how to accelerate AutoCAD

[MariuszPL]

Guys use many AutoCAD versions (2002 - 2008), both LT and full ones, even Civil 3D. The problem is that the software works very slow. Different versions are installed on different machines, but almost every user has the same problem.
That's why we want to ask if is there any way to accelerate AutoCAD? What we should pay attention to choosing new hardware - video cards, RAM, processors? What is the most important if it comes to the speed of work? Now there are quite good dual core machines with Athlon x2 and 2GB RAM, new disks, ATI video cards, XP Pro OS.
They are doing only 2D work - maps, roads and bridges. Files that they use can be really big and can contain a lot of information - imagine that the guy have some map, on which he have to place details of road, all the infrastructure (using xrefs), add to it photomap and AutoCAD significantly slows down. The result is that panning is not fluent and it can take even few minutes. The true is that the drawings are really extensiwe (small town for example). If they use big zooms, it works quite fine, but it's impossible to move some bigger view. Can you please dissolve our doubts:
1. is 2 GB RAM to less for that kind of work? can additional 2GB help and make the AutoCAD work faster?
2. are there any AutoCAD settings than can help in this case?
3. video cards are 128-256 MB RAM, would 512 RAM card make it faster?
We simply don't know what components have the real impact on speed of work, and if it can help with such a large drawings. If it prove necessary we will make the sample drawing available for you to download ASAP.
We will be grateful for all your suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Files sizes, file content (lots of dense hatch patterns and TTF fonts),
network speeds, network OS, user/client OS, other running apps, anti-virus
and firewall settings and much more affect AutoCAD speed as much as system
hardware.

A starting point is: everyone on the same AutoCAD version (or at least the
same DWG version to avoid saving down, another slowing process), same OS,
dual-core, WinXP and 2Gig minimum System RAM that is not shared with any
other hardware on the PC (like built-in video cards).
Video card ram only comes into play if you do 3D or intense graphics apps
like Photoshop.

Your problem starts at the 2002 through 2008 mix, that's three DWG versions
in play and a translation down nightmare where no one can truly use the full
features of each version. It probably continues with unchecked AV software
and other issues.

You need to look at everything, hardware alone is not going to do much to
speed things up. Wish it was that simple.

--
Dean Saadallah
http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
Add-on products for LT
http://www.pendean.com/lt
--

[ljshive]

You might try dumping all the layer filters

and

use the -purge command the (-) will give you some additional options, and try purging the Regapps option when you start the purge command.

I've found these 2 items speed files up considerably in our office when we get files from outside - especially any civil survey files

[kriswa]

in addition to layer filter deleting, on any PCs that use full AutoCAD, turn off CAD Standards notification which causes almost continuus slowdowns (often without any warning).

hunt around for a purge utility like CDGPurge, that can eliminate alot of what causes these problems.

ensure your office DWG/DWS/DWT templates are as clean as possible -- as CAD manager I routinely find them full of old blocks embedded images and other crap, which is copied to every new drawing you create!

as noted earlier, any running system processes can adversely affect speed -- especially Antivirus software; also ensure with Windows Vista that things like Transparency and Sidebar are disabled (assuming you don't have high-end graphics cards).

the CPU speed equates to only a tiny part of the computers' performanc, the size and speed of RAM, and the speed of the video card (not size of video RAM) are far more significant. you can utilize CADalyst's AutoCAD free but extensive benchmark tool to determine where the strengths and weaknesses of a specific computer setup, then base your future upgrades on that information.

[kriswa]

this might be helpful if you're looking for new hardware
from Autodesks website, the current complete list of certfied compatbile graphics cards for AutoCAD 2008 are as follows:

----------------------------------------------------

for AutoCAD 2008/LT 2008 on Windows Vista 32/64bit
current as of: 2007-10-12 16:46:31.0

AMD - ATI FireGL V3300
AMD - ATI FireGL V3350
AMD - ATI FireGL V3400
AMD - ATI FireGL V3600
AMD - ATI FireGL V5200
AMD - ATI FireGL V5600
AMD - ATI FireGL V7200
AMD - ATI FireGL V7300
AMD - ATI FireGL V7350
AMD - ATI MOBILITY FireGL V5600

NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 1500M
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 1600M
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 1700
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400/4400
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450/4000 SDI
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 350
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 370
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 X2
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 4600
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 540
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 550
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 5500
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 560
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 570
NVIDIA - NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M

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