Solidworks PC Suggestions

[TomoSA997]

Hi guys,

Need some advice regarding a quote I have to supply a client of mine.
Like the title suggests he wants the PC to be able to run solidworks.
Bang for buck will the name of the game here. Still a young guy and also not an engineer.

What I would suggest so far is the following.

32GB DDR4 Memory.
Quadro P2000 5gb (supplied by evetech)
4k Monitor

I am however not sure about the CPU. Fewer cores and higher clock speed seems the way to go.
Was maybe thinking the i5 9600k (4.5 ghz 6 core CPU)

Thanks in advance

 

[cguy]

I am sure that many features in Solidworks use parallel processing, so I wouldn’t bet on fewer cores as being the way to go.

 

[RedViking]

https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2018/11/solidworks-2019-hardware-recommendations/

 

[Ares1000101]

fewer cores and high clock speed is still the way to go. 8700k.
32Gb ram is perfect.
card is fine, unless you're doing large assemblies

Look at the link that @RedViking linked, single core mostly, some things like Simulation and photo360 use multiple cores. Not many people use those features, and if they do it will be minimal.

 

[WAslayer]

I am sure that many features in Solidworks use parallel processing, so I wouldn’t bet on fewer cores as being the way to go.

Very few of them.. main bits can only use a single core.. higher clock speed is where solidworks wants to be at..

 

[TomoSA997]

Thanks for the replies. How much more would you prefer a 4k monitor over 1080p?
Should be worth it I would think

 

[TomoSA997]

fewer cores and high clock speed is still the way to go. 8700k.
32Gb ram is perfect.
card is fine, unless you're doing large assemblies

Look at the link that @RedViking linked, single core mostly, some things like Simulation and photo360 use multiple cores. Not many people use those features, and if they do it will be minimal.

Neither Evetech or Wootware has the 8700k or non k in stock.

The 9900k is however only 3k more expensive than the 9600k.
https://www.evetech.co.za/Workstations.aspx

 

[saor]

Thanks for the replies. How much more would you prefer a 4k monitor over 1080p?
Should be worth it I would think

If it's a big price difference don't bother. Unnecessary expense imo.

What's the clients budget?

 

[TomoSA997]

If it's a big price difference don't bother. Unnecessary expense imo.

What's the clients budget?

Price difference is about 4k...Badum tss.
Still waiting on a reply regarding budget

 

[ArtyLoop]

I don't see why this is such a big deal.. I am a SW user, and these days it isn't that heavy... rewind to 2005 yes.. we had to get high end machines.

 

[saor]

Price difference is about 4k...Badum tss.
Still waiting on a reply regarding budget

Ja, I wouldn't bother unless they're not worried about budget.

I don't see why this is such a big deal.. I am a SW user, and these days it isn't that heavy... rewind to 2005 yes.. we had to get high end machines.

People tend to very much overestimate CAD pc requirements, especially at the beginning. We still do CAD / 3d / rendering work on 8+y/o pc's and while sometimes slow, it's certainly workable most of the time.

 

[ArtyLoop]

Ja, I wouldn't bother.
People tend to very much overestimate CAD pc requirements, especially at the beginning. We still do CAD / 3d / rendering work on 8+y/o pc's and while sometimes slow, it's certainly workable most of the time.

My 5 year old desktop was able to render like a boss... upgraded to Mac and that was even more impressive.

 

[nazmo]

Solidworks (and solid modelling) workstations can vary entirely based on your line of work. Are you building complex assemblies or one piece moulds? Either way, modelling, viewport performance is mostly down to graphics card. In viewport operations prefer outright GHZ over core quantity. Unless you running alot of simulations or some form of "rendering", no need for high core count.

My biggest question would be your choice of 4k? I dont do much cad work these days, i mostly do poly work or 2d photo editing and find my 27inch 1440p screen to be a great size to PPI ratio without a big performance hit 4k will give.