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Optimizing SOLIDWORKS Faster Performance

The document provides recommendations for SOLIDWORKS settings to optimize performance. It recommends checking graphics cards and drivers, as well as add-ins that load at startup. Settings like image quality, system options, and feature manager can be adjusted to potentially increase speed, though some changes may compromise functionality. The document outlines specific settings in each of these areas that could help speed up SOLIDWORKS. Backups of original settings are advised in case changes cause issues.

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Cad Quest
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86 views

Optimizing SOLIDWORKS Faster Performance

The document provides recommendations for SOLIDWORKS settings to optimize performance. It recommends checking graphics cards and drivers, as well as add-ins that load at startup. Settings like image quality, system options, and feature manager can be adjusted to potentially increase speed, though some changes may compromise functionality. The document outlines specific settings in each of these areas that could help speed up SOLIDWORKS. Backups of original settings are advised in case changes cause issues.

Uploaded by

Cad Quest
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Optimizing SOLIDWORKS for Faster Performance

SOLIDWORKS 2020 Settings that can Speed Things Up


The best way to get faster performance is to upgrade your computer to the latest and
greatest supported hardware. You should also check to make sure your graphics card and
driver are supported. You can find machine recommendations here, and you can even
build your own super CAD computer with the best NVIDIA Quadro graphics card, fastest
Intel chip, and as much ram as your motherboard can handle.

Not everyone wants to drop another 10k on a computer though, so here are some
SOLIDWORKS settings you can change to speed things up until you have the cash to
upgrade. Keep in mind, changing these settings for faster performance does not mean it
will improve modeling performance. In fact, some of these changes will actually
compromise a degree of functionality (more on this later), so before we get started you
should backup your current settings so you can reverse any changes you made that end
up not working out.

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
1. Launch Time and Add-Ins That Load at Start Up

Slow start time? Check what add-ins are loading at start up. You can do this by selecting the
drop down menu next to Tools/Options and then add-ins. The window that pops up will show
you the approximated load time for each, and allow you to choose which add-ins load
automatically at start up. If you don’t use an add-in everytime you launch SOLIDWORKS, then
deselect it from this menu. Some add-ins, such as CAM, can cause longer launch times than
others.

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
2. Document Properties: Image Quality

One way to increase speed is to decrease image quality under Tools→Options→Document


Properties. This is done by moving both slider bars to low (faster) and deselecting the boxes
for “Optimize edge length” and “Improve curve quality at higher settings.”

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
3. System Options

Under Tools→Options→System Options, you will find a slew of settings that can be adjusted
to increase speed. If you want to know more about what these settings do, you can read
about them here.

General:
o Show thumbnail graphics in Windows Explorer: uncheck
o Enable feature freeze bar: check
o Rebuild erros: prompt
o Show latest technical alerts and news in welcome dialog: uncheck

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
Drawings → Peformance:
o Show contents while dragging drawing view: uncheck
o Allow auto-update when opening drawings: uncheck

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Drawings → Display Style:
o Edge quality for wireframe and hidden views: draft quality
o Edge quality for shaded edge views: draft quality

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Colors:
o Background appearance: plain
o Use specified color for drawings paper color: check
o Use specified color for shaded with edges mode: check

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Display:
o Assembly transparency for in context edit: maintain assembly transparency
o Ani-aliasing: none

Peformance:
Remember when I said some changes might compromise a bit of functionality? Well,
these settings definitely qualify. Verification on rebuild is a feature that helps validate
complex geometry, causing geometric errors to become apparent early on in the
design process rather than later, but it means extra calculations. Automatically
loading components lightweight causes only a subset of model information to be
loaded (on an as-needed basis), which speeds things up, but doesn’t always give the
results people want. Should you makes these selections? How badly do you want to
speed things up?

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
o Verification on rebuild: uncheck
o Transparency: uncheck both boxes
o Level of detail: off (or less)
o Assemblies → Automatically load components lightweight: check
o Check out of date lightweight components: indicate
o Resolve lightweight components: prompt
o Rebuild assembly on load: prompt
o Mate speed animation: off
o Use shaded preview: check
o Enhanced graphics performance: check (this one puts more load on your
graphics card, if you have an underperforming card but everything else is
great, you might want to uncheck this).

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
Assemblies:
o Prompt before changing mate alignments on edit: check (a good idea even if
it doesn’t speed things up)
o Save new components to external files: check (again, just good practice)
o Opening a large assembly→Use lightweight mode: check, reduce to ~300
o Large assembly settings: check them all, except maybe ‘suspend automatic
rebuild,’ which some users find annoying
o Envelope components→Automatically load lightweight: check

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
External References:
o Load referenced documents: prompt
o Search file locations for external references: uncheck

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
Feature Manager:
o Use transparent flyout FeatureManager tree in parts/assemblies: uncheck

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
View:
o Zoom to fit when changing to standard views: uncheck
o Transitions: move all sliders to “off”

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
Search:
o Indexing performance: Index only when computer is idle

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM
You’re Done!

You have now optimized SOLIDWORKS for faster performance. Take it for a test drive! If you
don’t like some of the settings, you can always change them back. If you can’t remember
which ones were which, you can reset them using the Reset button at the bottom of the
System Options dialog box (below), or apply your previous settings that you saved before
you began (you did save them, right?).

If you run into any issues, email us at [email protected] or call us at 1-888-559-6167.

888.688.3234 | GOENGINEER.COM

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