Available in both print and digital editions, AEC Magazine, “the only global publication to focus exclusively on BIM technology and beyond,” is a must-read for architects, engineers and construction operations (AECO) pros. For over two decades, this publication has provided a steady stream of insights, technical reviews, case studies, and more. Among their team of esteemed and trusted staff is Greg Corke, co-founder and managing editor, who studied civil engineering at the University of Leeds. He is also AEC Magazine’s “resident workstation specialist.”
That’s where BOXX comes in. Since no system manufacturer knows more about AECO workflows than BOXX, we opted to send one of our APEXX A3 workstations (purpose-built for architects, engineers, and construction pros) to the subject matter expert. The system configuration Corke received looked like this:
BOXX APEXX A3 Compact Workstation Specifications
- “Zen 5” 16-cores/32 threads AMD Ryzen 9950X processor (5.7GHz)
- NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada gen GPU
- 96GB of DDR-5 memory
- 2TB Crucial T705 NVMe PCIe 5.0 SSD
- Liquid cooling
- Compact Design
- 13 USB Ports
So, in a practical sense, how fast is APEXX A3? For starters, it currently holds the top spot in SPECapc® SOLIDWORKS 2024 Benchmark Results. I know what you’re thinking. SOLIDWORKS is a manufacturing & product design application, so what does that have to do with AECO workflows? It’s a fair question, but hear me out. SOLIDWORKS is a single-threaded software application, as is Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and a host of other AECO titles. Single-threaded applications, which thrive on CPU speed over multiple cores, is where the blazing fast, liquid-cooled AMD Ryzen 9000 Series CPU inside APEXX A3 absolutely excels.
Liquid Cooling for BOXX Compact Workstations
A brief aside: when discussing high performance workstations, system cooling often gets overlooked in favor of CPU core count, processor speed, GPUs, etc., however, those components cannot run your compute intensive AECO applications efficiently unless they are kept cool. If you’re familiar with thermal throttling, you know it’s when the CPU slows down to avoid overheating due to warming under a heavy workload. Air cool only workstations can be impacted by this problem, so that’s why BOXX also relies on liquid cooling to maximize system, and thereby, application performance. Check out this animated video to learn more.
APEXX A3 for Architectural Design
Descending from my liquid cooling soapbox, let’s get back to the review. Our APEXX A3, outstanding for straight up architectural design, is equally incredible for design visualization, and that’s precisely where the respected reviewer elected to put our APEXX A3 to the ray-tracing test yielding terrific results with Twinmotion, Lumion, and V-Ray.
I won’t share those numbers here as you need to read the AEC Magazine workstation review in its entirety to truly appreciate the power and performance of the APEXX A3 and what it could mean for your AECO workflow. As Corke mentions near the end of his review: “The BOXX APEXX A3 is a top-tier compact workstation, fully customizable and built to order, allowing users to select the perfect combination of processors to meet their needs.” He also wisely mentions that no AMD Ryzen 9000-based workstation is available from commodity PC manufacturers like Dell, HP, or Lenovo.
Read the review, then call a BOXX performance specialist at 877.877.BOXX, or chat online to configure your ideal AECO workstation designed, built and supported in the USA.
FAQs - BOXX APEXX A3 Compact Workstation
What is a compact workstation?
A compact workstation is a powerful computing solution designed to maximize performance while minimizing space. It is ideal for professionals in demanding fields like architecture, engineering, and design.
What are the key features of the BOXX APEXX A3?
The BOXX APEXX A3 offers exceptional performance with high-end processors, ample RAM, and advanced graphics options. Its compact design allows it to fit easily into any workspace without sacrificing power.
Who is the BOXX APEXX A3 designed for?
This workstation is specifically designed for professionals in architecture, engineering, media, and entertainment who require robust computing power for rendering, simulations, and 3D modeling.
Is the BOXX APEXX A3 customizable?
Yes, the BOXX APEXX A3 can be customized in terms of processors, storage, and graphics to meet the specific needs of users. Customers can choose a configuration that best fits their requirements.
