SOLIDWORKS Tech Support Answers Questions from Reddit

[@jerkojuric6137]

''A laptop will never be as good as desktop'' (in SolidWorks) is a statement from 20 years ago when developers promised multicore/multi-thread support. Since SolidWorks 2025 version is STILL singlecore/light threaded software there is NO DIFFERENCE between 5.5GHz desktop CPU and 5.5GHz laptop CPU. Also AMD ''gaming'' X3D CPUs with its large cache memory and high clocks are by far the best choice for lightly threaded app like SolidWorks. Not to mention instability and failing of Intel 13900/14900 CPUs. Unstable CPU + Professional CAD software... what could go wrong? P.S. Mechanical designer and user of SolidWorks from 1998 and application engineer for DS SolidWorks 2019-2021.

[@ajeesh3485]

will SolidWorks ever become multi-threaded application

[@jerkojuric6137]

@@ajeesh3485 They have tested some alfa version with new multi threaded kernel couple years ago and it was disaster... Short answer is - NO.

[@63Ducati1]

I missed this one the first time through: @8:35, "... once upon a while ... "format and put a new windows image on it." A new image created with windows backup? That will put it back the same as it was, with all the changes, errors, etc. Do you mean re-install from the Windows Disk? Then all the things you have, VPN, Search, Compare, even SolidWorks would have to be reloaded as well. The previous Director of Tech Support (CATI at the time), told me that Solidworks is not a good Memory Manager. Has that been fixed or is Solidworks the problem for a portion of the degredation over time? Also 1) you indicate that the SW software people will fix the bug for future releases. No mention that is may be years from now to get the fix. I found bugs in 2022 that were not fixed in 2024. Your tech support people who helped me find the bug looked on their 2024 installations and it was still there. Also 2) anyone who has read minimum requirements about Solidworks should know that certain cards are recommended, and for a good reason. No roast about that from them. RTFM.

[@Friendroid]

I use Solidworks daily on a Dual-Core 3.0GHz E8400, 8GB DDR3, 128GB SSD and Nvidia FX1300.

[@laurentp89]

You can use the Studio drivers for the Nvidia card, not good enough?

[@acasccseea4434]

nope, that's not enough, there's a physical fuse on the GPU board that prevents the drivers from thinking it's a quadro card. there used to be mods out there, but then they changed it into a silicon based fuse

[@Niels_tenDam]

3:39 "This CPU is consumer grade" So what kind of CPU should you get for Solidworks? Could you explain a little more.

[@goengineer]

Ryan is talking about the GPU, not the CPU. The CPU in this instance is in good shape. As far as the GPU, SOLIDWORKS generally requires professional-grade graphics cards to run in a supported environment. That's not to say consumer-grade cards will never work, but they will not provide the same level of stability, and you will be more prone to issues associated with your graphics cards. SOLIDWORKS has a full list of certified graphics cards and their recommended drivers here: www.solidworks.com/support/hardware-certification/

[@Niels_tenDam]

@goengineer Thanks for the reply. Did not know that a GPU matters for Solidworks

[@ajeesh3485]

what about studio drivers for NVidia gaming GPUs? will it make any difference? studio graphic card laptops or desktop PCs are unaffordable for an average student.

[@goengineer]

Studio drivers may provide more stability but they won't replace the stability of a professional-grade graphics card. To run SOLIDWORKS in a supported environment, you need to run a card that officially supports SOLIDWORKS like the RTX A-Series, P-series, or Quadro cards.

[@delawarepilot]

Is Solidworks better than MS paint? Only when you have less than 20 components.

[@goengineer]

Don't sleep on Large Painting Review Mode!

[@pawx_fpv]

*Server move.... Server move.... not PDM "migration" ;) -FCO Excellent answer though... never done it? then don't.