Building a Computer for CAD Software

Most computers that are used for running CAD software must be an expensive one. But if you are using Autodesk product software AutoCAD then you can really get by with one from a local department store or discount store. One store I have bought many machines from was a small discount grocery store.

What you need to keep in mind is that you follow the minimum requirements to run the software. You can find out the specification on the Autodesk site. I have been told that if you want to have the best CAD computer you must spend thousands of dollars. That is true if you want to just have the best one around. Kind of like cars, you can buy an expensive luxury model or just buy a less expensive one that gets the job done.

Most of the computers being sold today are designed to play high end video games. These computers are in most cases more than enough to run AutoCAD. If you want to run the software package Inventor for example then you will need a better computer and a lot of drive storage space. You will also need more memory installed on the computer. I suggest you look for a computer expert to help you with buy a computer to run Inventor.

What you will be looking for is the speed of the computer, hard drive size, and the amount of memory that is installed on the computer. You will also want to be able to expand the amount of memory the computer will allow because over time the program upgrades will dictate how much memory you will need.

The video is another area you will need to look for. The video card and the monitor are important. If the video card is too small or does not have enough memory and speed then the graphics on the screen are going to be low quality. Because of this when you move items on the screen they will be come jerky and hesitant. Also in AutoCAD, lines disappear and ghost lines appear on the screen. This will cause you to "regenerate" the screen often while using the software.

The monitor should be no less than 17" in order to make using the software somewhat enjoyable. The best size is 20" to 22" flat screen monitors. I personally use three 20" monitors on my CAD computer. I use one for text, one for the drawing screen, and one for research and searching online for additional design references. I have seen a colleague using a much larger single monitor, but it takes up to much room on the desk. And can not adequately split the screen. You can also use two monitors easily if you are using a notebook computer with an external monitor outlet. You just plug in another monitor and set you computer up to use both of them in your windows setting. Consult a computer expert to help with this.