I'm setting up a new architecture studio and weighing my options for hardware and storage. I'm trying to decide between three main setups:
1. **Desktop towers in the office** - they are cheaper and more powerful but lack portability.
2. **High-spec laptops** - these are portable but typically much more expensive for the same performance.
3. **VDI or remote workstation setups** - whether cloud-based or office-based, these can be pricey and sensitive to latency.
**Context for our studio:**
- I'm starting solo, planning to grow to about 3-5 people in the first year, potentially reaching 10-20 in the medium term.
- Our primary software revolves around Revit, with Rhino and other CAD tools frequently used. We also rely on the Adobe Suite for presentations.
- We occasionally collaborate with external consultants on our models, which makes me wonder about the advantages of Autodesk Construction Cloud.
- Most work will be done in the office currently, but I foresee some shift towards remote work, meaning whatever solution I choose must support remote access efficiently. Our office internet is decent at ~250 Mbps, but home connections can be considerably slower.
- We're using Microsoft 365 for collaboration, but I've heard SharePoint and OneDrive can struggle with heavy CAD files.
- I'm considering a standard workstation setup with 2 27" QHD monitors, all running Windows.
- Budget constraints are a reality for a small practice, and I've heard VDI can be extremely costly for graphics-heavy tasks but am open to suggestions.
- Lastly, we need to ensure reliable backups and security for project integrity.
**My questions are:**
- Are desktop towers still the best cost-effective option with integrated server storage for remote access?
- Should I consider standardizing on laptops for a local work experience despite the higher costs?
- Is adopting VDI realistic for a small architecture studio in the coming years, or is it still geared toward larger enterprises?
Any experiences or insights on what worked or didn't work for you in similar situations would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
From my experience in a large firm, solid desktop setups are the way to go, especially with good video cards. Laptops can work too, like the HP Zbook with RTX 4000 which packs a punch. For Revit, definitely stick to the Autodesk cloud; issues with OneDrive and SharePoint for CAD files have been common. Also, consider larger monitors (32") for better visibility in Revit and remember, VDI setups can get super costly. Managing licenses and ensuring there's a solid backup strategy are crucial. Standardization can simplify hardware management too!
You raised some great points! How does SharePoint work out for you in practice, given you handle multiple offices? Do you still use a local NAS alongside it?
First off, make sure you figure out your core software requirements. If the software runs well on laptops, then that's great! But if working on laptops is going to be a subpar experience, having dedicated tower workstations with an on-prem NAS would be the way to go. This way, users could remote into their machines via VPN when needed.
Totally agree! Laptops are viable, but they're a hefty investment upfront, and they usually have shorter lifespans compared to towers.
Really clear points! For a small firm, do you think sticking with towers and remote desktop would be more feasible, or should we actually consider laptops? And should we still look into local NAS for other applications like Rhino and Adobe? How critical is it to standardize in the long run?