A good all-round CAD workstation with a brand new Nvidia GPU
- Intel Core i7 3770K (3.5GHz clocked to 4.3GHz) (Quad Core)
- 16GB (2 x 8GB) PC3-1600MHz Quad Channel DDR3 memory
- Nvidia Quadro K2000 (2GB) GPU
- 120GB Intel 520 Series SSD + 1TB 7,200RPM SATA3 hard drive
- WS motherboard (Intel Z77 Chipset)
- Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
- 3 year full parts & labour system warranty
- £1,595
Intel’s ‘Ivy Bridge’ Core i7 3770K may have just celebrated its first birthday, but it continues to be the processor of choice for mainstream CAD. Single threaded applications thrive on this high GHz chip and with four cores and eight threads, there is power in reserve for rendering. And the best thing — it only costs £220.
For this ‘Workstation Enhanced’ WSX4 the Core i7 3770K has been clocked up to 4.3GHz from 3.5GHz giving a welcome boost in all applications.
While the CPU is relatively old in computer terms, the graphics card is bang up to date. The Kepler-based Nvidia Quadro K2000 was only released in March this year and should provide a solid option for mainstream CAD and BIM software.
With a 120GB Intel 520 Series SSD and a 1TB 7,2000RPM HDD, the machine offers both performance and capacity. However, those who use multiple applications, such as the Autodesk Building Design Suite, may benefit from an upgrade to a 240GB SSD.
For a mainstream CAD workstation some might find the 220 x 500 x 500mm to be a touch on the large side, but it does make servicing easy. Furthermore, because every Workstation Specialist machine features the same chassis, self repair over the phone, under the guidance of a WS engineer, is made easier, helping get back up and running quicker should it develop a fault.
The WSX4 is a good all-round CAD workstation, delivering solid performance at a decent price.
