Archive
Speed Up Civil 3D with a 64-bit Operating System, Part 1: The Benefits
I am going to make this THE shortest and easiest tech blog post you’ve ever read: Go install Windows 7 64-bit on your Civil 3D workstation. Now!
The end.
Like the idea, but need a bit more information? Good. No one likes a sheep unless you need a sweater or are making kabobs. Let’s look at some reasons why Win7 64-bit is the way to go if you are doing some serious Civil 3D work.
Value
We can separate the big boys from the posers with one question: Do you want to get as much value as possible from your workstation investment? If the answer is yes, then you have to take a serious look at Win7 64-bit. Civil 3D workstations are capable of some amazing things with new releases of software becoming more and more powerful. But if you want those point clouds and massive topo surfaces to render as quickly as possible, you need to give your workstation room to work. That means bringing as much RAM to the table as possible.
Old-fashioned 32-bit systems (even Win7 32-bit) have a measly 4GB maximum of possible RAM and only a little of 3GB of that will be available to Civil 3D! This creates a processing bottleneck that will slow down your system and make you wonder why you even upgraded your Civil 3D. Modern 64-bit systems operate with a MINIMUM 4GB requirement and go upwards of 128GB and more, depending on your OS choice! The processing difference between 4GB on 32-bit and, say, 16GB on 64-bit is like night and day. This will give you more value from the same hardware investment.
Heavy Lifting
Each new release of Civil 3D and most CAD applications bring new and improved capabilities. From grater surface detail to larger and larger point clouds, all of these features are welcome with open arms by users. But these great new features also bring more processing overhead to CAD workstations that may already struggling. Older systems running 32-bit operating systems will show their age as these new features require greater amounts of memory, faster processing and longer rendering times.
By contrast, CAD workstations sporting modern 64-bit operating systems are ready for these challenges. As mentioned before, a 64-bit operating systems is nearly limitless in the amount of RAM it can apply to complicated tasks. But in addition to raw RAM, a 64-bit operating system using RAM more efficiently in its memory allocation and computational processing. This means that meg for meg, a 64-bit workstation manages its processor and RAM more efficiently than its older 32-bit counterpart!
Wait, there’s more. Upgrading to a 64-bit operating system affects your non-CAD tasks as well. We’ll talk about that topic next time!
Author: Curt Moreno
TwitterChat Archive: SolidWorks Optimization with Josh Mings, SolidSmack
SolidWorks Optimization with Josh Mingsby cadalyst_magDell- and Cadalyst-Sponsored TwitterChat abput optimizing your system for SolidWorks.
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| “ | RT @DellEnterprise: Live #CAD chat! Join Dell, @Cadalyst_Mag, & @SolidSmack at #DellCAD, Thursday 4pm East. Info- http://del.ly/6019Rzi5 | ||
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| “ | RT @Cadalyst_Mag: Using #SolidWorks? Join our @SolidSmack TwitterChat today 3pm CST #dellcad http://t.co/3juQzy1 | ||
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| “ | RT @SolidSmack: RT @Cadalyst_Mag: Using #SolidWorks? Join our @SolidSmack TwitterChat today 3pm CST #dellcad http://t.co/3juQzy1 | ||
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| “ | Do you use SolidWorks? Join our chat with @SolidSmack & @Cadalyst_Mag that starts –in just 3 hours– using #DellCAD http://del.ly/6012RzUe | ||
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| “ | RT @DellSMBnews: Do you use SolidWorks? Join our chat with @SolidSmack & @Cadalyst_Mag that starts –in just 3 hours– using #DellCAD http://del.ly/6012RzUe | ||
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| “ | RT @DellSMBnews: Join us, @SolidSmack and @Cadalyst_Mag TODAY at 3pm Central for a TwitterChat on #SolidWorks. Hastag = #DellCAD http://del.ly/6012Rzmu | ||
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| “ | RT @DellSMBnews: Join us, @SolidSmack and @Cadalyst_Mag TODAY at 3pm Central for a TwitterChat on #SolidWorks. Hastag = #DellCAD http://del.ly/6012Rzmu | ||
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| “ | RT: Do you use SolidWorks? Join our chat with @SolidSmack & @Cadalyst_Mag that starts –in just 3 hours– using #DellCAD http://t.co/vY2U7gd | ||
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| “ | RT @DellSMBnews: Join us, @SolidSmack and @Cadalyst_Mag TODAY at 3pm Central for a TwitterChat on #SolidWorks. Hastag = #DellCAD http://del.ly/6012Rzmu | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD TwitterChat in 1 hour with @SolidSmack: Performance optimization with #SolidWorks. http://t.co/3juQzy1 | ||
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| “ | 30 min until our tweetchat w/ @SolidSmack & @Cadalyst_Mag to talk SolidWorks performance & workstations. #DellCAD http://del.ly/6011RzSt | ||
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| “ | RT @DellSMBnews: 30 min until our tweetchat w/ @SolidSmack & @Cadalyst_Mag to talk SolidWorks performance & workstations. #DellCAD http://del.ly/6011RzSt | ||
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| “ | 20 minutes till @joshmings fills your tweet stream with sweet #SolidWorks Performance Q&A. Grab a ham and follow #DellCAD @Cadalyst_Mag | ||
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| “ | Live Twitter chat on CAD starting now! See #DellCAD to join in the conversation. | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD TweetChat in 5 min with @SolidSmack. Grab a cup of coffee and let’s talk #SolidWorks. http://t.co/3juQzy1 | ||
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| “ | Twitter chat with @solidsmack starting in 4 minutes. Shantanu Kedar from the SolidWorks Partner Team will be helping out on our end #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | getting ready to hang with @joshmings to chat about SolidWorks performance and workstations – join #DellCAD (I’ll be there as @DellSMBnews) | ||
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| “ | RT: @DellEnterprise Live Twitter chat on CAD starting now! See #DellCAD to join in the conversation. | ||
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| “ | Welcome to the #DellCAD TwitterChat with @SolidSmack. We’re talking about #SolidWorks optimization right now. | ||
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| “ | I’m Michelle with @Cadalyst_Mag. Please use #DellCAD to follow along as we chat with Josh Mings of @SolidSmack about #SolidWorks. | ||
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| “ | One of Cadalyst’s favorite bloggers, Josh Mings @SolidSmack is ready for your questions. Use #DellCAD to ask a ?. | ||
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| “ | We’re excited to be partnering with @CADalyst_Mag and @SolidSmack today to talk workstations and SolidWorks performance at #DellCAD! | ||
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| “ | Want to optimize the gravy bits out of #SolidWorks on your workstation? Tell us your story at #DellCAD right about… now. | ||
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| “ | Please introduce yourself at any time in the conversation by using the #DellCAD hashtag. | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD tweetchat starting now. Join the discussion about optimizing your workstation performance for #SolidWorks | ||
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| “ | Remember to use #DellCAD in your tweets to join in the conversation about optimizing #SolidWorks. | ||
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| “ | My favorite way to optimize SolidWorks? Smart modeling practice – minimize external ref, reduce relations, complex features last #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | checking out #DellCAD looking forward to what Josh has to say John |
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| “ | RT @Cadalyst_Mag: I’m Michelle with @Cadalyst_Mag. Please use #DellCAD to follow along as we chat with Josh Mings of @SolidSmack about #SolidWorks. | ||
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| “ | RT @LaurenatDell: #DellCAD tweetchat starting now. Join the discussion about optimizing your workstation performance for #SolidWorks | ||
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| “ | @waldenweb nice to see ya John. How’s the SolidWorks performance these days? #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Jumping into TwitterChat now w/ @SolidSmack #DellCAD – I’m mostly a PDM/PLM guy, but Josh is 2 cool to miss and I’ve been a SWX fan for yrs | ||
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| “ | #SolidWorks optimization on the hardware side? Maximize CPU speed. You’ll be glad you did. #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @jonathanpscott: Jumping into TwitterChat now w/ @SolidSmack #DellCAD – I’m mostly a PDM/PLM guy, but Josh is 2 cool to miss and I’ve been a SWX fan for yrs | ||
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| “ | RT @LaurenatDell: #DellCAD tweetchat starting now. Join the discussion about optimizing your workstation performance for #SolidWorks | ||
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| “ | How do you optimize file colaboration with Solidworks? #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @SolidSmack: #SolidWorks optimization on the hardware side? Maximize CPU speed. You’ll be glad you did. #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD: Josh, we’ve got a reader who needs to upgrade to run the latest #SolidWorks. What do you recommend? | ||
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| “ | RT @LPT: getting ready to hang with @joshmings to chat about SolidWorks performance and workstations – join #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Running SW2010 on Windows 7 64bit with 8G Ram, working pretty well #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | If upgrading to SolidWorks 2011, go Windows 7 64bit, 6GB RAM minimum (It’s cheap!), 1GB graphics card is nice too. @Cadalyst_Mag #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Ooh, question about #SolidWorks file collaboration optimization on #DellCAD – now you’ve got my full attention! | ||
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| “ | RT @Cadalyst_Mag: #DellCAD: Josh, we’ve got a reader who needs to upgrade to run the latest #SolidWorks. What do you recommend? | ||
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| “ | RT @johnevansdesign: RT @LPT: getting ready to hang with @joshmings to chat about SolidWorks performance and workstations – join #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @Cadalyst_Mag: One of Cadalyst’s favorite bloggers, Josh Mings @SolidSmack is ready for your questions. Use #DellCAD to ask a ?. | ||
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| “ | @waldenweb – 8GB of RAM — worth it, you think? I believe the more RAM, the better. #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | @bcbenton file collaboration: two ways – 1) work off network with established file name convention #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @SolidSmack: If upgrading to SolidWorks 2011, go Windows 7 64bit, 6GB RAM minimum (It’s cheap!), 1GB graphics card is nice too. @Cadalyst_Mag #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | @bcbenton file collaboration (cont) 2) invest in PDM system. sad but true with that. pricey but worth it for med to large company. #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | On the @solidsmack tweet stream listening to @joshmings #SolidWorks performance Q&A #dellcad | ||
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| “ | RT @SolidSmack: If upgrading to SolidWorks 2011, go Windows 7 64bit, 6GB RAM minimum (It’s cheap!), 1GB graphics card is nice too. @Cadalyst_Mag #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | @Cadalyst_Mag – your reader that is upgrading might find our workstation advisor tool helpful, too: http://del.ly/6011RztB #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @JohnEvansDesign: RT @LPT: getting ready to hang with @joshmings to chat about SolidWorks performance and workstations – join #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | I like answer #2 to @bcbenton question on SWX file collaboration – use PDM if you can afford it. You get collab AND other benefits #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Did you know Dell Precision workstations are specifically designed for professionals like those of you who use #SolidWorks? #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | @Cadalyst_Mag @waldenweb running one rig with 2 Processors and 24GB of RAM…. wooooow, worth it. #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | lightweight components and large assembly mode will help with the optimization. #Dellcad | ||
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| “ | @jonathanpscott what are your thoughts on how PDM helps optimize SolidWorks and Workstation? #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | I just drooled a little: @SolidSmack @waldenweb running one rig with 2 Processors and 24GB of RAM…. wooooow, worth it. #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Questions about CAD hardware configurations? Ask a #Dell expert – @DellRonnie – on #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | true, and SpeedPacks! @lazytrax: lazytrax: lightweight components and large assembly mode will help with SolidWorks optimization. #Dellcad | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD @SolidSmack One big way is thru view/search ability – non-PDM SWX users sometimes load everything into session just to find 1 part | ||
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| “ | @SolidSmack @bcbenton 1/file share or 2/PDM is pretty much all what available today mainstream for collaboration. #dellcad | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD: We’ve got another reader who is new to #SolidWorks RealView. Any tips on hardware or software optimization? | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD @SolidSmack Another PDM plus is managing the 3D->2D link. SWX is OK on the 2D->3D direction. But can cost time to find drws from 3D | ||
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| “ | RT @dellsmbnews: @Cadalyst_Mag your reader that’s upgrading might find our workstation advisor tool helpful http://del.ly/6011RztB #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @LaurenatDell: Questions about CAD hardware configurations? Ask a #Dell expert – @DellRonnie – on #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Is anyone using/not using #SolidWorks RealView? Why or why not? #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @Cadalyst_Mag: One of Cadalyst’s favorite bloggers, Josh Mings @SolidSmack is ready for your questions. Use #DellCAD to ask a ?. | ||
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| “ | If there are any specific #Dell questions about CAD workstation configurations, let me know! #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | unreal RT @Cadalyst_Mag: I just drooled a little: @SolidSmack @waldenweb running one rig with 2 Processors and 24GB of RAM.. #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | @Cadalyst_Mag One way to ensure a good RealView experience is to have a professional level graphics card. #DellCAD http://bit.ly/brRb6X | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD @bcbenton One more collab tip for SWX is using “multi-user env” options – bad news is it doesn’t always play nice with PDM systems. | ||
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| “ | A SolidWorks certified GPU will help with RealView. Can view here… some req’ additional file http://bit.ly/oyunZT @Cadalyst_Mag #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | @Cadalyst_Mag – speaking of drooling… here’s a fun workstation-related video for motorcycle fans joining #DellCAD http://del.ly/6013Rzt3 | ||
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| “ | Introduce yourself at any time in the conversation by using the #DellCAD hashtag. | ||
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| “ | #Dellcad RealView feels distracting/unnecessary, not real. Zebra stripes w/surfaces and preview w/PW pretty much removes the need also | ||
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| “ | #Dellcad that should be: preview with PhotoView, PV, not PW | ||
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| “ | RT @bcbenton: RT @dellsmbnews: @Cadalyst_Mag your reader that’s upgrading might find our workstation advisor tool helpful http://del.ly/6011RztB #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @DellSMBnews: @Cadalyst_Mag – speaking of drooling… here’s a fun workstation-related video for motorcycle fans joining #DellCAD http://del.ly/6013Rzt3 | ||
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| “ | @SolidWorks: Graphics cards! Such a hot topic on #CADspeed. Great link: http://t.co/jy0baxR #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | def for heavy surface modeling! @tonyisme: Zebra stripes w/surfaces and preview w/PW pretty much removes the need for RealView #Dellcad | ||
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| “ | RT @DellSMBnews: Did you know Dell Precision workstations are specifically designed for professionals like those of you who use #SolidWorks? #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @LaurenatDell: Questions about CAD hardware configurations? Ask a #Dell expert – @DellRonnie – on #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Questions about CAD hardware configurations? Ask a #Dell expert – @DellRonnie – on #DellCAD #dellcad | ||
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| “ | and not to leave F1 fans in #DellCAD out, we’ve also got video of Dell workstations helping Cosworth build engines: http://del.ly/6016Rztu | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD Anybody using Solid State Drives to help their #SolidWorks performance? Made a huge difference on my laptop! | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD If you missed Josh’s blog on #CADspeed: Optimize #SolidWorks & be a happier user – http://t.co/BJ1A8MC | ||
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| “ | RT @SolidSmack: Is anyone using/not using #SolidWorks RealView? Why or why not? #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Do you have a dedicated computer just for #SolidWorks? or do you run everything on one? #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Another hot topic – opinions? @jonathanpscott: #DellCAD Anybody using Solid State Drives to help their #SolidWorks performance? | ||
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| “ | Dell Precision certified Workstations are optimized for #Solidworks. Check out our latest workstations: http://t.co/YylUTNW #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | @solidsmack I run SWX alongside all my other apps – but then again, I am a PDM guy… #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @Cadalyst_Mag: #DellCAD If you missed Josh’s blog on #CADspeed: Optimize #SolidWorks & be a happier user – http://t.co/BJ1A8MC | ||
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| “ | Have you checked out the CADspeed blog yet https://cadspeed.wordpress.com #dellcad | ||
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| “ | @jonathanpscott #Dellcad ssd impr. file loading a lot. Not much to gain on modeling or sim performance though. The CPU still needs to chew | ||
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| “ | RT @jonathanpscott: #DellCAD Anybody using Solid State Drives to help their #SolidWorks performance? Made a huge difference on my laptop! | ||
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| “ | @jonathanpscott exactly! you are running SolidWorks (btw me too), but actually not using it (lol) @solidsmack #dellcad | ||
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| “ | @olegshilovitsky #DellCAD Oleg – you are right about that! LOL I rarely model much more than a plate. 🙂 | ||
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| “ | @Cadalyst_Mag @jonathanpscott @solidsmack I’m using SSD. Not only for Solidworks. It helps a lot for performance. #dellcad | ||
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| “ | @cadcompany : Questions about CAD hardware configurations? Ask a #Dell expert – @DellRonnie – on #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Follow a workstation guru > RT @DellRonnie: Dell Precision certified Workstations are optimized for #Solidworks. dell.com/precision #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @olegshilovitsky: @Cadalyst_Mag @jonathanpscott @solidsmack I’m using SSD. Not only for Solidworks. It helps a lot for performance. #dellcad | ||
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| “ | SSD and SATA combination environment is a good way to optimize speed and storage. SSD’s getting cheaper. @tonyisme @jonathanpscott #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | @DellRonnie: Any advice on switching to SSD? #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @SolidSmack: SSD and SATA combination environment is a good way to optimize speed and storage. SSD’s getting cheaper. @tonyisme @jonathanpscott #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | RT @Kylee_Dell: Have you checked out the CADspeed blog yet https://cadspeed.wordpress.com #dellcad | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD Not all SSDs are created equally – remember to check the specs. Its like the difference between 4200 RPM drives and 10k RPM drives. | ||
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| “ | @SolidSmack @jonathanpscott #Dellcad SSD for system disk & SATA for storage/simulation dumping ground <- would be my ideal combo | ||
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| “ | @tonyisme Sounds like a good combo. #DellCAD @DellRonnie – are there Precisions that have multiple HDD config options? | ||
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| “ | RT @jonathanpscott: #DellCAD Not all SSDs are created equally – check the specs. Its like the diff between 4200 RPM and 10k RPM drives. | ||
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| “ | RT @jonathanpscott: #DellCAD Anybody using Solid State Drives to help their #SolidWorks performance? Made a huge difference on my laptop! | ||
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| “ | In case any #DellCAD tweeters need a new workstation quick, 17’’ Precision M6600 w/LCD touch screen now Ships Fast http://del.ly/6014Rztk | ||
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| “ | @jonathanpscott @tonyisme Yes! All of our Precision workstations support multiple HDD configs with RAID options #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | This #DellCAD TwitterChat is sponsored by #Dell. Thanks to @DellSMBNews for their support! | ||
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| “ | @SolidSmack: Is anyone using #SolidWorks RealView? Not often – hurts my eyes when doing detail work #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Thanks also to @AMD_Unprocessed for its support for #DellCAD TwitterChat and the #CADspeed blog. | ||
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| “ | Special thanks to one of our favorite bloggers, Josh Mings @SolidSmack for a great #DellCAD TwitterChat. | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD: @solidworks Thanks to the #SolidWorks team for their support! | ||
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| “ | @DellSMBnews you need to remove the insanely annoying floating “wanna chat” box. Seriously #Dellcad #offtopic | ||
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| “ | A full transcript will be available after the TwitterChat. Watch for #DellCAD or follow @Cadalyst_Mag for the link. | ||
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| “ | @Cadalyst_Mag – you’re very welcome. And thanks to you, @SolidSmack and everyone else who joined us for #DellCAD today! | ||
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| “ | The #DellCAD TwitterChat is officially closed. Please feel free to keep chatting amongst yourselves. Thanks to all for participating! | ||
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| “ | RT @Cadalyst_Mag: A full transcript will be available after the TwitterChat. Watch for #DellCAD or follow @Cadalyst_Mag for the link. | ||
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| “ | #DellCAD Thanks, Josh (@SolidSmack). Good TwitterChat. | ||
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| “ | @Cadalyst_Mag great initiative! #Dellcad | ||
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| “ | learned about tweet chat made by #dellcad and @solidsmack. maybe we need to have one about #PLM? | ||
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| “ | Also, check out the #SolidWorks performance article here on the CADSpeed blog http://bit.ly/papOs0 #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Thanks @solidsmack @cadalyst_mag @DellSMBNews for a nice TwitterChat today #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | While today’s #DellCAD tweetchat has officially ended the conversation doesn’t have to stop! Continue to use the hashtag, follow @DellRonnie | ||
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| “ | RT @SolidSmack: Also, check out the #SolidWorks performance article here on the CADSpeed blog http://bit.ly/papOs0 #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | Also > RT @SolidSmack: […] wondering about SolidWorks/Workstation performance email josh@solidsmack.com or stop by solidsmack.com #DellCAD | ||
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| “ | And > RT @Cadalyst_Mag: A full transcript will be available after the TwitterChat. Watch for #DellCAD or follow @Cadalyst_Mag for the link. | ||
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| “ | @razorleaf – you’re very welcome! thank you for joining #DellCAD ~LPT | ||
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| “ | RT @DellSMBnews: In case any #DellCAD tweeters need a new workstation quick, 17’’ Precision M6600 w/LCD touch screen now Ships Fast http://del.ly/6014Rztk | ||
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| “ | RT @DellSMBnews: In case any #DellCAD tweeters need a new workstation quick, 17’’ Precision M6600 w/LCD touch screen now Ships Fast http://del.ly/6014Rztk | ||
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| “ | RT @DellEnterprise: Live Twitter chat on CAD starting now! See #DellCAD to join in the conversation. | ||
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Four Practical Approaches to Improving SolidWorks Performance
What goes into improving SolidWorks performance? Way too much. Really, programs, CAD software should be more simple. Hardware should be more simple, but for the very reason that software and hardware are not developed together, we’re faced with attempting to optimize both and you… are faced with this article.
You can break all the aspects of performance and what goes into optimizing your system into four practical approaches. You can apply these to a large company, small company or an individual. You can use it as a checklist or give it to IT and tell them to get their act together.
Software Performance
SolidWorks is a strange beast. You’ll get optimal performance one time and then something changes to totally confuse you. How you create your model — keeping files together, reducing external references, optimizing relations — helps. These are all things that a bit of training and a solid slap can solve. Beyond that, you can improve performance by going into the SolidWorks options and turning off the SolidWorks news feed, reducing level of detail and setting the search to index only when idle. RealView adds more realistic visuals for material and environments. If you notice lag, try toggling it off under View / Display / RealView. All good things to know, but none of this will matter as much if you have optimized hardware.
Hardware Performance
For best performance with SolidWorks, it’s always best to start with hardware. You’ll find better performance with SolidWorks with a faster CPU. Max that sucker out. Multiple CPUs, even better. Recommended RAM for current SolidWorks versions is 6GB. It’s cheap, toss it in. A 1GB graphics card will provide smoother visuals. Turn off visual effects for Windows. Go to Performance Info and Tools in the Windows Control Panel and adjust for best performance. Keep your computer clean. Use programs like Speccy to monitor your system, Defraggler to keep your system defragged and CCleaner to keep that registry and program list optimized.
Software Life Cycle
Keeping software updated can be challenging, particularly when new versions of software that are used together come out at different times throughout the year. For best performance increases and time to allow testing of new functionality, I suggest a 14-18 month update cycle. This allows for at least one Service Pack (point release) of SolidWorks and provides time for a soft roll-out of the update.
Hardware Life Cycle
I list this last because it’s often the coldest piece of cod to swallow. Hardware is expensive. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for the necessary upgrades that you will need over the years, especially in light of SolidWorks software updates and the need to keep employees or yourself super efficient. 2-year hardware cycles are often ideal for three reasons. It keeps you apprised of the technology, improves power efficiencies/capabilities and you get a better tax break for donating the old stuff to charity.
We view performance as software that doesn’t crash and hardware that doesn’t make us wait around. There’s always something you can do to make it all run a little better. The bottom line is this: Keep on a clear update cycle for software and hardware. Deal with hardware performance first, maxing out CPU speed, then deal with the intricacies of the software itself. You’ll have a smoother running system and you’ll be a much happier SolidWorks user.
Join Josh Mings for a TwitterChat on Thursday, July 28 at 4 p.m. ET. We’ll be talking about performance on SolidWorks. Follow the conversation at #dellcad and jump in! Click for more information.
Josh Mings is a mechanical engineer in the aircraft interiors industry. He is a CSWP with certified training and support for SolidWorks. He is editor of SolidSmack.com covering CAD, design and technology and is co-host of Engineer vs. Designer at evd1.tv. Follow him on Twitter@joshmings and @solidsmack or find him at LinkedIn or Google+.
Optimize AutoCAD Civil 3D Performance: Hardware, Operating System and Workflow Upgrades
Many AutoCAD Civil 3D users are aware that upgrading to a 64-bit operating system, preferably Windows 7 and Windows Vista (in that order), will give the biggest return on investment when looking at improving performance. Other opportunities to improve performance also exist.
One is multiple or multi-core processors. For the most part, AutoCAD Civil 3D runs as a single process, which means it will not utilize more than one processor, even if they are available. The exception to this is rendering, where multiple or multi-core processors can result in as much as a 250% decrease in render time. Though Civil 3D does not take advantage of multi-core processing, having multiple processors can still be beneficial since it enables you to run processes, such as anti-virus and firewall software, as well as other applications—such as Outlook—on separate processors and provide a more dedicated processor for AutoCAD Civil 3D. If you are a user who multitasks throughout the day and runs several applications at the same time, you may see added benefits in multiple or multi-core processors.
When contemplating hard drives, you should consider the data transfer rate. Faster data transfer rates will help decrease the time it takes to open Civil 3D, as well as load and save drawings that are stored locally. In addition, a faster transfer rate can increase performance when utilizing the hard drive for virtual memory, especially with 32-bit operating systems.
Beyond hardware and operating system changes, there are tactics you can implement to improve the performance of your day-to-day work in Civil 3D. These include
- Using code set styles with no fill or a solid fill. Stay away from hatch patterns.
- Avoid using the option to grid clip profile views until producing construction documents. When working with pipe networks, turn off hatching, pipe cleanup and masking until producing construction documents. Using the option ‘Display as boundary’ is also optimal.
- Use single-label components versus multiples.
- When working with surfaces use 1) external point files versus COGO points, 2) surface snapshots when possible, and 3) Level of Detail (LOD) display
- When working with corridors, turn off rebuild automatically and don’t display regions you aren’t working with. Additionally, create cross sections in a separate drawing.
This combination of operating system, hardware, and workflow adjustments can help to optimize your experience working with AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Authors: Karen Weiss, Transportation and Land Infrastructure Industry Marketing Manager, Autodesk; Jason Hickey, Senior Support Specialist, Autodesk
AutoCAD WS: Go Mobile and Collaborate in Real Time
With over 2 million downloads in less than a year — AutoCAD WS has become quite the mobile sensation. Thanks to Cloud technology, you can now upload your drawings to AutoCAD WS — and access them from any iOS (iPod touch, iPAD, iPhone) or Google Android device.
For the AutoCAD user, that means the ability to take your drawings to the job site, with or without an internet connection, and use the markup features to update the drawings remotely. If you happen to have an internet connection – your coworkers back in the office can actually see your edits in real time!
And did I mention it is free of charge? (and we all love free!).
Alert: This is how you’re going to get your boss to approve a iPad or tablet!
AutoCAD WS isn’t just for remote use – it’s also a strong player in collaboration. You can share your drawing files with others (even if they don’t have AutoCAD) and invite them to an online collaboration session. AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD for Mac have tools built right into the user interface to managing your drawing and sharing super easy.
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So let’s say you want to share a drawing file with someone. Simply select the Share drawing option in AutoCAD and entire the email address of the intended collaborator. You can decide whether they can edit and/or download the drawing (as opposed to just viewing the drawing file).
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Or maybe you just want a safe and secure place to keep your drawing files. With security as tight as your bank (which I like to think is super secure) you can upload your drawing files at the end of your work day and access them from anywhere. Maybe you decide to work at home the next day – not a problem as you can just grab your saved drawing files from AutoCAD WS.
The online version of AutoCAD WS (http://www.autocadws.com/) has a decent set of drawing and editing tools for basic markups. You can even turn layers on and off – or create new layers (great for markups). I love the Timeline option (and certainly wish AutoCAD had this) that allows you to go back in time and check out the various revisions.
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So how many files can you post on AutoCAD WS? As many as you want! (and did I mention it is free?). There is a 15mb limit per drawing but other than that the storage capacity is limitless – it doesn’t get much better than that.
Give AutoCAD WS a try — you won’t believe the capabilities you get at such a tiny price tag (and $0 is about as tiny as you can possibly get!)
Did you miss the Dell-Sponsored TwitterChat on AutoCAD WS web service with Lynn Allen last month? Click here for the archive!
Author: Lynn Allen, Autodesk Evangelist. Find more tips from Lynn Allen on Cadalyst.com.
Avoid Common Mistakes When You Set Up Vectorworks
With any design program, no matter how novice or experienced you may be, you’re probably prone to making the occasional error. Start off the right way by checking the basic system recommendations before installing Vectorworks CAD software. System requirements can be found on the Nemetschek Vectorworks website. Also spend some time learning how you can optimize your desktop or workstation and get the most out of your Vectorworks experience.
With Vectorworks software, users at all levels have very likely made some common mistakes. All of them are related to settings and shortcuts that are intended to make design work faster and more enjoyable, but for the uninformed user these shortcuts can also cause some frustration. But fear not—they are all very easy to remedy.
Problems with Plug-Ins
Vectorworks is rich in plug-in objects, such as doors and windows, which help users efficiently place intelligent objects in their designs. However, if you’re not familiar with these plug-ins, you might find difficulty inserting doors and windows into your walls. This is because these objects have ‘modes’ which provide several additional controls when using the tools. If a door or window isn’t inserting, it may be because “Wall Insertion Mode” has been accidentally turned off, thus preventing you from inserting doors/windows into walls. It’s simple to fix. Just enable the Wall Insertion Mode by clicking on the icon in the mode bar.
Skittish Selection Tool
Have you ever run into a problem where you suddenly can’t use your selection tool to resize something? If you’re like most users, you probably have. Just like our first common mistake, this behavior is caused by accidentally enabling a mode in the mode bar. In this case, you have enabled the mode “Disable Interactive Scaling,” which means you’re no longer able to interactively re-size an object with the selection tool. Again, this has a simple fix. With the selection tool selected, simply click on the Disable Interactive Scaling button in the mode bar to turn it off.
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Cursor Cue Concerns
Keyboard shortcuts can be a very wonderful thing. Once you learn them, they save you time and dramatically improve your drafting/modeling efficiency. But, as helpful as they can be, these shortcuts can sometimes lead to errors. For example, you may have experienced suddenly losing all your SmartCursor Cues (visual screen hints that appear when hovering over specific points of objects, such as endpoint, center, midpoint, etc.). The cause of this sudden loss of cues is quite simple. You’ve likely accidentally hit the “Y” key, which has disabled your cursor cues. The quick fix for this? Hit the “Y” key again.
I hope these tips will help you avoid some of the common mistakes users make and allow you to maximize your efficiency when working with Vectorworks. For more Tech Tips, please visit the Vectorworks YouTube Channel.
Author: Juan Almansa, Product Support Manager, Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.
A CAD Manager’s Guide to Hardware Upgrades, Part 2
The first post in this series discussed upgrade procedures under various organizational structures. Now, we dive into prioritizing upgrades. One thing is certain: as long as CAD software increases in power there will always be a need for upgrading and replacing CAD workstations.
Upgrades Based on Workload
While some companies have a policy of replacing all of the CAD workstations simultaneously, others provide workstations based on workload. “Typically I have prioritized computer upgrades in offices in a method similar to a nurse’s triage at a hospital,” Chris Currie wrote in the Cadalyst LinkedIn group.
Currie’s practice is certainly not unusual in the CAD world. With any one office participating in several disciplines or practices, it is very common for users in the same office or department to have differing needs. That is to say that the entry level CAD professional may not be doing the more complex, intense work of a senior employee.
Reusing Hardware Based on Functionality
Often companies seek cost savings in the area of hardware by moving workstations down. Drafters performing complex work may receive new workstations while more junior drafters receive the workstation being replaced. In effect, everyone gets a “newer,” more powerful workstation while providing a cost savings to the company.
Standardizing the Process
CAD software becoming increasingly powerful each year and the need for upgraded hardware does not look to end any time soon. It would help any CAD manager to standardize the process for upgrades to make the process less difficult. Take the lessons learned from this year’s hardware upgrade and document them to help you during future upgrades.
Whether your hardware upgrade procedure is well defined or a haphazard per event trial, leave us a comment below and tell us about it. CADspeed would love to hear from you whatever your process for requesting and providing new hardware may be.
Author: Curt Moreno
Hardware Configurations for Solid Edge and Other CAD Applications
Since high performance, high scalability workstations can cost a bit more than traditional desktops or laptops, people should do some comparison shopping first. An entry-level desktop workstation can be both price competitive and still offer many features of traditionally higher priced workstations. So what should you look for when you are comparing hardware features?
Dual Core vs. Quad Core
One thing to consider is that CAD is still mostly a single-threaded application (yeah, there are some places it is not like rendering and FEA and it is slowly creeping into other aspects of CAD), but if you mainly do CAD modeling, max clock speed is the goal. On a desktop workstation, the quad core offers highest frequency (3.2 GHz) vs. the dual core (2.53 GHz). While six cores are not necessary for Solid Edge, you should consider what other applications you will be running, perhaps simultaneously, to determine the total number of cores you will need.
On a mobile workstation, however, both the quad core and dual core processors offer the same frequencies (max turbo), the quad core does so at a much higher price point. The base frequency on the quad core is lower (2.50 GHz).
More Power
Higher power graphics and more memory are both are important for CAD when loading complex models and assemblies and of course manipulating them fluidly. It is the workstation where the delineation between these components (memory, OpenGL graphics and CPU speed) and a normal desktop is most noticeable.
A couple folks on the Solid Edge forum pointed out they have gotten some good deals at the Dell Outlet store. These are not brand new systems and the inventory can fluctuate, but if you are on a tight budget this option may be for you. I’d hate to manage a CAD team where every designer has a different model, but for an individual or small shop, it might be worth considering.
Below are some sample configurations to help you in your research. These configurations were provided by Dell so Solid Edge users could have some comparisons during the Solid Edge ST4 Global Launch Event, held June 15-16, 2011, in Huntsville, Alabama.
Hardware Configurations for CAD Workstations
Hardware Configurations for Mobile CAD Workstations
Author: Mark Burhop – Programs Director, Velocity Technology Ecosystem – Siemens PLM.
Find Mark Burhop on Twitter http://twitter.com/burhop
From the Editors of
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