hot CPU and GPU air was pulled back into the CPU fan.  I've even seen where the computer case was put under a desk and the hot air was being trapped by the desk & back wall.  The fans would pull the hot air back into the case and then have problems keeping the CPU cool.

--Robert

Hi Tuan Le,

Almost (or even more) important than CPU cooling is case cooling.  I have seen many cases where the hot CPU and GPU air was pulled back into the CPU fan.  I've even seen where the computer case was put under a desk and the hot air was being trapped by the desk & back wall.  The fans would pull the hot air back into the case and then have problems keeping the CPU cool.

--Robert