Display Cards

[saffie]

Is it really necessary to buy a high end graphics card (SE v16) as recommended by the SE site, or will a "gaming" card do fine? Can someone recommend a decent card (+-$300)?
Thanks.

 

[swertel]

I've used nVidia during my history with Solid Edge.

Of those, I've used a GeForce2 MX440, GeForceFX5200, GeForceFX 5700LE, and QuadroFX 500. The Quadro card is within the US$300 dollar price range you are looking for, I believe. It is the professional level card the SE "requires" but I'll admit to only having problems with the GeForceFX 5200 and that's because it was the Dell version.

Depending on the complexity of your parts, the size of your assemblies, and the amount of data shown on your drawings, a GeForce level card won't be a problem. The biggest hang up is lingering geometry and slow transition between models and drafts when switching between open files.

Have you reviewed the SE site for graphics card recommendations yet?

http://www.solid-edge.com/graphics/default.htm

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376

 

[saffie]

swertel,

Thanks, yip been to the site. Thinking of getting a Dell workstation with a ATI FireGL V3100 card.
Question is, is Dell a good idea, seeing you had problems?

 

[swertel]

I'm still running a Dell at work without problems. It's just the Dell version of the graphics card that requires the Dell version of the driver that doesn't get updated with each new release of SE. After a couple new versions, the video driver needs to be updated and Dell no longer "supports" it because they've moved on. Although the off-the-shelf video drivers from nVidia are great, they don't always yield the best results with a custom Dell video card and high-stress applications such as CAD.

I think if we would by a Precision workstation rather than the cheap office app computer, we'd have better times.

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376

 

[Wiemannironworks]

I am using a GeForce card right now. On very large assemblies, I need to shut down everything else to allocate as much video and RAM to SE as I can. I have also found that my game card will struggle at times with mutltiple drawing windows. I guess it all comes down to what you are doing. It took my GeForce card about 4 minutes to fully render my drawing with shadows (approx. 300 drawing entities). It will soemtiomes slow down on selections but I got through it.