Final Configuration and Order
We finalized the configuration for the new CADstations. Stuck with the quad-core, dropped to (2)1GB RAM modules, leaving two slots open for future upgrade, and dropped the 16x DVD reader - why we had it and the DVD-RW to begin with is thought to have been a simple slip-up. End result is a computer package with a 19" LCD monitor for $2100 running WinVista 32-bit. Big drop in price from the previously reported $3100 for the original configuration. Must be that time-of-day, day-of-week, week-of-month ordering cycle Dell is so notorious for doing.
The test machine goes back into the server room where it will receive the OS install and all the standard software. Once the software installs are confirmed and tested, the hard drive will become the image drive for all the computers.
Not everyone in the office gets a new quad-core. Mainly the production engineers and designers will get quad-core PCs. We've got a few dual-core PCs at various levels of capability and those will get an OS upgrade with a clean install of all the standard software. Remain staff such as non-CAD upper management and administrative staff will get those.
Surprisingly, we did choose to avoid upgrading to MS Office 2007 at this time. I'm glad about that. We have Office 2003 and I was never certain why we upgraded from Office 2000. For the Acer notebook I have at home I switched to OpenOffice for dealing with Word and Excel files. It takes some effort get accustomed to it but I'd be doing the same effort if not more with MS Office 2007 and cussing up a storm because I paid for the thrill.
I really wish we could have used the 64-bit OS but there were simply too many programs that did not function with it. We'll likely take care of that when considering the upgrade to BIM software and adding RAM. That might be a two-year wait but who knows for certain.
It will be interesting to see how people react to the new machines. They'll be going from a single-core 2.26GHz CPU to a quad-core 2.4GHz. At 2GB, RAM will be doubled. We'll also put RAMDisk software on their machines, probably running at 384MB, to speed up AutoCAD by putting the temp and Xref files there. It noticeably reduces hard drive access activity.
Now to fill in some spreadsheet commissioning forms using OpenOffice Calc.
The test machine goes back into the server room where it will receive the OS install and all the standard software. Once the software installs are confirmed and tested, the hard drive will become the image drive for all the computers.
Not everyone in the office gets a new quad-core. Mainly the production engineers and designers will get quad-core PCs. We've got a few dual-core PCs at various levels of capability and those will get an OS upgrade with a clean install of all the standard software. Remain staff such as non-CAD upper management and administrative staff will get those.
Surprisingly, we did choose to avoid upgrading to MS Office 2007 at this time. I'm glad about that. We have Office 2003 and I was never certain why we upgraded from Office 2000. For the Acer notebook I have at home I switched to OpenOffice for dealing with Word and Excel files. It takes some effort get accustomed to it but I'd be doing the same effort if not more with MS Office 2007 and cussing up a storm because I paid for the thrill.
I really wish we could have used the 64-bit OS but there were simply too many programs that did not function with it. We'll likely take care of that when considering the upgrade to BIM software and adding RAM. That might be a two-year wait but who knows for certain.
It will be interesting to see how people react to the new machines. They'll be going from a single-core 2.26GHz CPU to a quad-core 2.4GHz. At 2GB, RAM will be doubled. We'll also put RAMDisk software on their machines, probably running at 384MB, to speed up AutoCAD by putting the temp and Xref files there. It noticeably reduces hard drive access activity.
Now to fill in some spreadsheet commissioning forms using OpenOffice Calc.
posted by Sketcher | 12:32 PM
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