what computer to run altuim on  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ebez2010
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 21, 2012, 09:53:47 pm
content: what computer should i you to run altuim

author: Spikee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 12:24:08 am
content: If you want multiple monitor setup go for AMD because of eyefinity (most cheap cards <100 dollars have it) and it supports up to six screens in full resolution.For operating system windows 7 64bit would be the obvious choice. For ram i would just put 8GB in because it's cheap and overkill.An ssd for the operating system and Altium program/projects would allow you much faster loading (does not need to be big).And a regular HDD for normal files.For a processor you can go intel (expensive) or AMD (cheap) . Quad core is kinda the standard now and is cheap so just get one which is 2 ghz and up.I'm currently using my laptop for altium and i run it on 2 screens ( laptop screen + 24 inch screen both on 1920*1080)I have the Nvidia GT555M 3GB vid card but because it is NVIDIA it only allows 2 screens on the same time so it is kinda USELESS!A AMD video card would allow 6 screens ...So my specs are:Intel I7 quad 2,2 Ghz4Gb ram1Tb HDD (no ssd)Nvidia GT555M 3GB video card ( only supports two monitors at the same time ... fail nvidia)My perfect setup would be 3x 24-27 inch screens so you can have pcb view , schematic view and datasheet/other stuff on the screens at the same time so you don't have to switch all the time ...A cheap 50 euro AMD video card that supports 6 screens (eyefinity) (fanless version/very quiet fan)Cheap Quad core ( AMD or Intel) (GIANT heatsink on it so you can run it fanless)8Gb ramCheap and small SSD for OS , Altium stuff1Tb HDD for other files.

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 01:19:52 am
content: I think Spikee is getting a wee bit carried away with himself in fantasy land. It isn't that long ago (<10 years) that a single 17in monitor was luxury, and 450MHz processor was plenty for doing CAD with. If you get into the mental state of "I can't work without..." then you'll never get anything done.I doubt that there will be a desktop machine on the market which is not capable of running Altium very well. Laptops/notebooks are a different matter. Tiny screens and slow graphics can make CAD work very slow going, but still very much do-able. I suspect Altium isn't yet fully 64-bit so won't support more than 4GB memory, and won't support more than 1 or possibly 2 cores anyway. The vast majority of PCB design is pretty light on processor power demands. I have an SSD on this machine and, whilst it speeds up boot time hugely, CAD work doesn't feel any more efficient.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 01:30:47 am
content: Quote from: Zad on July 22, 2012, 01:19:52 amMaybe a little carried away, but you definitely want two monitors for Altium.You can work with just one, but it slows you down.Quote from: Zad on July 22, 2012, 01:19:52 amThere are still desktops that use onboard graphics, and its a bit hit and miss if altium 3D will work on them.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 02:09:58 am
content: Given the simple question, I'd suspect the OP isn't going to be designing quad FPGA 2GHz control systems.IMO, I suggest just about anything up to 5 yrs old will work fine. I have 2 monitors, but OFTEN find ALT+TABis much simpler than panning my head as if watching a tennis game :-)WHY NOT try your simple set up first and decide once you become proficient.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 02:18:38 am
content: Quote from: Zad on July 22, 2012, 01:19:52 amHave you used Altium?Real time design rule checking and push and shove routing need lots of processor power and that's after Altium pushed most of the graphics rendering onto the graphics card.True Altium isnt at all 64bit (yet) and doesn't use much more than one core.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:00:01 am
content: Dual screens. Make sure graphics hard has lots of dedicated memory , ( no sharing with main memory ) if you want to use 3d.64 bit os is not required as altium is a 32 bit apps. The problem is borland isnt ready with 64 bit compiler .... Altium is written in Delphi...I believe with altium 12 this will change.Quad core cpu is fine if you have two windows open plus some other programs. Each altium window will use one core. So you will not 'feel' a slowdown when running dual monitors.Three or more screens is recommended if you start doing the simulation and fpga stuff. You simply want to have everything open becasue of the powefull cross probing.But, do yourself a favor : get a 3D spaceexplorer... That little 90$ peripheral makes altium thoroughly wonderful. Zoom, pan , scroll, rotate is so smooth with that thing you will wonder how come not many more programs support it.It also works in google earth , acrobat reader and many other cad programs.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 07:32:30 am
content: The latest version of Delphi (XE2) has 64bit support, so they're now able to do a 64bit version.Although, only time will tell if/when they actually use it.

author: ebez2010
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 22, 2012, 10:13:09 pm
content: will altuim run on a acer aspier one d-257

author: joelby
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2012, 02:25:53 am
content: Short answer: Yes.Long answer: Have you read theAltium system requirements?