What's the best computer to buy for Revit 2014?

So...
Here we are are again at another release cycle for the Building Design Suites (Including Revit) and all the Autodesk offerings! So with that comes the inevitable questions, namely: What's the best computer to buy for Revit 2014?
Aren't you excited?

This post will be in two parts: 
1) Generic Recommendations 

• Useful to spec your own machine and suggested peripherals
  

2) Specific Recommendations

• Nearly an actual manufacturer recommendation

Part 1 | Generic Recommendations 

Autodesk's SysReq's can all be found at the prior link but I would emphatically caution you to go well beyond even their "Performance: Large, Complex Model" spec's, as I will illustrate below!!!

The "Performance: Large, Complex Model" spec's (With my comments in Blue):

• Windows 8 64-bit Enterprise or Professional edition, or Windows 7 64-bit Enterprise, Ultimate, Professional, or Home Premium edition OK, say goodbye to Vista64!!!
• Multicore Xeon or i-Series processor or AMD equivalent with SSE2 technology (highest affordable CPU speed rating recommended) -Can't agree more, this is where the bulk of $$$ should go!
  
• Multiple cores for many tasks, up to 16 cores for near-photorealistic rendering operations Yes! 16 cores!!!
• 16 GB RAM (Usually sufficient for a typical editing session for a single model up to approximately 700 MB on disk. This estimate is based on internal testing and customer reports. Individual models will vary in their use of computer resources and performance characteristics.) It's 2013 now and we should think of 16 GB being the base amount for Workstations, but 32GB or 64GB are my recommendations! 128GB seems a bit costly for average projects and users but those who do large projects should really fight for 128GB.
• Models created in previous versions of Revit software products may require more available memory for the one-time upgrade process -See? 16GB is not going to be "enough" to work effectively for many, if not most of us.
• 5 GB free disk space; 10,000+ RPM for Point Cloud interactions Can you say: SSD? Solid State Drives are mandatory IMHO!!! Use the old spinning drives for archiving, etc. but use SSD's for all system and other software + Active Workstation storage... Several drives may be required (read as: ARE Required) these days... Also; only 5GB of free space? Hahaha -if you only have 5 free GB of space you need some help -or a new SSD!!!

• 1,920 x 1,200 monitor with true color That should say: 
• 2 x 24" Monitors at 1920 x 1200 pixels for a Basic setup
• 2 x 27" Monitors at 2,560x1440 pixels for a Recommended setup
• 4 x 24" or 4 x 27" Monitors for a Preferred setup
• DirectX 10 capable graphics card with Shader Model 3 as recommended by Autodesk

•  See this link to find "Certified" Graphics cards, etc. The ADSK "Recommended" ones may be OK but then again, maybe not... Use at your own choosing, after testing.
• Internet Explorer 7 (or later) Yeah that will happen since it's built into Microsoft Windows, though I use Mozilla Firefox primarily.

• MS-Mouse or 3Dconnexion-compliant device -I suggest the following:
• MS-Mouse (for the scroll wheel :-) 
• 3Dconnexion Space Pilot Pro or Space Mouse Pro for daily work  
• 3Dconnexion  Space Navigator for travel, 
• Wacom Intous5 Touch Large Pen Tablet (This replaces my mouse!!! -except for that pesky scroll wheel)
• Note: I also use a Wacom Cintiq 22 at home, so if you can afford one of those (I can't mine was a gift) it's a great 3rd (or 5th ;-) Monitor as well as being an Interactive drawing surface... So, until all monitors are touch w/ pens these Cintiq's are awesome!
• Download or installation from DVD9 or USB key OK
• Internet connectivity for license registration and prerequisite component download OK

Part 2 | Specific Recommendations

Well I am (still) not going to recommend any one manufacturer with an emphatic endorsement...but I was close!!! -And it may seem like I am recommending one mfg. but, well, you decide for yourself...

I was close to recommending BOXX Workstations outright...Close.

The BOXX 4920 and BOXX 4050 Workstations were graciously extended as Demo's to prove out their potential ROI to me; toward my potential and necessary future acquisitions. What I found was, that for me, in AEC, with different project types and sizes, the BOXX 4050 appeared the best candidate; balancing performance in a moderately cost effective Workstation. 

Why am I not emphatically recommending BOXX outright? I have mixed thoughts... The BOXX Workstations and the GOBOXX Laptop/Mobile Workstations are truly great machines; although they are a bit expensive in direct comparison to other mfg's..

1) The BOXX 4050 is a machine that I will be specifying for a select group of Designers and 'Large Project' teams. The productivity increases will pay for these Workstations in a matter of month's... Over the 3 year run of the Workstation, I see a lot of ROI (AKA: profit) from this approach...

That said and to be totally honest, I will also acquire both HP Workstations and Dell Workstations, spec'd to match the BOXX 4050 apples-to-apples and see if the cost differential or support or if anything else affects my future purchases... I have already tasked my long-time, multiple firm Network Team (SADA Systems) to get quotes for similarly spec'd Workstations from both HP and Dell and they report the cost delta ranges about $500 to $1,000 less than BOXX, but only time will tell if the components perform comparably, keeping in mind that the BOXX Workstations are overclocked to their maximum.

With the cost of the BOXX 4920 coming in just below $6,000 I cannot see the ROI being clear unless one has an unconstrained budget. Of which I do not...do you??? The ROI between the 4050 and the 4920 does NOT make sense to me, being that $2,000 only gets marginal percentage point increases for the cost (see the rendering "Time" differentials below).

The BOXX 4050 though, coming in at just about $3,900 makes it attractive, given the performance it provides and where, for just over the cost of a single 4920, one can get nearly 2 of the 4050's, if not 3 other decent machines... It's all a balancing act, no? 

That all said; the BOXX Workstations did work amazingly fast and I really liked having them around.
For instance the rendering differences were extraordinary. -I rendered the same file from 3 machines: Note the costs are "as configured" -one can spend a bit more or less depending...

Project File Size: 19.5 mb

Faces: 35,316

Materials: 105

Rendering Results:

HP Z400 ($2,500 +/-)

Res: 2800 x 2100

Time: 56m 59s

BOXX 4050
($3,900 +/-)

Res: 2800 x 2100

Time: 19m 0s

since

BOXX 4920
($6,000 +/-)

Res: 2800 x 2100

Time: 17m 24s

So there it is in not so small a nutshell...Get the most you can afford and make sure the service contract is up to your needs as well!!! 

Cheers, -J

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@LARUG | Leading The Way | Following Revit Topographies

No need to say more, except the handout will be posted after RTC Australasia and RTC North America...That'll be even greater!!! Click the image to see what's up with Revit Content actually following topo's...

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@LARUG | A Yearly Special Event

Use the following link to get to the presentations...
Click ME!!!
Tweet us up @LARUG 

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Revit For Newbies | Just Do Eat at RFO

As the years go on, in this whole thing we call BIM, AECO and Life; many of us are asked how best to learn software-X or similar questions. This posting should act as a great kick-start toward that end.

I am not getting tired of answering this type of question, as long as the folks asking such questions actually take the necessary steps and an active approach to their growth and education; rather than dreaming of "The Magic Wand" approach for getting education, or worse (as all to many people can be) learn the proper procedures, etc. then choose to ignore them.

With that said, here (well, by clicking the images below) are a couple of starting points (mandatory IMO) for all the newcomers to Revit. You will find a multitude of people's existing experience as well as a set of live, interactive question and response forums... This can get new and existing users -of all levels- closer to a state of Revit mastery. Create a free login and have fun!!! (Oh yeah, learn too)...

Notes to all those that are reticent to learn Revit (or at least the proper procedures in it) and/or those who don't see the need for BIM (whether Revit or other BIM authoring apps), I humbly but forcefully say:

• Stay the course of 2D CAD workflows so those firms that do and or have adopted BIM can take all of your prospective projects. -The world may need less Architects yet more 'good' ones anyhow...

Yes, I do suggest that becoming more efficient and less wasteful as an industry implies "good".

Now onto business, If you are new to Revit or just want to get a start on becoming a Revit Knowledge Junkie hit the following images!!! Enjoy and thanks to all at TheRevitForum!!! FYI: If you are truly serious about learning Revit I am sure you will find the Live Sessions useful as well... In addition to this here blog of course ;-)

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BIM Fact | A Well Defined Process

Agree or disagree, (I find) The BIM Protocol from The BIM Task Group to be quite valuable, especially when the PAS 1192-2:2013 is leveraged. -Enjoy and Use!!!

This is one time I will not editorialize (too much) except to say that projects that do not use a well defined plan and find that they are successful, can only be attributed the success to luck and that luck will not hold out. AECO is bigger and requires more respect than many are apt to give it... Revit (or whatever BIM) Projects are increasingly not independent, stand alone productions...
We (AECO) must evolve!!!
You in???



According to this Revit Fact Check | BIM Fact Check post:

"BIM Fact: A well defined BIM process is THE approach worth undertaking."

"BIM Fact: Using no BIM process is still a process.
-probably just a shitty one"

Need we say more? Like how widespread adoption in the UK may push others of us to adopt the same BIM Execution Protocols as one another? Kind of like having a "standard"!?

Want more? Get more... Check this out from the BIM Task Group (Then follow @BIMgcs)... Image links to the downloads page ;-)

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Getting Annotation Without Text (In Revit) | RevitWikiHelp, LARUG and Me

During the course of a discussion in a recent Revit class for Project Managers that I was presenting, I reiterated the benefits, actually the mandatory use of 'help' and of the Internet, for finding multiple sources of workflows, best practices, how-to's, pitfalls and every bit of help, etc. The like as can also be found in my article: The Ultimate Revit Hand: Every Tip, Trick, Technique & Workaround (Known & Unknown)...

Anyhow... The discussion with the PM's flowed into Keynoting and data/information fidelity in Revit and further simply in BIM and ultimately AECO itself... at a point I ventured over to RevitWikiHelp; a subsection of Autodesk WikiHelp. I was showing the breadth of captured knowledge there and when looking at the the "Community" pages; those that augment the main help topics; I found that someone we know and love(?) -ok, me... has had a portion of their work included therein and I am truly honoured (Use this link or the image above to get there)! FWIW, I didn't know my article was included there so you can understand my surprise!!!

Additionally, and to make your obtaining these and other materials for Revit, BIM and more; easily available: Here are all those forementioned materials, including handouts, the presentation's recordings as well as the other documents -the image (left) also gets one there... 


The posting shown also has handouts & documents, etc. by Troy Gates on Formula Driven Families & Noteblocks... all to download at your leisure (read as NOW ;-)














Don't forget to look at all of LARUG's blog archives for more goodies (found on the right side of the blog, below the "other sites" section...just go there and surf around!!! -Remember when it was called Web Surfing LOL...but I digress...

Thanks ADSK and YOU the reader for the continued support!!!

Finally, other than using F1 from your software, the following images will get you to all the AutodeskWikiHelp(s) main page(s).

 

 

-Cheers, -J

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In Response To | The Next Generation of Obsolete Professionals

As the title states, this is in response to an article over at BIMstop, found here. I post this response here, as I use a dirty word and, well that's all...

Regarding "The Next Generation of Obsolete Professionals" article I will take a different tack and pose that schools are not putting out possibly "obsolete" professionals by not teaching Revit or Archicad or whateverCAD, it is rather by not preparing these young people for the realities of the current and future state of Architecture...which is the future of AEC and AECO...all together, not independent!!!

The learning of software-x in schools is needed but there is a larger conversation in the context of "The Next Generation of Obsolete Professionals", namely the need of Architects/Engineers as independent factors at all. Looking out 10 to 50 years, will society need (NEED) the Architecture or Structural firms as stand-alones or would civilization be better served if AEC firms become the predominant building creators?

Do Automotive designers work in companies independent from the Automotive manufacturer? For the most part No.

The 500# gorilla in the room called possible obsolescence of our industry may be that the future will see Architects/Engineers working in AEC offices and not necessarily being or needing to be independent entities -from the owner's $$$ perspective at least this seems optimum. I argue that from the Architect, Engineer and Contractor’s perspective this be seen as optimum as well.

BIM and further IPD, as we move closer to that industry wide, create a scenario where teams must be truly integrated for optimum efficiency and value (not to mention profit). It is increasingly more prevalent that those integrated firms will surpass what independent or ‘anarchist-process’ firms can possibly produce. I say Anarchist-Process since each independent player (A, E and C) each model for differing bottom lines and the use cases for BIM are so numerous that these different ‘bottom-line’ models or BIM are usually competing with one another’s use case or at best only marginally integrated. AECO needs completely integrated BIM, not marginally integrated BIM.

If Architects or "Designers" do not know how buildings 'go together' they are not much more than illustrators at best -and there is dwindling need for them (unless they want jobs in AEC offices to provide pretty pictures alone).

There are already too many folks that call themselves designers yet who are not; those who do not know or care how the "design" can possibly be built (if it even can be for the given budget). These Architectural Illustrators are part of what is keeping the wastefulness alive in AECO and that waste must surely stop.

The waste must stop, not because I am stating it, the waste will stop because it will be increasingly unacceptable by those in power (read as Owners (AKA: The $$$)).

BIM can empower the Architect and designer, Engineer and Contractor; therefore, BIM is needed to be studied and mastered in both higher education and in our industry.

BIM is not about making document sets and the example you provided of a set made in Adobe Illustrator looking unrecognizable from a Revit (for instance) set is arguably, if not technically preposterous.

Does Adobe Illustrator count anything? Does Adobe Illustrator have any ability to parameterize the objects for any number of AECO needs? No and NO.

Technically a piece of printed paper can belie it’s originating creation software (etc.) so ontologically you have a minor point. Now expand that point to be a serious one, as we do not only print once for instance… Make a change to the amount and kind of windows in a building (late in CD) and re-print...tell me how long those changes take in AI, how many views and schedules and calculations are incorrect (or how much more time (read as budget) is wasted using an inappropriate tool)... and then try and argue of the differences being imperceptible. I say that would be dramatically perceptible in every way, including graphic ‘look’.

Other than making pretty pictures of abstracted things that 'appear' to be buildings and document sets Adobe Illustrator is a meaningless point to raise. So too are the other non-BIM tools. Shit, I have seen a survey (graphically) created in Excel and although it ‘looked’ and ‘printed’ like a proper digital survey, it had absolutely zero usefulness outside of that print. It helped the project zero percent and actually cost time and more money since a real digital file was commissioned, therefore I would argue that the Adobe Illustrator set of documents is a tenuous point to attempt… BTW: that Civil Engineer is no longer doing business as far as I know, I suspect due to the inane nature of his software and process choices.

Only those software that support object-based information and data embedding are true BIM authoring tools. That is simply what BIM is after all.

Building

Information

Model

Rhino, 3DMax, Maya, Sketchup, Maya, etc. are generic modelers and do not even say they are BIM authoring tools, no matter how useful they may or may not be in an Architectural or even as bit players in a BIM process.

BIM is intrinsically so much deeper than just paper output. If Architects truly adopt BIM, they would have to agree that the best course for the project is an integrated approach. A, E and C and even O being in tight collaboration, if not the same companies.

Those that hold the view that the Architect's function is to create design intent document sets, are most likely going to see the demise of the standalone Architect and possibly usher that in to existence.

Tell me one building of any importance, created in the past decade that was drawn by hand...the whole CD set... That scenario is where we may find Architects who do not comprehensively adopt BIM and IPD workflows in the years to come...BTW: This point is software independent…it is Process Dependent.

There are plenty of programs, even in Universities that teach software usage, even BIM software, but the needs and issues facing AECO is not in learning any one software, the issue needs to be learning the BIM and IPD processes... software(s) can always be learned inside or outside of school.

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