AutoCAD LT

[#1]

LT Unlimited has a guest post from Randall Young, AutoCAD Test Development expert, on the importance of using a certified or tested graphics card with AutoCAD LT.

If you're having display issues with your AutoCAD LT installation, you'll want to check it out.

Certified Graphics for AutoCAD LT

[#2]

Based on my experience with the certified ATI FirePro M7820, I don't believe your certification process is relevant to AutoCAD LT. This card is one the strongest mobile 3D cards on the market, so t it probably did well in 3D tests. Unfortunately ATI seemed to drop the ball on 2D drivers. This card is currently about 1/2 as strong as lest-generation Intel integrated graphics in 2D. I needed to switch off many of the default settings to make it usable, but it still has issues.

[#3]

Does Autocad2011 LT have the ability to draw in 3D

[#4]

Depends on your definition of "3D": there are no 3D solids nor lighting nor 3D elements creation.

[#5]

The 17" Macbook Pro has Nvidia GeForce GT 330M graphics hardware.  Autodesk indicates the Nvidia GeForce 330M is certified for Autocad 2011, OS X 10.5 and 10.6, but does not mention Windows 7 compatibility.  Does anyone know if the Nvidia GeForce GT 330M is compatible with Autocad 2011 LT and Windows 7 in the Bootcamp or Parallels configuration on a Mac?

PS  I originally asked this same question under the "Getting started with Autodesk, etc." discussion group.

[#6]

Parallels is an app within MacOS, so your video card is not running native at all inside it but only as emulation.

With Bootcamp you are using Win7 natively and the GPU drivers will be used: but you will not see much imprrovement in LT over just letting Win7 run the video card IMHO as LT lacks the most vital of options, 3DCONFIG command:

http://docs.autodesk.com/ACD/2011/ENU/filesAUG/WS1a9193826455f5ffa23ce210c4a30acaf-76c7.htm

Here is the online Help file for LT2011, try and look up Performance Tuning or Video Drivers (do the same with AutoCAD 2011's only help from the previous link) and see for yourself:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT 2011\Help\landing.html

[#7]

It would be nice if the utility would allow you a "wildcard" selection of all the cards that are supported by vendor and by the remaining selected criteria. Instead you have to go through the cards one by one to see their support status. This wildcard feature would be useful for the person that is getting ready to spec out a new pc... allowing him a list of options to choose from.

[#8]

Just a quick note about 3DCONFIG in AutoCAD LT. Starting with LT 2012, a subset of AutoCAD's 3DConfig command is now available in LT. It can check for updates, view the tune log and disable hardware acceleration. 

[#9]

When I place my cursor on a large block, my cursor disappears and it starts rendering the block one line at a time, which takes around 5 to 10 seconds to complete. While this is happening, I cannot do anything  in CAD. I downloaded the Certified Graphics Card drivers from Autodesk, but that did not help. Any help to get this to stop would be very much appreciated. 

I am running AutoCAD 2011LT, WIndows 7 Professional 64bit on a HP Z800 workstation with 2 x quad core Intel Xeon Processors, 18gb RAM, 6.5gb NVIDIA Quadro 6000 video card, and a HP LP3065 30" monitor 2560x1600 @ 60htz. I just upgraded from the Quadro 5000 and I was having the same problems with that one.

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[#10]

Always has, always will, be able to DRAW in 3D. LT cannot MODEL in 3D. I have been drawing in 3D with LT since version 1 for Windows 3.11.