what computer to run altuim on

[ebez2010]

what computer should i you to run altuim   

[Spikee]

If you want multiple monitor setup go for AMD because of eyefinity (most cheap cards <100 dollars have it) and it supports up to six screens in full resolution.
For operating system windows 7 64bit would be the obvious choice. For ram i would just put 8GB in because it's cheap and overkill.
An ssd for the operating system and Altium program/projects would allow you much faster loading (does not need to be big).
And a regular HDD for normal files.
For a processor you can go intel (expensive) or AMD (cheap) . Quad core is kinda the standard now and is cheap so just get one which is 2 ghz and up.

I'm currently using my laptop for altium and i run it on 2 screens ( laptop screen + 24 inch screen both on 1920*1080)
I have the Nvidia GT555M 3GB vid card but because it is NVIDIA it only allows 2 screens on the same time so it is kinda USELESS!
A AMD video card would allow 6 screens ...

So my specs are:
Intel I7 quad 2,2 Ghz
4Gb ram
1Tb HDD (no ssd)
Nvidia GT555M 3GB video card ( only supports two monitors at the same time ... fail nvidia)


My perfect setup would be 3x 24-27 inch screens so you can have pcb view , schematic view and datasheet/other stuff on the screens at the same time so you don't have to switch all the time ...
A cheap 50 euro AMD video card that supports 6 screens (eyefinity) (fanless version/very quiet fan)
Cheap Quad core ( AMD or Intel) (GIANT heatsink on it so you can run it fanless)
8Gb ram
Cheap and small SSD for OS , Altium stuff
1Tb HDD for other files.

[Zad]

I think Spikee is getting a wee bit carried away with himself in fantasy land. It isn't that long ago (<10 years) that a single 17in monitor was luxury, and 450MHz processor was plenty for doing CAD with. If you get into the mental state of "I can't work without..." then you'll never get anything done.

I doubt that there will be a desktop machine on the market which is not capable of running Altium very well. Laptops/notebooks are a different matter. Tiny screens and slow graphics can make CAD work very slow going, but still very much do-able. I suspect Altium isn't yet fully 64-bit so won't support more than 4GB memory, and won't support more than 1 or possibly 2 cores anyway. The vast majority of PCB design is pretty light on processor power demands. I have an SSD on this machine and, whilst it speeds up boot time hugely, CAD work doesn't feel any more efficient.

[Psi]

I think Spikee is getting a wee bit carried away with himself in fantasy land. If you get into the mental state of "I can't work without..." then you'll never get anything done.

Maybe a little carried away, but you definitely want two monitors for Altium.
You can work with just one, but it slows you down.

I doubt that there will be a desktop machine on the market which is not capable of running Altium very well.

There are still desktops that use onboard graphics, and its a bit hit and miss if altium 3D will work on them.

[digsys]

Given the simple question, I'd suspect the OP isn't going to be designing quad FPGA 2GHz control systems.
IMO, I suggest just about anything up to 5 yrs old will work fine. I have 2 monitors, but OFTEN find ALT+TAB
is much simpler than panning my head as if watching a tennis game :-)
WHY NOT try your simple set up first and decide once you become proficient.

[Rufus]

The vast majority of PCB design is pretty light on processor power demands.

Have you used Altium?

Real time design rule checking and push and shove routing need lots of processor power and that's after Altium pushed most of the graphics rendering onto the graphics card.

True Altium isnt at all 64bit (yet) and doesn't use much more than one core.

[free_electron]

Dual screens. Make sure graphics hard has lots of dedicated memory , ( no sharing with main memory ) if you want to use 3d.

64 bit os is not required as altium is a 32 bit apps. The problem is borland isnt ready with 64 bit compiler .... Altium is written in Delphi...
I believe with altium 12 this will change.

Quad core cpu is fine if you have two windows open plus some other programs. Each altium window will use one core. So you will not 'feel' a slowdown when running dual monitors.

Three or more screens is recommended if you start doing the simulation and fpga stuff. You simply want to have everything open becasue of the powefull cross probing.

But, do yourself a favor : get a 3D spaceexplorer... That little 90$ peripheral makes altium thoroughly wonderful. Zoom, pan , scroll, rotate is so smooth with that thing you will wonder how come not many more programs support it.
It also works in google earth , acrobat reader and many other cad programs.

[Psi]

The latest version of Delphi (XE2) has 64bit support, so they're now able to do a 64bit version.
Although, only time will tell if/when they actually use it.

[ebez2010]

will altuim run on a acer aspier one d-257

[joelby]

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Have you read the Altium system requirements?