CheckMag | Reasonable workstation PC specifications in 2023

For this article we shall explore the typical requirements for an engineer’s workstation. On a typical day an engineer would deal with drafting and computations. For drafting, we will look into CAD and BIM software requirements. For computations, we shall look into FEA and CFD software requirements.

For CAD software, any modern laptop or desktop CPU would suffice as CAD software such as Autodesk AutoCAD have been around from the 1980s and will not be as demanding as BIM. BIM is the next step in the evolution of drafting as it is multidisciplinary and involves 3D views. A common BIM software used these days would be Autodesk Revit 2024.

For Autodesk Revit 2024 any modern Intel Core i-series and AMD Ryzen CPU will suffice. Thus, Xeon and Threadripper CPUs are not necessarily needed if your building model is not a skyscraper. For RAM and storage, you would need 16 GB of RAM as a bare minimum and 30 GB of free disk space. As for GPU requirements, Revit 2024 requires a graphics card with 4 GB of VRAM or more and DirectX 11 support.

For typical FEA software such as Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis 2024 (RSA) any CPU that supports SSE2 or higher instruction set would work. As for RAM and storage requirements RSA 2024 requires 8 GB of RAM and 6 GB of free disk space. For CFD software such as Autodesk CFD 2023, an eight-core processor, a dedicated GPU and 32 GB of RAM are required. Autodesk CFD 2023 recommends at least 1 TB of storage.

It is safe to say that any consumer grade CPU with eight cores would suffice as an entry level workstation. These days you could pick up a Ryzen 7 5800X for just US$210 or US$404 with an X570 motherboard on Amazon. Should you have a larger budget, it is best to get a Ryzen 7000 CPU as the AM5 platform is set to support at least another generation. As for Intel CPU options, it is best to wait for Arrow Lake CPUs sometime in 2024 as it would come with the new LGA1851 chipset.

For RAM, it would be ideal to go with 32 GB from the start as CFD applications greatly benefit from larger RAM. For example, a DDR4 32 GB kit from G.Skill would set you back US$64. For storage it would be best to use an SSD; either an NVME or SATA drive would do fine. A 1 TB SATA or NVME SSD would set you back around US$50 to US$60 depending on the brand.

As for your choice of GPU, it would be best to get an Nvidia GPU for now as CUDA is still dominating the engineering software suit. But if you are willing to sacrifice some performance to save cost, it is fine to go with a Radeon GPU. It has been the case that for the same price Radeon GPUs have more VRAM than their Nvidia counterpart. Case in point the RX 7900XTX (24 GB) priced at US$950 vs RTX 4080 (16 GB) priced at US$1,129. Thus, getting an RTX 4060 (8 GB) at US$305 or the RX 6750 XT (12 GB) at US$330 would be a solid start. Do note that all RTX 40 series will require an ATX 3.0 PSU while all recent Radeon GPUs can use the typical 8-pin power connecter.

For CPU cooling the classic Noctua NH-D15 would set you back US$110 and should suffice for most modern CPUs. As for your choice of case and desktop fans its up to your choice.

Lastly, for your power supply its best to go with an 850 W PSU as this would give you more breathing space when upgrading your workstation components over time. An ATX 3.0 850W PSU by Corsair would set you back US$140. In total, our list of parts would set you back between US$1,083 and US$1,108 depending on your choice of GPU and excludes a case, case fans and miscellaneous accessories. A workstation with these specifications would get you through a day of engineering work without trouble.

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