Apr 26, 2024

Minimum and Recommended PC Requirements for SOLIDWORKS CAD Software

When investing in CAD software like SOLIDWORKS, ensuring that your PC setup meets the necessary specifications to handle its powerful features efficiently is essential. In this updated article, we'll outline the minimum and recommended system requirements for SOLIDWORKS Desktop and 3DExperience SOLIDWORKS, highlight key differences between them, and emphasize the most critical components that can significantly impact performance. All specifications are backed by references from the official SOLIDWORKS website.

Minimum PC Requirements for SOLIDWORKS Desktop or 3DExperience SOLIDWORKS*

Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: 3.3 GHz or higher, Intel or AMD
Memory: 16 GB or more
Hard Drive: Solid State Drive (SSD), maintaining at least 20GB free
Graphics Card: Certified cards and drivers
Internet Connection: Robust broadband connection (minimum 10 Mbps up and down)
Excel and Word: 2010, 2013, 2016, or 2019 for features such as design tables, bills of materials, and more.
Reference for system requirements: SOLIDWORKS System Requirements

Recommended System Features

To ensure a smooth and efficient experience using SOLIDWORKS CAD software, exceeding the minimum requirements is often advisable:

Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit professional
Processor: 4 GHz or higher, Intel or AMD with SSE2 support
Memory: 32 GB RAM or more
Hard Drive: NVMe SSD with at least 50GB of free storage.
Graphics Card: NVIDIA Quadro or AMD Radeon Pro with at least 4GB of GDDR memory
Display: 1920 x 1080 or higher

Most Critical System Components for SOLIDWORKS

The performance of SOLIDWORKS is highly dependent on system hardware. Here's a breakdown of the most critical components:

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The CPU affects the efficiency and speed of your software operations. SOLIDWORKS is primarily single-threaded for most tasks, so a higher CPU clock speed (GHz) is crucial for optimal performance in part modeling and drawing.

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

For graphics performance, which is essential for smooth model manipulation, certified professional graphics cards are recommended over consumer-grade GPUs. For detailed information on certified graphics cards, visit the SOLIDWORKS Graphics Card Drivers page.

Memory

More RAM allows for more data processing without reliance on slower hard disk storage, which is essential for managing large assemblies or complex simulations.

Storage

An SSD, particularly an NVMe SSD, is recommended for faster data retrieval times, significantly reducing load times for large files and complex assemblies.

Conclusion

Meeting or exceeding these PC requirements can greatly enhance your experience with SOLIDWORKS, allowing for smoother and more productive design and simulation processes. Whether using SOLIDWORKS Desktop or 3DExperience SOLIDWORKS, an optimal setup enables you to fully leverage the capabilities of your software and maintain high productivity.

References

SOLIDWORKS System Requirements: https://www.solidworks.com/support/system-requirements
SOLIDWORKS Certified Cards, Drivers & Hardware: https://www.solidworks.com/support/hardware-certification/
SOLIDWORKS Hardware Benchmarks: https://www.solidworks.com/support/hardware-benchmarks

* This information was last updated on 04/26/24, check here for the latest requirements.

Alexander Hussain