Its time to upgrade our computer and storage.
We have a small office two computers. One is typically just a cad/comps machine and one is my main machine.
We are backing up to a WD My Cloud Mirror that we grab and store files one. I probably should to a real cloud backup with this.
I run Carlson Survey with AutoCAD and Leica Infinity. We will probably need a more powerful machine as we expand into more
high tech data collection (drone etc.).
I'm hoping to get some suggestions on computer components, where to buy, storage ideas for a small company and any other advice I can get
on putting a new system together...
Thank you in advance!
I use Google Cloud storage. I have backup and sync installed on our desktops and even my field tablet that I use for data collection. That is bloody cool to, I am backing up to the cloud as I take a shot, if I have a wi-fi connection at the time.
I also use?ÿGoogle Drive. You access your files from any smartphone, with little effort. There are free apps to view DWG files.
Google store unlimited versions of the save file for 30 days. It handles file conflicts well also.
If you are looking for a PC to process drone imagery it will need the highest level of hardware you can afford.
Liquid?ÿcooled high core count, fast i7 or i-9 CPU, recommend?ÿ8 cores or more
NVMe M.2 PCI-E 970 Pro SSD (3500MB/s)
NVIDIA 1080TI or 2080TI GPU w/ 8GB?ÿ
32 GB ram
Start building your PC at?ÿ https://www.digitalstorm.com/configurator.asp?id=2101549?ÿ
For computers get what you can afford. Intel i9. SSDs and NVMe storages with at least a 1070 gfx and 64gb ram.
These are what i use. Heard AMD ryzen threadrippers are not bad, just that I am unable to upgrade my pc so fast.?ÿ
I use synology c2 for my cloud backup. Its cheap for the TB storage. Downside is that it is abit slow donwloading compared to AWS. Generally if you have less than 1tb, you should just stick to google drive, it is very accessible and fast.?ÿ
You should be able to get a high end PC for around $2000 that will do everything you need and more, unless you are processing large amounts of imagery. If so then be prepared to start forking it over for the high end processors, GPU, and lots of RAM. Looks like everyone is about on the same page on components. I personally assemble my own PCs as it is a lot cheaper, and overall pretty easy.?ÿ
Also look at Gaming PCs instead of workstations, they often times have very good components that work for a small office without being charged a premium markup that workstations seem to have. The office I work in has 3 PCs with 2 being CAD stations. We do only a little GIS/Imagery work so they are somewhat basic computers that I installed SSDs and middle of the line graphics cards in.
I highly recommend?ÿ https://pcpartpicker.com/ this lets you make component lists and ensure compatibility if you assemble your own and if not it at least lets you see the price of the components you are buying and see if its worth it.?ÿ
?ÿ
@leegreen, do you own a DigitalStorm PC? They look amazing, but man do they make you pay a pretty high premium for their PCs.
?ÿ
An unabashed plug for my nephew's backup system.?ÿ He is in the business in Boulder.?ÿ Knows his stuff.
?ÿ
