As the design and construction industry experiences continued difficulty in getting projects approved and built, the cost of computer hardware for architects, engineers, and construction professionals keeps going up. ZweigWhite’s 2010 “Information Technology Survey of Architecture, Engineering, Planning & Environmental Consulting Firms” found that although firms cut their IT budgets in 2009 for the first time in the survey’s history, they also expect IT spending levels to remain constant in 2010.
The high cost of workstation-class PCs is often cited as a reason for not upgrading hardware, or simply upgrading the software of current systems rather than buying new. Into the breach steps Hewlett-Packard, which has released a new small-form factor, workstation-class desktop in its Z line that combines the performance of its minitower machine with a smaller desktop chassis and a lower price.
I tested a new Z200 SFF workstation with an Intel Xeon X3470 four-core processor with eight gigabytes of memory (2.93 gigahertz), a terabyte hard drive, and three gigs of DDR 3 error-correcting code (ECC) RAM. Manufacturers commonly use ECC memory in servers because it’s designed to protect against critical errors resulting from component failures. ECC memory is also expensive, which explains much of the Z200 SFF’s approximately $2,000 cost (depending on configuration), still relatively low for an AEC-optimized workstation.
HP is about to introduce a new component to the Z200 SFF, too, an NVIDIA Quadro 600 graphics card that makes the machine work a lot better with graphically complex 3D programs such as Revit and AutoCAD. The Quadro 600 in my machine linked directly to my test machine’s monitor through an HD DisplayPort and provided crisp, fast frame-rates for all the benchmarks I ran. Previously, the Z200 could only carry ATI FirePro cards and the entry-level CAD NVIDIA Quadro 380.
What the Z200 SFF lacks in size it makes up for in convenience and ease of use. There are five USB connectors and a multiformat card reader on the front of the machine. On the back are six more USB ports, a VGA connector, a DVI connector, a serial port, a gigabit ethernet port, and two FireWire 400 ports. All ports are readily accessible and easy to connect to in a tight space because even with a flat-screen monitor perched on top of it the Z200 SFF is light and easy to move.
Like all machines in the Z series, the Z200 SFF has a handle to open the machine for easy access to its innards, no tools needed; by design, there isn’t much to upgrade on such a small desktop PC. There are two free slots in the machine, one PCI-E x4 slot and one PCI-E x1 slot; the Quadro graphics card occupies the remaining PCI-E x16 slot. Still, removing components is easy and requires no tools. Drive bays are housed in locking hinges marked in green, and all of the slotted cards can be removed and replaced without a screwdriver. The Z200 is powered by an 89% efficient 240-watt power supply, which works with the Performance Advisor software (included) to simplify system performance, driver performance, and system resource monitoring to keep it operating optimally.
The Z200 SFF’s real value for AEC professionals, however, is in its ability to perform quickly and capably with complex software applications such as Autodesk Revit, 3ds MAX, and Adobe’s Creative Suite 5. I installed all three and ran several megatasking scenarios, and the Quadro 600 was up to the task on all of them. Some of these scenarios included opening several large models simultaneously in both of the design programs and opening multiple images in Photoshop CS5.
While running the three memory-hog programs (Revit, 3ds MAX, and Adobe Photoshop CS5), I noticed very little loss in frame rate or machine slowdown. This is because the NVIDIA application configuration engine included with the graphics card automatically adjusted the graphics setting for each of the programs for optimized performance when I launched them. GPUs such as that of the Quadro 600 have a highly parallel structure that makes them more effective than a general-purpose CPU for the complex algorithms 3D design demands.
Using AutoCAD 2011, I was also able to take advantage of the graphics card’s higher image quality with AutoCAD Smooth Lines, a software-specific integration with the GPU that allows you to draw smooth, quality AutoCAD lines with no drop in frame rate. GPU acceleration was also a boon to the Adobe heavy-rendering programs (Photoshop, Fireworks, After Effects), as the graphics card is automatically configured to optimize their performance, too.
With ECC memory and the Quadro 600, the HP Z200 is, in my opinion, a great value for more than just entry-level CAD users. However, there’s not much room for upgradability, so do not buy this machine if you’re expecting to do much customization. Also, AEC users who intend to use 3D design programs should not get a graphics card below the Quadro 600. The ATI and Quadro FX 380 cards should work fine for entry-level CAD (AutoCAD LT or AutoCAD without using the 3D features such as the form tool) but not much else. BD+C
Jeff Yoders is a former senior associate editor at BD+C, specializing in coverage of BIM, CAD, and IT for AEC professionals. He blogs at http://www.bimboysblog.blogspot.com/
Related Stories
Affordable Housing | Aug 7, 2024
The future of affordable housing may be modular, AI-driven, and made of mushrooms
Demolished in 1989, The Phoenix Ironworks Steel Factory left a five-acre hole in West Oakland, Calif. After sitting vacant for nearly three decades, the site will soon become utilized again in the form of 316 affordable housing units.
Architects | Aug 5, 2024
Mastering the art of project schedule: Expert insights on design and construction
We sat down with two experts in the design field, Ron Dick (Founding Partner and Architect) and Mike Niezer (COO and Architect), to talk about everything you need to know about the entire process.
University Buildings | Aug 1, 2024
UC Riverside’s student health center provides an environment on par with major medical centers
The University of California, Riverside's new Student Health and Counseling Center (SHCC) provides a holistic approach to wellness for students throughout the UC Riverside campus. Designed by HGA and delivered through a design-build partnership with Turner Construction Company, SHCC provides healthcare offerings in an environment on par with major medical centers.
Libraries | Aug 1, 2024
How current and future trends are shaping the libraries of tomorrow
Over the last few years, public libraries have transitioned from being buildings that only store and lend books to being fully featured community centers.
MFPRO+ News | Aug 1, 2024
Canada tries massive incentive program to spur new multifamily housing construction
Canada has taken the unprecedented step of offering billions in infrastructure funds to communities in return for eliminating single-family housing zoning.
Government Buildings | Aug 1, 2024
One of the country’s first all-electric fire stations will use no outside energy sources
Charlotte, N.C.’s new Fire Station #30 will be one of the country’s first all-electric fire stations, using no outside energy sources other than diesel fuel for one or two of the fire trucks. Multiple energy sources will power the station, including solar roof panels and geothermal wells. The two-story building features three truck bays, two fire poles, dispatch area, contamination room, and gear storage.
Contractors | Aug 1, 2024
Nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.2% in June
National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.2% in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.21 trillion. Nonresidential construction has expanded 5.3% from a year ago.
Student Housing | Jul 31, 2024
The University of Michigan addresses a decades-long student housing shortage with a new housing-dining facility
The University of Michigan has faced a decades-long shortage of on-campus student housing. In a couple of years, the situation should significantly improve with the addition of a new residential community on Central Campus in Ann Arbor, Mich. The University of Michigan has engaged American Campus Communities in a public-private partnership to lead the development of the environmentally sustainable living-learning student community.
MFPRO+ New Projects | Jul 31, 2024
Shipping containers converted into attractive, affordable multifamily housing in L.A.
In the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles, a new affordable multifamily housing project using shipping containers resulted in 24 micro-units for formerly unhoused residents. The containers were acquired from a nearby port and converted into housing units at a factory.
Adaptive Reuse | Jul 30, 2024
Empty mall to be converted to UCLA Research Park
UCLA recently acquired a former mall that it will convert into the UCLA Research Park that will house the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy at UCLA and the UCLA Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, as well as programs across other disciplines. The 700,000-sf property, formerly the Westside Pavilion shopping mall, is two miles from the university’s main Westwood campus. Google, which previously leased part of the property, helped enable and support UCLA’s acquisition.