WORKSTATION CONFIGURATIONS

FOR SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS solutions cover all aspects of the product development process with a seamless, integrated workflow. Their
rich suite of tools includes 2D/3D design, simulation, assembly, product data management, rendering, and more, allowing
designers and engineers to span multiple disciplines with ease and simulate all along the design process.

Configuration Guidance Drives (SSDs), productive workstations should use SSDs,

Engineers should think in terms of the sizes and complexities
of the projects to be run when considering a workstation
for SOLIDWORKS. A workstation consists of six important
components: CPU (speed, cores, and sockets), memory,
storage, graphics, OS, and applications.
CPU (speed) – With CAD/modeling, each step depends on
processing the previous step in most instances. For these
activities, CPU speed is critical for greater productivity.
CPU (cores and sockets) – Simulation, rendering, and ray
tracing are often done in parallel. These activities can
benefit from more cores (in single and dual sockets).
Memory – The entire model is loaded into memory. Too
little memory can hamper productivity. Memory should
be at least 2x the size of the largest model to be loaded.
All memory slots must be populated evenly.
which offer speeds of up to 10x faster than a mechanical
drive. Note that when selecting an SSD, consider features
such as self-encryption, data center-grade or workstation-
grade reliability and performance (consumer SSDs are not
intended for workstation-level usage), and manageability.
Intel offers a range of SSDs applicable to workstations.
Graphics – Graphics processing is usually done by the
CPU in most CAD software, thus integrated graphics or
an entry-level discrete card can satisfy many user needs.
For applications needing more performance, selecting a
mid-range card instead of a high-end graphics card
allows the savings to be applied to a larger SSD where
I/O performance is critical.
OS and Applications – Optimized OS and application settings
can offer increased productivity, according to Computer Aided
Technology, Inc. (CATI), a SOLIDWORKS ISV reseller.

Storage – Spinning hard drives are one of the slowest

components in a workstation. With the high reliability
and large sizes of today’s professional series Solid State
 2D/3D Design with Basic Simulation
Not Complexa Complexb More Complexc
Better Best Better Best Better Best
Processor Intel® Xeon® Intel® Xeon® Intel® Xeon® Intel® Xeon® Intel® Xeon® 2x Intel® Xeon®
processor E5-1600 processor E5- processor E5-1600 processor E5- processor E5- processor E5-
v3 family 2600 v3 family v3 family 2600 v3 family 2600 v3 family 2600 v3 family
(min 6 cores) (min 8 cores) (min 8 cores) (min 10 cores) (min 10 cores) (min 12 cores)
Memoryd 8-12 GB total 2 GB/core 2-4 GB/core 4-6 GB/core 6-8 GB/core 8-12 GB/core
Storage SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD
Graphics (GPU) Entry-level Entry-level Entry-level Mid-level Mid-level Mid-level
a
Not Complex b
Complex • 10- to 30-sheet drawings, and/or
• Parts with up to 100 features, plus: • Parts with 100-200 features, plus: • Static and/or motion assembly
• A ssembly with up to 100-200 unique • A ssembly with 200-500 unique simulation of 1-10 components,
components, and/or components, and/or and/or
• Up to 5-sheet drawings, and/or • 10-sheet or larger drawings, and/or • Photorealistic rendering of up to
• Static and/or motion assembly 50-component assembly
• Single-part static and/or motion
simulation simulation of 1-10 components d
Total memory should be at least 2x
c
More Complex the size of your largest model. Always
• Parts with over 200 features, plus: populate memory slots evenly.
• A ssembly with 500-1,000 unique
components, and/or

Advanced Simulation and Rendering

Not Complexe Complexf More Complexg
Better Best Better Best Better Best
Processor Intel® Xeon® 2x Intel® Xeon® Intel® Xeon® 2x Intel® Xeon® Intel® Xeon® 2x Intel® Xeon®
processor E5-1600 processor E5- processor E5-1600 processor E5- processor E5- processor E5-
v3 family 2600 v3 family v3 family 2600 v3 family 2600 v3 family 2600 v3 family
(min 6 cores) (min 8 cores) (min 8 cores) (min 10 cores) (min 10 cores) (min 12 cores)
Memoryh 16 GB total 4 GB/core 6 GB/core 8 GB/core 8 GB/core 8-10 GB/core
Storage SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD SSD
Graphics (GPU) Entry-level Entry-level Entry-level Mid-level Mid-level Mid-level
e
Not Complex • 10- to 30-sheet drawings, and/or • Professional simulation functions:
• Parts with more than 100 features, • Professional simulation functions: Frequency Analysis and Buckling,
plus: Frequency Analysis and Buckling, and/or
• A ssembly with 500-1000 unique and/or •P
 remium simulation functions:
components, and/or • Premium simulation functions: Non-linear Analysis, and/or
• 10-sheet or larger drawings, and/or Non-linear Analysis, and/or •F
 low simulation with multiple
• Professional simulation functions: • Flow simulation, and/or boundary conditions, and/or
Frequency Analysis and Buckling, • Photorealistic rendering of up to • Photorealistic rendering of over
and/or 100-component assembly 100-component assembly
• Photorealistic rendering of up to h
Total memory should be at least
100-component assembly
g
More Complex
• Parts with more than 200 features, 2x the size of your largest model.
f
Complex plus: Always populate memory slots evenly.
• Parts with more than 200 features, • A ssembly with over 2,000 unique
plus: components, and/or
• A ssembly with 1,000-2,000 unique • 30-sheet or larger drawings, and/or
components, and/or

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