Re: Dedicated CAD computer?

Howdy Mike,
So you are liking AD6.

One suggestion regarding your faults/GPF faults. Years ago any number of
P99SE users were getting numbers of crashes and faults. After much
discussion, trials and testing, the problems were generally eliminated by
one of two things. Rigorous memory testing (long periods of in-depth pattern
testing) showed intermittent faults. Also video cards were the cause of a
lot of the faults. The guys either updated video drivers or bought other
video cards. Those two solutions have always seemed to relieve the problems
for most Altium/Protel users.

To assist in your quest you could check the Altium user forum, I know
that not that long back (maybe 3 or 4 weeks max) there was a similar
discussion when someone asked the same question regarding what was a good
machine for running AD6. I believe that a significant number of the
responses were running Nvidia Quattro 4400 video cards (don't quote me on
that though).

As Stephan mentioned, don't bother with a dual core processor because
AD6 definitely doesn't use it and probably never will. Some users were even
turning off their dual core capabilities through their Bios and claiming
improvements in speed. I don't know if that makes sense or not, but that is
what they claimed.

While Altium suggests a certain machine config, it is probably overkill
for your use as mentioned previously. They state a 3GHz P4 but you could
surely get away with a 2.5 - 3 GHz Celeron without noticing a significant
lag. I am sure the Altium specs are set-up for doing everyhting the package
could possibly do, FPGA, autorouting, Tasking realtime tasks and all of the
advanced features where you may want the best processing speed available. I
would go with 2Gig of RAM though, today that is very cheap.

Have you read the Query introduction paper from the Altium website? I
assume that you probably have, so what you really need is the advanced guide
that outlines and lists all the query functions and how they work, doesn't
everybody? One thing that some users over look too often is the FSO (find
similar object) command, it either replaces the need for queries or helps in
building queries when you first start out. There is also the query builder
tool if I remember correctly, remember that I don't presently use the AD
tool. When all else fails, post a question to the Altium forum, typically I
would think you would have an answer inside of 6 hours, 24/7, with all the
users around the world that are on the list.

--
Sincerely,
Brad Velander.

"Mike Rocket J Squirrel" <j.michael.elliott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Iaadnc34FJENqiTZnZ2dnUVZ_umdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi all,

Several weeks ago I asked for help with my old Protel Client 3.x crashing
under Windows XP and received a lot of help -- thanks. The most promising
solution was to run Protel under VM Workstation emulating Win 95, and that
seemed to work for a couple days, then Protel began its crashes again
(most always a GPF in ADVPCB.exe). I gave it a lot of thought, and talked
with the local Altium rep, and bit the bullet and bought AD6 + P99SE. My
first inclination was to simply upgrade to P99SE and ignore AD6, but while
receiving some nice one-on-one NetMeeting training from Altium I liked
better how AD6 handled my needs and did things, so I've installed it and
am running it. I pretty much like everything I see, though I need Query
and Filter 101 training.

But I still get about a crash a day, usually in ADVPCB.exe. Unlike Protel,
AD6 does not trash the PCB and schematic files when it crashes, so that
problem is behind me. The crashes are unwelcome, of course. The machine
I'm running AD6 on is used for many, many, purposes - it's my general
office machine and is primarily used for accounting and graphics and the
kitchen sink and a host of other things. I don't want to change its
configuration because, with the exception of AD, it is perfectly stable
and I like the way it's set up.

So I'm considering getting a dedicated WinXP box to run AD6 on. I could
just pick up a basic machine with good graphics from my local PC store . .
. but I would like to know if anyone has recommendations for what makes a
good AD6 box.

Thanks in advance!

- Mike Elliott


.