Time to Stop Using Desktop PCs as CAD Workstations

When I talk to CAD Professionals and get feedback on blogs like this, I’m a bit surprised how many individuals are stuck using business Desktop PCs as CAD workstations. In this day and age, when the cost of CAD workstations has come way down from the $10,000 price level of 20 years ago, this seems to be a case of “Penny wise, pound foolish”. The benefits of a real workstation are so compelling that it makes little sense, financial or otherwise, to try and dress up a desktop for serious CAD work.

The technology differences are compelling, but so too are other aspects of use. It’s worth exploring the issue to end this trend once and for all. Read full article »

Nvidia Unveils Muscular Tegra 4 Quad-core Chipset

Originally posted by Jessica Dolcourt, CNET

The chipmaker’s next-generation quad-core processor for tablets and smartphones comes on strong at CES.

Chipmaker Nvidia has just ratcheted up the quad-core pressure.

At its CES press conference tonight, Nvidia announced Tegra 4, its next-generation quad-core processor for tablets and smartphones.

Following rumors, Nvidia based Tegra 4 on ARM’s latest Cortex-A15 architecture, which means that its processing power will be dramatically faster than the current Tegra 3 quad-core chipset, which is based on ARM Cortex A-9. Read full article »

Lenovo ThinkPad W530 Mobile Workstation Review

I wanted to share a thorough review of the new ThinkPad W530 mobile workstation from our friends at CADplace. I’m happy to hear that they are as pleased with the ThinkPad W530 as I am. I’ve copied an excerpt of their review below:

Lenovo’s new mobile workstation – the ThinkPad W530 – epitomizes the best qualities of the ThinkPad brand & brings you the latest workstation technology

At first glance you know that it is a ThinkPad. The look, the feel, everything about this mobile workstation oozes “ThinkPad”. Lenovo remains consistent with their brand’s design. Perhaps more than any other workstation, the ThinkPad carries with it a particular image. Any reader familiar with the ThinkPad will look at the CADplace photos and will know how this notebook will feel in their hands. Read full article »

Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 670 Graphics Card

Originally Posted by Scott Wasson, The Tech Report

We wouldn’t want to miss this one, because the GeForce GTX 670 is sure to be the most broadly attractive product yet in the 600 series. As you might have cleverly deduced, the GTX 670 is a cheaper, somewhat down-spec version of the mighty GeForce GTX 680, which is itself a pretty darned desirable video card. There’s no magic to the GTX 670′s appeal. Nvidia has dialed back the specifications just a bit versus the GTX 680 and sliced 100 bucks off of the price.

Nvidia’s cuts to the GTX670′s specifications aren’t likely to hurt too much. They’ve nuked one of the GK104 chip’s eight SMX units and reduced clock speeds, but the cuts don’t go terribly deep. The GTX 670 still has…

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16 Things to Look for in a Mobile Workstation for CAD

Way back in 2011, an unscientific Cadalyst survey revealed that 11 percent of respondents used mobile workstations for CAD and 8 percent used standard PC notebooks. 2012 is sure to be a year when these stats shoot up, so it might be time to think about getting a mobile CAD machine that can optimize your performance on the road.

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