AutoCAD Structural Detailing

[#1]

Hello everyone,

anyone of you know why, with a simple 68 Mb file (see below)

I have a commitment of more than 3 GB of memory ... (see below)

Any suggestions to reduce the amount of memory? thanks so much

SRP

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Because with autoCAD, 64 MB is not a simple model.  On top of that because ASD uses custom objects, it stores more data in the file than vanilla AutoCAD would, so you can have more objects in a smaller file than if you were using plain AutoCAD objects.  To test this use the export to AutoCAD option.  

The video card has to work just as hard to display the shapes regardless of whether you're using AutoCAD solids or custom objects. 

Also, you're probably showing a bunch of nuts and bolts which are extremely memory intensive.  You'll probably see better performance if you freeze some of the object layers.

[#3]

I have the same problem with a 150MB large file. -my RAM memory is almost full (see picture 120626_PC RAM) -3D orbit does not work fluently at all! -changing in the top view (front view - side view) takes too much time -there is no workflow -when drawings are generated, it takes up to 10 minutes or longer (for a total overview) it annoys to work in this way. PC System: Windows 7 Professional 64 bit Intel Xenon CPU X3470 @2,93GHZ 8 GB RAM Video card Nvidia Quadro 600 & for a test also a Nvidia GeForce GTX550 Where is the problem? Are there any other possibilities to increase the performance? What can i do?

[#4]

Autocad becomes lazy when Drawings are generated. I see 2 possible solutions for a "smoother" experience

1) Split the project in multiple projects (there is this option)

2) From model create separate files with each drawing. (the downside is that if you make a modification, it will not be reflected in previously created files.

[#5]

A lot of people use Xref's to manage large files, it works pretty well.  You may have to break up structural model along member type + level.

[#6]

Thank you guys for the suggestions, but in this case i dont want to split it because its a "not so big room" and i must work simtimes here and sometimes in that corner, and i think it disrupts the work flow. for me its just disappointing that the program or the computer that is designed for big steel structures its not in a position to handle this data volume.... but if i would increase the computer hardware performance, i mean 16 or 32GB RAM and A Nvidia Quadro 6000 with 6GB memory size or something similar... Could that be a possible solution?

[#7]

See, that's the thing.  The program isn't designed for big steel structures.  Any program built on top of AutoCAD currently is not designed for BIG.  You can always spend more money, there just comes a point where the money spent is less than the gain received.  Only you can justify how much to spend.

Your RAM and video card are a bit weak.  I got with a Nvidia Quadro 2000 at least (1 GB of RAM on the card), bump up your RAM on your computer to 16 GB and you should see a decent performance boost between the two.  I wouldn't spend much more than that.

Here's some reviews by Cadalyst:

Quadro 2000

http://www.cadalyst.com/hardware/graphics-cards/setting-a-cad-speed-record-14292?page_id=1

Quadro 5000

http://www.cadalyst.com/hardware/graphics-cards/nvidia-quadro-5000-13397

[#8]

OK, thanks for the information. If I get the money I'll try it, I will inform you how it affects. by the way, only of interest: which program is then suitable for large steel structures?

[#9]

If you're trying to visualize everything at one time, Revit has better performance than AutoCAD. ASD works, but you have to be willing to using xref's...like most people do with 3D inside of AutoCAD.  Even Revit will have its limits.

[#10]

ditto about the Graphics card and ram

the quadro5000 goes very well but the 2000 should do the job, id love a 6000...maybe if I win the lotto.

we split xrefs into :

floors

columns

vert bracing

hor bracing

stairs

etc