I wanted to try to bring all the threads together to see if we can find any setups that prove demonstrable in increasing the performance and speed of REVIT MEP.
From what I have found, hardware and a 64bit OS is not the answer. Many have spent money with no significant change in speed and performance.
Some things that MAY help:
1)Purge/Audit the arch model prior to linking.
2)Simplify the arch model, ie:replace custom doors with single panel doors, etc. (Seems to defeat the purpose of having a true-to-life BIM model, but "oh well".)
3)When possible during design work, use the VG to off the link arch model. Off anything not needed.
4)Shadows alway OFF, if u use the shaded mode
5)MEP has to use Copy/Monitor, but use as sparingly as possible (helps to use non-hosted families)
All these things will help...maybe, but only a little.
Workflow Ideas:
The conventional wisdom of the single database central doesn't work for the majority of MEP firms. Linking of the arch model became the "way" to do it, but produced it's own set of issues and limitations.
1) Many are resorting to the old AutoCAD XRef workflow and creating centrals for each discipline, linking in each others' models as needed. Unlinking when not needed. This workflow does help keep the designers' models smaller and easier to work with, but requires much more manual coordination and maintenance. Eventually the models will need to be brought together for final connectivity, wiring, etc.
2) I have a couple clients who have one seat of Revit Arch to put together the sections, elevations, enlarged views and sheets. The Revit Arch doesn't have the overhead of all the calcs going on, so setup of the views is faster than when inside of RMEP.
Please add any additions that have been found to help, even if just a little.