SolidWorks Recommendations

[Graham]

I was wondering if anyone knew what a decent workstation graphics card would be that is capable of handling small to mildly large assemblies in SolidWorks 2008. I would like to spend as little as possible as SolidWorks will be the most graphic and process intensive program out.

 

[UA_Iron]

I was wondering if anyone knew what a decent workstation graphics card would be that is capable of handling small to mildly large assemblies in SolidWorks 2008. I would like to spend as little as possible as SolidWorks will be the most graphic and process intensive program out.

Solidworks is an openGL based graphics engine. ALL gaming cards out there that you see are DIRECTX optimized. Now this doesnt mean they wont run openGL, or even run it well, it just means its not the optimal setup.

At work I have an Nvidia Quadro FX4500 which I use for solidworks - we have some huge assemblies. I will definitely start lagging when opening up the largest of our assemblies. But this is a $1200 video card.

When you say mildly large do you mean under 500 components?

Whats your budget?

a little under 500 bucks is where the price point is at:
Newegg.com - ATI 100-505512 FireGL V5600 512MB PCI Express x16 Video Card - OEM

any card lesser than that you'd be better served getting an 8800GT or something.

 

[braz]

i do have a ATI x1600pro 512mb for sale. $50... plays games great, for ur situation ithink it would work great.

 

[Graham]

The assemblies will be small to moderate with 500 components being a rather larger one. I will be designing simple test fixtures for semiconductor diode lasers with rare occurrences of great detail in the parts.

The goal for me is to have a mobile workstation such as the Dell M6300 so that I can travel to 3rd party vendors and services. If you have a better suggestion for a mobile workstation do let me know, but so far in my research the best price/performance is with the Precision series laptops. The Hewlett-Packard equivalent is seriously $500 more.

 

[veg1992]

Solidworks is an openGL based graphics engine. ALL gaming cards out there that you see are DIRECTX optimized. Now this doesnt mean they wont run openGL, or even run it well, it just means its not the optimal setup.

At work I have an Nvidia Quadro FX4500 which I use for solidworks - we have some huge assemblies. I will definitely start lagging when opening up the largest of our assemblies. But this is a $1200 video card.

When you say mildly large do you mean under 500 components?

Whats your budget?

a little under 500 bucks is where the price point is at:
Newegg.com - ATI 100-505512 FireGL V5600 512MB PCI Express x16 Video Card - OEM

any card lesser than that you'd be better served getting an 8800GT or something.

didn't you say you could softmod a Radeon or Geforce Card to become a FireGL or Quadro card?

 

[UA_Iron]

didn't you say you could softmod a Radeon or Geforce Card to become a FireGL or Quadro card?

Sofmodding any HDXX00 card is possible and I think it would be excellent for this application.

You can take a 2600XT and softmod it to a firegl V5600. You have to change drivers and patch scripts. Essentially you can make a 100 dollar video card perform like one 5x the price. Or take a 2900PRO and make it an 800+ firegl card.

Here's teh most recent patch script:
[Common]
SrcFile = ati2mtag.sys
BakFile = ati2mtag.old
HlpFile = newbietechFireGLX2000.rth
MakeCRC = 1
Packed = 1

;common script for 669x+

DstVar0 = force RV610GL capabilities
DstVar1 = force FireGL 5600 capabilities
DstVar2 = force FireGL 3600 capabilities
DstVar3 = force FireGL V3600 Mobility capabilities( HD2600 mobility)
DstVar4 = force FireGL V5600 Mobility capabilities( HD2600XT mobility)
DstVar5 = force FireGL V8650 capabilities (HD2900 XT)
DstVar6 = force FireGL V8600 capabilities (HD2900 Pro)
DstVar7 = force FireGL V7600 capabilities (HD2900 GT)

Src0 = 6A 67 8D 83 E0 01 00 00 50 E8 89 C9 FF FF 85 C0 74 09
SCM0 = FF FF FF 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF
Dst0 = 6A 67 8D 83 E0 01 00 00 50 E8 89 C9 FF FF 85 C0 90 90
DCM0 = 00 00 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00

Src1 = E8 00 00 FF FF A8 04 75 0B 6A 2E
SCM1 = FF 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF F0 FF FF
Dst1 = E8 00 00 FF FF 24 FB 90 90 6A 2E
DCM1 = 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

Src2 = FF 75 08 E8 79 60 00 00 85 C0 74 2E 33 C0 EB 3B
SCM2 = FF FF FF FF 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
Dst2 = FF 75 08 E8 79 60 00 00 85 C0 74 2E 33 C0 EB 38
DCM2 = 00 00 00 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

#Src3 = 81 7B 18 10 05 00 00 0F 82 17 01 00 00
#SCM3 = FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 00 FF FF
#Dst3 = 81 7B 18 10 05 00 00 90 E9 17 01 00 00
#DCM3 = 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF 00 00

Src4 = 85 BE D8 00 00 00 75 2E 68 84 00 00 00
SCM4 = FF 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
Dst4 = 85 BE D8 00 00 00 90 90 68 84 00 00 00
DCM4 = 00 FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

Src5 = 83 F8 2C 74 3D 83 F8 34 75 56 8B 45 F8 66 3B 46 04 74
Dst5 = 8B 45 F8 66 8B 46 04 89 45 F8 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 EB

Src6 = E8 5F 83 FF FF F6 C4 20 74 08 6A 2E
SCM6 = FF 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
Dst6 = E8 5F 83 FF FF F6 C4 20 90 90 6A 2E
DCM6 = 00 FF FF 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

Src7 = 85 C0 74 0D FF 75 0C FF 75 08 E8
Dst7 = 85 C0 90 90 FF 75 0C FF 75 08 E8

Src8 = 83 F8 40 75 1D 66 81 BD 00 00 FF FF 02 10 75 00 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF
SCM8 = FF FF FF FF 00 FF FF FF 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF FF
Dst8_0 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D C5 94 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_1 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 8C 95 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_2 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 8D 95 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_3 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 81 95 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_4 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 83 95 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_5 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 0A 94 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_6 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 0B 94 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90
Dst8_7 = 0F B7 85 FE FE FF FF 66 25 00 00 66 0D 0F 94 66 89 85 FE FE FF FF 90

Here's the guide on how to implement it:
CGTalk - [HowTo] Ati Radeon -> Ati FireGL (softmod)

all info taken from guru3d forums, credit where its deserved.

 

[UA_Iron]

The assemblies will be small to moderate with 500 components being a rather larger one. I will be designing simple test fixtures for semiconductor diode lasers with rare occurrences of great detail in the parts.

The goal for me is to have a mobile workstation such as the Dell M6300 so that I can travel to 3rd party vendors and services. If you have a better suggestion for a mobile workstation do let me know, but so far in my research the best price/performance is with the Precision series laptops. The Hewlett-Packard equivalent is seriously $500 more.

you can softmod laptop video cards too actually.

Newegg.com - ASUS F3 Series F3SA-A1 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo T7500(2.20GHz) 15.4" Wide XGA 1GB DDR2 667 160GB 5400rpm DVD Super Multi ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 - Retail
+
Newegg.com - pqi POWER Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Notebook Memory - Retail
+softmod

would probably compete with laptops 3X the price. I would definitely "downgrade" to XP from Vista.


Are you looking for a video card or a laptop?

 

[Graham]

I would be looking for a laptop. Excuse me for posting the high performance threads. I just got more info on the laptop I would be using and its needs are quite basic. An entry-level video card could do the trick and therefore I will most likely only need a consumer-level PC with hardware sufficient enough. The budget is strict and $700 and maybe a little more is being allowed.

 

[UA_Iron]

I would be looking for a laptop. Excuse me for posting the high performance threads. I just got more info on the laptop I would be using and its needs are quite basic. An entry-level video card could do the trick and therefore I will most likely only need a consumer-level PC with hardware sufficient enough. The budget is strict and $700 and maybe a little more is being allowed.

So you'll be getting a laptop and also a $700 desktop to build for solidworks use?

 

[Graham]

Just a laptop.