CADspeed editors would like to pay tribute to Apple cofounder and former CEO Steve Jobs, who passed away on Wednesday. Although PC users outnumber Mac users in our field, often it was technology conceived by Jobs and developed by Apple that influenced and even transformed the CAD world over the years.

Topics: Workstations, Apple, ArchiCAD, Hardware, AutoCAD, Vectorworks, CAD

We're talking about remote graphics in this series. We've outlined the potential benefits for CAD users and the reduced hardware costs, and now we're going talk about the benefits for the heavy-duty 3D users.

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Graphics Card, Remote Graphics, GPU, Graphics Cards, AMD, Connectivity, Upgrade, CAD

We're talking about remote graphics in this series. We've outlined the potential benefits for CAD users, and now we're going to get more specific.

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Graphics Card, Remote Graphics, GPU, Graphics Cards, AMD, Connectivity, Upgrade, CAD

There is a growing demand for portability, energy conversation and cost savings in the CAD world — hence the movement to small form factor devices use of the cloud for review and commenting. But there still remains the need for complex 3D graphics, security and high performance computation. Hence killer workstations and professional graphics cards like the FirePro or Quadro.

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Graphics Card, Remote Graphics, GPU, Graphics Cards, AMD, Connectivity, Upgrade, CAD

Since early August, Cadalyst.com has been running a poll asking users, “What type of computer do you use primarily for CAD-related work?” As this post went live, 905 people had voted.

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Mobile Workstations, Laptops, Windows, Macintosh, CAD

Previously we covered the important characteristics to look for when choosing your next CAD display. Here, we finish our discussion with some suggestions about shopping and costs, as well as what you will need to get the best possible image out of your new display.

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Displays, Display, CAD

What is the single most important hardware decision for any CAD user? Their choice of display. This is especially true given the short half-life of today’s workstations. You may have to live with your display through two, or even three, different workstation purchases.

Topics: Workstations, Hardware, Displays, Display, CAD

So far, we've covered the advantages of upgrading a 64-bit operating system for Civil 3D and other CAD applications as well as the benefits in non-CAD tasks also.

Topics: Workstations, RAM, Hardware, Processors, Operating Systems, Memory, Upgrade, Operating System, Windows, CAD

We’ve been discussing Civil 3D and other CAD applications up to this point. But the average CAD workstation has to do so much more than CAD. Well if you are running a 64-bit operating system you are going to see benefits in these non-CAD tasks also.

Topics: Workstations, RAM, Hardware, Processors, Operating Systems, Memory, Upgrade, Operating System, Windows, CAD

I am going to make this THE shortest and easiest tech blog post you’ve ever read: Go install Windows 7 64-bit on your Civil 3D workstation. Now!

Topics: Workstations, RAM, Hardware, Processors, Operating Systems, Memory, Upgrade, Operating System, Windows, CAD