System requirements for working with 1Gb+ DWG

[Maxim-CADman77]

Does anybody have experience of working with DWG files that reside 1Gb and more on the HDD (map)?

It seems that 16Gb RAM is not sufficient. What are recommendations?

[ampster401]

1GB dwg files?

Heck, I've noticed anything over say 30MB sometimes brings Acad to it's knees.

Good luck working with files that big.

[Maxim-CADman77]

Thanks, I'm already working with it
(http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-2013-2014-2015/On-the-Go-loading-
of-layers-that-were-not-chosen-in-PartialLoad/m-p/5157961#M56034) but
suffering some minor difficulties 😉

[pendean]

There is no magic bullet: and RAM alone isn't the solution, your processor and other system components (and OS) must also lend a hand.

So the rest of your system is...?

[braudpat]

Hello from France

Maybe this topic can help you !?

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-2013-2014-2015/Large-DWGs-and-ACAD-MAP-201x-64-bits-and-Memory...

I am using large/huge 2D DWGs (about 300 Mb) in GIS/Mapping Domain ...

and I am on a HP Z1 Workstation with 32 Gb Ram and I don't use ALL the Ram (more than 16 Gb)

You must have VERY WELL organized DWGs (and XREFs DWGs if you have some) to be able to FREEZE many layers when you have to !

The main problem is with the Properties Dialog Box where you have to be very careful in term of how many objects have been selected ...

Of course I run with : SDI = 1

Sometimes I run with : UNDO Controle NONE   - So NO Undo at all !!

Sometimes I run with : HIGHLIGHT = 0  - So I don't see selected objects, but it's my problem !!

etc

I estimate that it is not reasonable to load 2D DWGs larger than 200-400 Mb depending on your Ram and the Speed of your processor (ONLY ONE processor "as fast as possible" is ENOUGH)

So Good Luck and let us know ...

[Maxim-CADman77]

OS - Win7 64bit? Corporate

CPU - Core i5

Video - Nvidia GT540 (2Gb)



Enough or any other system components are of interest?

[Maxim-CADman77]

Thanks

BTW what is "SDI = 1"?

[braudpat]

Hello

SDI = 1  so ACAD can load only ONE DWG and not many ...

With SDI = 0 (Default) you can load simultaneously multiple DWGs ...

[pendean]

Too generic, inadequate for your needs: i5 or i7 with 3ghz or higher speeds are minimum (not bogus 'occasional overclock speed boost up to 3ghz"), uber-fast HD drive (SSD ideal not cheap), a 1Gig network connection through a switch (I assume your files are on the corporate network servers), and 32G RAM minimum.
In addition to tips offered by Pat and any others that jump in.

[braudpat]

Hello

+1 with Pendean

When I am loading/using these large/huge DWGs I am ALWAYS with ALL data stored locally on MY Hard Disk

And when the work is finished I copy / paste files to the Network and so one ...

So no problem with bandwith of the network or any other stupid problem !

Then you must have a very fast Core i5 or i7 or Xeon , which means a processor with a MINIMUM basic speed = 3.2/3.4 Ghz + Turbo Mode

Today the best choice would be (for me) the New Core i7 4790K  ( 4.0-4.4 Ghz - 4 cores / 8 threads - 8 Mb cache - 350$ ) - This new Core i7 is VERY Fast !!

On my HP Z1, I have an old fast Xeon E3-1245  ( 3.3-3.7 Ghz - 4 cores / 8 threads - 8 Mb cache - 273$ )

with a old NVidia Quadro 1000 2 Gb (for 2D no problem)

[braudpat]

Hello

Today HP/Dell Workstations are (most often) based on the New Xeon E5-1620 v2 : a good choice !

( 3.7-3.9 Ghz - 4 cores / 8 threads - 10 Mb cache - 294$ )

The Xeon E5-1620 v2 is the fastest Xeon available (at reasonable price) ...

but it is slower than the New Core i7 4790K so ... it's your choice !?

[Maxim-CADman77]

Thanks but

I consider the option improper for my needs - it blocks Publishing to
DWF

[braudpat]

Hello from France

What do you mean ?

With SDI = 1 , you can't publish to DWF (or PDF) !?

Are you speaking about the PUBLISH command ??

You can run with SDI = 0 , it will not do a "big" difference because you will not load others DWGs ...

[Maxim-CADman77]

Sure?

Have you personally tried it (I tried)?

[braudpat]

Hello from France

Sorry but my US/English is far from "fluent" !

What is your problem exactly with "Publish to DWF" ?

[ampster401]

I think the point about sdi set to 1 would limit Acad to having only one file open at a time, sort of another way of ensuring all your system RAM is tied up with that single extremely large dwg file and not multiple files which you would never want to have open if you are in fact working with an extremely large file.

If someone were to leave sdi set to 0, then that leaves the possibility that someone may accidentally open another file when they shouldn't.  sdi set to 0 would prevent that, at least within the same session of Acad.