# graphics card question **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [October 12, 2006, 11:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/graphics-card-question/18808 "2006-10-12T11:57:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 21
**Author:** ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/graphics-card-question/18808/21 "2006-10-18T08:22:41Z")
> [@97FormulaWS-6](#): > > I would say that card is ok… but… > > In the realm of things, when getting into 3D modeling and assemblies, the machine and VC make everything more efficient. > > The company maybe small and the program cost $5K, but if you can only do the modeling/drawing slow as hell because the PC isn’t strong enough, what has the company gained? > > A decent newer PC; doesn’t have to be dual-core or anything too fancy, but I would suggest atleast a 2.4GHz, and 1-2 Gigs of Ram; and spend the $500 on a video card, it makes a world of difference in productivity. > > My company dragged all the engineers with base-model 4500 Dells back when I started; took me about a year of complaining about how I couldn’t do my job because Pro/E would take 20-40 minutes to open and render and assembly because of the computer. They finally realized this, and started buying the Engineers “real” workstations with workstation VCs instead of standard ones. > > The only issue with the VC that he got you is that the ones typically at CC/BB are gaming cards, and are great for that; but when it comes to 3D modeling and that type of rendering, a workstation card is what is really needed; even if it is only the $500 entry-level workstation card, it will work better with the software than almost any gaming card out there. I have to compare it to trying to haul gravel with a Corvette; you can do it, but it doesn’t work very well; You use a Vette for speed (Gaming card) and a Pickup (Workstation card) for hauling. > > I would talk to your boss in when he can afford it to step up to a real workstation with a good VC; it will increase productivity if you as a designer/drafter can utilize it. > > Seeing everyone else is talking about what they use… > > Dell 380 Workstation, Dual-Core 2.4GHz, 4 Gigs of Ram, Dual 80G HDs (Raid’d), Nvidia Quadro 3450 VC; 21" Samsung Digital LCD. The Video Card costs more than the whole PC (~$1500). very true… here at work we gots P4 3.2ghz w/2gigs and a quatrofx 500 and it does make a world of difference over my home PC. When we start opening assemblys with 300+ parts you really notice a difference in the performance. I attribute that to the vid card though… I believe it’s an entry level card :\ --- _[View the full topic](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/graphics-card-question/18808)._