×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

SW optimal hardware specs
2

SW optimal hardware specs

SW optimal hardware specs

(OP)
My boss has asked me to spec out a new SolidWorks workstation. We regularly work with assemblies having 4,000 to 6,000 components. Plus the intent is that this workstation will also be utilized to conduct FEA analyses. SolidWorks' website recommends the following: Dual core processor as fast as you can afford with quad core benefiting FEA simulation, open GL video card with 1GB VRAM minimum and 2GB VRAM recommended, 8GB 64-bit system RAM minimum, 7200 RPM SATA HDD minimum and solid state drive if speed is critical.

A few questions: How much is too much system RAM for large assemblies and FEA? 16GB, 20GB? Any recommended brands of video cards and warnings of those best to avoid? Any computer manufacturers best to avoid? Better to buy components and build a system myself?

Thanks in advance.

RE: SW optimal hardware specs

(OP)
Thank you for posting those benchmark tables. Good information.

RE: SW optimal hardware specs

We've had excellent help and results from @xi computer for our last 4 workstations.

Regards, Diego

RE: SW optimal hardware specs

I'm late to the party, but I'll second Diego's endorsement of @xi. 3.5 GHz quad-core hyperthread, 16GB RAM, 4GB FirePro video card, SSD+HDD. We don't have 1000+ components in our assemblies, but stuff saved locally just screams right along in SWx. Stuff saved on our crappy we-don't-have-an-IT-department file server? Not so much. Be aware that, with a decent workstation, the limiting factor can very quickly become the server you work from.

On a side note, the 15-in-1 card reader installed by @xi has been problematic, but the specs are great and get stuff done.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/wapratesi

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources