I'm a professional software engineer, "maker," and part-time educator. Every one of my MechE colleagues rave about SolidWorks, so I've been eager to jump on the SolidWorks bandwagon for years, and now I want to encourage my college-bound son to do the same.
The problem: Even though "Intel integrated HD graphics" (4400) and even high(ish)-end discrete GPUs, like the nVidia GeoForce GT 750M (from 2013) are dramatically better than graphics cards of 10 years ago, SolidWorks never seems to certify them. I've been following the issue for over 10 years too, so I stand by my anecdotal assessment.
This is particularly key for capturing the student market, which is where our future engineers are. If a student can't run even a crippled version of SolidWorks, you've lost them. Only if their school provides a "CAD lab" will you catch them. The lone, "I bought my own PC for college" student; they're out-of-luck.
Now AutoCAD and others are specifically targeting the student and Maker market with software that runs on anything.
So I don't get it. Can someone explain to me why awesome gaming laptops aren't also passable CAD laptops? Where CAD=SolidWorks, of course.
Can't there be a half-way, "good enough for students" certification? Like "you will be able to do 90%, but maybe not RealView"?
It's hard to justify shelling out even $150 for the student edition of SolidWorks when even some $2,000+ laptop aren't good enough.
Yes, I know there are lots of GPU chips to test, but this should be a corporate priority!
Tim,
Just because SOLIDWORKS doesn't certify Graphic Cards doesn't mean that they wont work with SOLIDWORKS.
From my experience I've used both Certified & no-certified cards in both Desktops & Laptops. I have seen the same similar traits & display issues with both types of cards.
Cost v performance is always going to be a balance.
I would rate Graphic as the 4th (maybe even 5th) item when looking for a computer.
1. Clock speed over the number of cores. (Unless you need renders every minute of the day) Faster the clock speed better the performance
2. Solid state drive. A must
3. RAM The more the better but only the amount you require (Number of parts, type of part, surface areas)
4 Graphics. Personal & I do state personal (other may/will tell you otherwise) I have never had graphics issues of dramatic nature with non-certified cards. RealView is sometime possible with non certified cards (if you are game) https://michaellord.me/2013/12/10/you-dont-know-what-youve-been-missing-until-you-get-it-back-realview-solidworks/
5.Anti-Virus You are better with the "new" web based anti-virus than traditional install programs in regards to performance.
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