In my work computer I have HT turned off because Autodesk programs don't do multithreading (with small exceptions that are not applicable to me). 4 or 6 cores are sufficient, and with HT off, CPU gains a little more headroom on the clock.
We leave it on as AutoCAD work generally requires the use of several other programs and activities. These include:
1. One or more spreadsheets for performing engineering calculations.
2. Word processor for reading / editing specs and placing sections in Drawings
3. Several web pages listing manufacturers dimensions details, downloading CAD details.
4. Work generally doesn't follow typical "working hours so when the 12-1 lunch period arrives, most are in the "middle of something" and working when the incremental lunch toime backup runs.
Things is ... if the box can game, it's usually well into the "more than you need" category for AuotoCAD. In 1999 AutoCAD was what determined componentry, now gaming does (assuming of course not doing rendering / anmation) . Gaming cards perform far better than the Pro Workstation cards in 2D and 3D Drafting. Back in the day, I remember spending $1k for a 7200 rpm SCSI drive to speed up AutoCAD's extensive disk writes and w/o memory management tools you, were oft left staring at the screen for significant times. But today, besides opening the program and opening gigantic files, the only bottleneck we have is the user's input speed. But even that "isn't real" because ...
Step 1 - Open program / Open file
Step 2 - Review marked up drawing while Step 1 occuring
Im usually ready to proceed about a minute or 2 after the file is waiting for me.
We've yet to experience any impact on workflow . Each box has at least 4 BIOS profiles choosable at boot
1. Stock BIOS profile ... troubleshooting
2. Moderate OC ... games that don't behave well
3. Max OC w/ HT .... everyday usage
4. Max OC w/o HT ... need that last few fps.
Have not see AutoCAD productivity change in any way regardless of the number of cores or the CPU multiplier. Our users, me more than most
... that's the only bottleneck. We don't do any rendering. The type of work we do doesn't need to "be sold" w/ pretty images (Plant design / MEP / Site design) .... but I have built boxes for those that do and they like the extra cores ... and workstation cards.
For curiosity's sake, I have tried disabling cores for various exe files ... Starting with all 8 cores assigned to the exe, I'' start with 8 and knock them off 1 at a time, I have yet to see any program or game I own affected by dropping down to 3 cores.
It could take years to find them, and years more for it to be released.
By then, there's a 50-50 chance I'll be dead..... but by then there's a 99% chance my current equipment will be in a landfill somewhere.... if not, I'll worry about it then. Whether or not you can create a js script that does damage is only the 1st step ... it has to get thru the ISPs, get thru our firewall, get thru malware protection and get past the user's brain.
