G6 Slate — Entry Workstation for AutoCAD and Lightroom Classic
The G6 Slate is built for AutoCAD 2026 2D drafting, Fusion 360 small assemblies up to around 100 components, Adobe Photoshop files up to 200MB, and Lightroom Classic catalogues up to 20,000 images. The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K delivers strong single-thread performance at this price point — a meaningful step above a quad-core budget machine doing the same work. From £1200, built and stress-tested in Wolverhampton. The Slate is the entry build across our CAD workstations, graphic design workstations, and photography editing workstations ranges.
16GB DDR5 is the right amount for these workloads. If your projects are larger — multi-discipline CAD, 60,000-image Lightroom libraries, or Fusion 360 assemblies beyond 100 parts — the G6 Granite with 32GB is the correct next step. If you are on the boundary, call Kevin before you order and he will confirm which build fits your current workflow.
Not sure if this is the right spec for your software and project scale? Call Kevin on 01902 714533 — he will give you a straight answer.
Every workstation tested under sustained professional load
Free UK Delivery
Free mainland delivery, fully tracked
Lifetime Support
Free UK phone support for the life of your machine
SPEC OVERVIEW, CORRECT FOR
G6 Slate — Full Specification
Every component selected for the single-thread workloads that define 2D CAD, parametric modelling, and image editing. A compact, desk-friendly build that does not compromise on the processing speed that matters for AutoCAD and Lightroom.
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 5 245K, 14-core, LGA1851. Strong single-core boost for AutoCAD viewport responsiveness and Fusion 360 parametric rebuild.
Memory
16GB DDR5. Covers AutoCAD 2D with moderate xrefs, Photoshop up to 200MB, Lightroom up to 20,000 images, Fusion 360 up to ~100 parts. Larger projects belong on the G6 Granite.
Graphics
Nvidia RTX 5060 8GB. Handles Photoshop GPU acceleration including Generative Fill and Neural Filters, and Lightroom AI masking. Not a rendering card — buyers needing GPU rendering should look at the G6 Quartz.
Primary Storage
1TB NVMe SSD. OS, applications, and active project files. Sufficient for a single-discipline workflow at entry scale.
Cooling
Air cooler. The Core Ultra 5 245K runs within its thermal limits with quality air cooling at this spec level. No liquid cooling required for these workloads.
Motherboard
Gigabyte H810M H, mATX, LGA1851. Standard connectivity and thermal stability. mATX form factor keeps the build compact without reducing connectivity.
Case
Gigabyte C102G, compact mATX. Smaller footprint suited to a desk without dedicated tower space. Adequate airflow at this spec level.
Operating System
Windows 11 Home, pre-installed and activated. Drivers and BIOS confirmed before dispatch.
SPECIFICATION RATIONALE
Why This Specification for CAD and Creative Work
Every component in the Slate is chosen for the specific demands of 2D drafting, small assembly modelling, and single-application image editing.
Core Ultra 5: single-core speed at this price
AutoCAD 2D viewport responsiveness and Fusion 360 parametric rebuild run on a single processor thread. The Core Ultra 5 245K's boost clock delivers strong single-thread performance at entry price — a step above the quad-core budget chips that struggle under moderate xref loads and complex sketch constraints.
16GB: the right amount for these workloads
16GB DDR5 handles AutoCAD 2D with moderate external references, Photoshop up to 200MB, Lightroom with up to 20,000 images, and Fusion 360 assemblies up to around 100 parts. If your projects run larger, the G6 Granite with 32GB is the correct next step.
Compact mATX: desk-friendly without compromise
The Gigabyte C102G is a compact mATX case suited to a desk without a dedicated tower space. The H810M board keeps the build small while retaining standard connectivity and thermal stability. Smaller does not mean cut corners — the Slate is built to the same standard as every other machine in the Ginger6 range.
RTX 5060: display output and light GPU acceleration
The RTX 5060 8GB handles Photoshop GPU acceleration — Generative Fill, Neural Filters — and Lightroom's AI masking and denoise features. It is not a rendering card. Buyers needing GPU-accelerated rendering should look at the G6 Quartz with RTX 5070.
SOFTWARE COMPATIBILITY
What the G6 Slate Handles
Confirmed software performance at the G6 Slate specification. Project scales based on 16GB DDR5 and Core Ultra 5 245K.
AutoCAD 2026
2D drafting
Single-layout drawings, standard title blocks, moderate xrefs. 2D and light 3D. Responsive at this spec.
Fusion 360
Small assemblies
Up to around 100 components with standard features and constraints. Larger assemblies move to the G6 Granite.
Adobe Photoshop
Image editing
Files up to 200MB, GPU-accelerated filters including Generative Fill and Neural Filters. Single-application use.
Lightroom Classic
Photo management
Catalogues up to 20,000 images with standard culling, develop, and export. AI masking enabled via RTX 5060.
Performance descriptors are indicative. Actual performance depends on project complexity, settings, and system configuration.
THE SLATE IN CONTEXT
16GB Is the Right Amount — Until It Is Not
The most useful thing this page can do is tell you exactly where the Slate sits. A buyer landing from a search for an AutoCAD workstation needs to know whether their workflow fits within this spec before they commit, not after.
16GB DDR5 covers AutoCAD 2D with moderate external references, Photoshop up to 200MB, Lightroom with up to 20,000 images, and Fusion 360 with assemblies up to around 100 parts. At that scale, the Core Ultra 5 245K delivers responsive viewports, fast parametric rebuilds, and smooth Lightroom AI processing. You will not feel you are waiting for the machine.
If your AutoCAD files carry heavy xref stacks, if your Lightroom library has grown beyond 20,000 images, or if you run Photoshop and Illustrator open at the same time, 16GB becomes the limiting factor. At that point the G6 Granite — 32GB, Core Ultra 7 265K — is the correct build. Both are available from Ginger6, built in Wolverhampton to the same standard. If you are on the boundary, call Kevin before you order and he will tell you which one fits your current workflow.
NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT SPEC?
Tell Kevin:
The software you use and the version
Your typical file sizes or project scales
Whether you need to run multiple applications simultaneously — and which ones
Your approximate budget
No charge for the conversation. No pressure to buy.
93% of Ginger6 customers leave five-star reviews. The person who advises you on your spec is the same person who builds the machine and answers the phone if you need support after delivery.
"Really great help. Hasham was able to fix a technical problem and was understanding throughout."
Barmyowl, Verified Google Review
★★★★★
"I have been using Ginger 6 since 2014 for gaming PCs for wife and myself. That's 5 purchased in total. Never had a technical issue with any of the builds and the only reason for new purchases is technical obsolescence. Highly recommend them."
Dangerous Toast, Verified Google Review
★★★★★
"I have purchased two different systems from Ginger6. One a games machine for my son and the other a desktop for myself. Both came as described, no hassle and prompt as soon as payment was received. I would gladly use this company again when the need arises."
Gregon Stone, Verified Google Review
HOW YOUR WORKSTATION IS BUILT
Built by Hand in Wolverhampton
Every G6 Slate is assembled, configured, and tested by Kevin's team before it ships. The build process is the same for a £1200 workstation as it is for the top of the range.
01
Spec confirmed for your workflow
Before the build begins, the configuration is reviewed against your software and project scale. If you have spoken to Kevin, the spec is confirmed against what he knows about your AutoCAD file sizes, your Lightroom catalogue volume, or your Fusion 360 assembly complexity. Components are selected and staged.
02
Hand-assembled with attention to airflow
The Slate is assembled by hand in Wolverhampton. The compact C102G case requires careful cable routing to support airflow inside the case, reduce dust build-up around components, and keep future maintenance straightforward. On a smaller build, cable management is more critical than on a full tower — poor routing restricts airflow in a smaller volume. BIOS settings and memory profiles are confirmed before the 24-hour test begins, to prevent configuration conflicts and startup issues from the first day of use.
03
24-hour test and dispatch
Every Slate runs under sustained CPU and GPU load for a full day before it ships. The test replicates the sustained use an AutoCAD session or an extended Lightroom export puts on the machine — not a short synthetic benchmark. The air cooler is confirmed to be performing correctly at load before dispatch. Windows, drivers, and storage are verified. Music production DPC latency configuration is available on request and applied before dispatch — arrange this at order stage.
24-HOUR STRESS TEST COVERS
Thermal behaviour under sustained load
Processor and graphics stability during extended use
Memory responsiveness and system stability
Storage performance and consistency
BIOS and firmware stability
System stability under extended use
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
G6 Slate — Common Questions
For AutoCAD 2026 2D drafting with standard layouts, title blocks, and a moderate number of external references, 16GB DDR5 is sufficient. The G6 Slate handles this workload without the machine becoming the bottleneck. Where 16GB begins to show its limit is in heavy xref stacks or when AutoCAD is open alongside other applications. If your 2D work is self-contained, 16GB is the right amount. If you regularly open AutoCAD alongside other software, call Kevin and tell him which applications you run simultaneously.
Yes. Lightroom Classic runs well on 16GB for catalogues up to around 20,000 images with standard culling, develop, and export workflows. The RTX 5060 handles Lightroom's AI-powered masking and denoise features. Where 16GB becomes a consideration is in very large catalogues of 60,000 images or more, or running Photoshop and Lightroom simultaneously. For those workflows, the G6 Granite with 32GB is the correct build.
The Slate uses a Core Ultra 5 245K with 16GB DDR5 and an RTX 5060. The G6 Granite uses a Core Ultra 7 265K with 32GB DDR5, an RTX 5060 Ti, and dual NVMe storage. The Granite handles SolidWorks assemblies up to around 300 parts versus the Slate's 100, Lightroom catalogues up to 60,000 images versus 20,000, and running Photoshop alongside Illustrator simultaneously. If your current projects fit within the Slate's scales, the Slate is the correct build. If you are at or near those limits, the Granite is the better long-term choice.
Yes. The G6 Slate ships with Windows 11 Home pre-installed and activated. Drivers are installed and confirmed before dispatch. The machine is ready to use from the point of delivery. If your workflow requires Windows 11 Pro for features such as BitLocker, domain join, or Remote Desktop, call Kevin and he can advise on the upgrade option.
Build time is 3 to 5 working days from order confirmation, including the 24-hour stress test. Delivery to UK mainland addresses is free and fully tracked. If you have a specific date in mind, call Kevin on 01902 714533 before you order and he will tell you whether the timeline is achievable.
GINGER6
Ready to Order the G6 Slate?
Ginger6 has been building custom workstations in Wolverhampton since 2001. The person who answers your call builds your machine and supports it after. 93% five-star reviews. 24-hour stress testing. 3-year warranty with lifetime support. No sales team. No call centre.
