Best computer specs / build for running Solidworks, please advise

[swingwing205]

First, I hope I'm posting this is the correct forum, but I wanted everyone who runs Solidworks to look at this post, I need some advise....

I'm getting ready to buy a computer so I can run Solidworks 2010/2011 Student Edition, and I need to ask experienced Solidworks users what works best, and what's best to stay away from. I'm guessing the system requirements are the same between the student and professional versions, and I'm giving thought to try to freelance once I'm capable of doing so.

I know RAM is a big issue, and more than recommended is a great idea (which I'm going to make sure of), but is there a particular video card/driver combo that really works well, maybe outperforms other combos? Solidworks has a number of the card/driver combos listed up on their website, but who here has any experience with different combos perhaps?

I've been advised that a tower (w/o monitor, but with better video card) capable for running Solidworks well is going to run about 500 to 600 dollars. I'm cool with that, but I need to make sure of what I'm getting and make sure it has "growing room" for more future editions, at least to a point. I'll cough up additional funds IF there's a benefit on the investment. Then there's being practical about it, and anyone can go overboard, and I can't go overboard because of budgeting.

Please, before giving advise, keep in mind that I need to keep the cost down enough to afford it, but I need bang for the buck in a major way. So for additonal benfits, I'll pony up a little more cash, but I need to keep it practical cost wise.

[friedsnickerssa]

Here you go: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...umber=11541454
High core speed, enough ram to get the job done but very expandable, decent video card, plenty of storage and good quality components. It's all custom built, so if you want something new, just swap out the old part for the new one. Also, you can go up to 8GB of ram for about another $80. Should come shipped to your door for less than 600 even with more ram. Nvidia based graphics cards in my experience tend to work better for CAD/CAM. ATi based cards are a better bang for the buck, but the drivers just aren't there. Have fun!

[laszlozoltan]

you can get by with an ati firegl v3600; it is a very very stable card that can give you realview graphics as well; I'm using that with a q9550 overclocked to 3.4ghz. I also picked up a firegl v7700 cheap about a year ago, but haven't put it in anything yet because the v3600 works so well. 4gb memory, xp pro system sw2010; gigabyte motherboard

[pointcloud]

I recently had to start over and I went with a laptop. I'm running windows 7 now and its really much better of an operating system for the graphics.. I do not use SW but I do use rhino and render with lots of detail. So far my intel I7 Q800 1.7ghz with 6 gig ram and video is ati radeon hd 5870 is working like a champ, even rhinocam isnt a problem..

[BurrMan]

Rememeber when anybody's talking about more than 3 gig's of ram, you will need a 64 bit OS to use it.... FYI

[pointcloud]

I thought 7 was 64 only?

[BurrMan]

No, you specify 32 or 64....

The other thing is getting 64 with a computer that is speced out for it... Trying to load it on your old 32 bit system will most likely have driver issues...

[pointcloud]

I didn't specify, but it's 64bit. It was preinstalled by Alienware....

[swingwing205]

Thanks for all the inpuit guys, please keep anything that pertains coming! I do appreciate it!

[Ed_R]

If you're running a high-power graphics card I recommend a 700 watt power supply or better.

[friedsnickerssa]

Solidworks runs well on Win 7 64bit, been there done that. The ATI FireGL cards that were aforementioned are good cards, but only if you want to spend 5-600 per card for a decent quality one that will perform like an $80-90 "gaming" card. The only difference between these types of cards is the software drivers and maybe a small hardware tweak or two. Unless you are a full blown professional and do this day-to-day, those cards are a waste. Same goes for the nVidia quadro lineup. Most companies producing computer components now are "going green" and producing components that consume much less power. Large power supplies are now generally reserved for gaming monstrosities and enterprise level CAD machines. If you need a giant power supply, it generally means you would have spent $4-500 on a graphics card. A solid, high quality 4-500 watt power supply should be plenty to do the trick. Also, don't necessarily buy into the "we have multi-core support" alot of software companies tell you they have. Most are optimized for dual core, if that. A higher core frequency yields better bang for the buck, then spending an extra hundred or so for 4 cores and less core frequency(ie 2.4GHz quad core vs 2.93GHz dual core). Good luck to you!

[AndrewJP]

The most important thing when building a workstation computer for a CAD application is the graphic card. Go with a Nvidia Quadro FX card. The only thing that makes a computer a "workstation computer" is the graphic card it has in it.