Best Computer for SOLIDWORKS: What to Know
Picking the right computer for SOLIDWORKS can feel daunting. In this guide, we'll break down optimized hardware recommendations for SOLIDWORKS CAD and SOLIDWORKS Visualize. These guidelines will help ensure your hardware is sufficient for 3D modeling and rendering workflows. If you are looking for a good computer for SOLIDWORKS, this is for you.
Recommended Hardware for SOLIDWORKS Users
To choose or upgrade a workstation for SOLIDWORKS software effectively, you need to understand how the software uses hardware. Here's a clear breakdown to help you make informed decisions when exceeding the minimum SOLIDWORKS requirements.
General Recommendations for SOLIDWORKS
Here are the key priorities when building or buying a system for SOLIDWORKS:
Prioritize the CPU first, then RAM, and finally the graphics card. Most SOLIDWORKS operations, such as rebuilding models or opening large assemblies, depend heavily on processor performance.
SOLIDWORKS is mostly single-threaded, so single-core speed matters more than core count. While additional cores benefit Simulation or Visualize workflows, they don't improve daily modeling tasks.
Choose a balanced system. Only invest in a powerful GPU if you need it for GPU-accelerated tasks, like real-time rendering or large assembly graphics. Remember, the graphics card primarily enables smooth zooming, panning, and rotating. It doesn't improve rebuild speed or file opening times.
Watch your VRAM (video card memory). Graphics memory maps into your system RAM. A high-VRAM GPU without sufficient system memory can reduce performance. When selecting a higher-end graphics card, verify it is on the Certified Hardware List and make sure to increase system RAM accordingly.
For increased performance, work locally and let SOLIDWORKS sync to the cloud. SOLIDWORKS PDM and Collaborative Designer simplify this by managing local caching and syncing automatically.
Finally, adjust your antivirus settings to disable real-time scanning, or exclude .sld files to reduce delays when opening and saving SOLIDWORKS files.
Recommended Specs
Those are good general tips, but here are some specific steps you can follow. These will help your computer run SOLIDWORKS smoothly.
CPU: For desktop, Intel Core i7-14700K or better. For laptop, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H or better.
Memory: At least 32 GB, 64 GB for medium-large assemblies or simulations
Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada or higher
Storage: 1TB SSD
If you plan to use SOLIDWORKS Visualize, you'll also want to follow these hardware recommendations:
Visualize is GPU-driven. Unlike SOLIDWORKS CAD's CPU focus, Visualize uses the graphics card to handle rendering tasks. A higher-end GPU significantly reduces render times.
GPU performance varies significantly. NVIDIA's benchmarks show a clear performance hierarchy among their RTX series cards with Visualize. Better GPUs deliver faster rendering.
Two GPUs can be better than one. Often, two mid-range cards, like two RTX 2000 Ada GPUs, can perform better than one high-end card, like an RTX 4000 Ada. This is often true at a similar or lower cost. This multi-GPU capability is available in Visualize Professional, not Visualize Standard.
NVIDIA RTX is fully supported. The RTX architecture enables real-time ray tracing and AI denoising, delivering better visuals and faster results in Visualize.
AMD Radeon Pro is also supported. Since SOLIDWORKS Visualize 2020, hardware acceleration for AMD Radeon Pro cards is official. That said, NVIDIA cards typically lead in rendering performance according to third-party benchmarks.
Look for GPUs with at least 8GB of VRAM—higher VRAM capacity handles larger scenes and higher-resolution outputs.
For maximum performance, choose desktop over laptop—desktop GPUs offer better power and cooling than mobile variants.
How to Choose the Best Hardware
Following these guidelines ensures that your hardware will be able to handle your daily tasks with ease. It can feel like a lot to keep track of, so don't hesitate to reach out to our support team for help.