topic Re: Recommendations for best CAD computer. in Inventor Forum

Recommendations for best CAD computer.

info45 — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 16:59:35 GMT

Hello folks.

I work for a small company that creates metal parts for construction projects (metallic adornments for buildings, bike racks, curved beams for construction, etc.). Most of the work I am assigned involves AutoCAD. However, I do occasionally get a project requiring Inventor.

I currently use a low-end laptop for the work (1.8GHz i7-855OU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD). When I do get that rare assignment requiring a 3D render, it takes a while to complete a movie file render. My boss would like to make those renders go faster. However, I do not want him to spend more money than he should, consider the gist of the work, which is 2D.

What would you folks recommend? I'm thinking that a desktop machine is not necessary, that a laptop would suffice. I do not think anything more than a 3GHz i7, 16GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, and maybe a low-end RTX 2070 or something along those lines, is needed.

What say you all?

Thanks much.

Re: Recommendations for best CAD computer.

ldutkaTUZ58 — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:05:17 GMT

Perhaps this may help: System Requirements For Autodesk Inventor 2021 | Applied Software, GRAITEC Group (asti.com)

Re: Recommendations for best CAD computer.

Frederick_Law — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:09:23 GMT

Go for 32GB RAM.

I have 64GB, 18GB is in use. Inventor using 2GB.

Don't remember if Rendering use GPU.

Re: Recommendations for best CAD computer.

info45 — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:31:41 GMT

Thanks people. Those recommended hardware minimums were helpful.

32GB minimum? You sure that much is necessary? We don't do high-end, million-part machines.

Thanks guys!

Re: Recommendations for best CAD computer.

Frederick_Law — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:38:27 GMT

Check how much your computer is using now.

Not only Inventor is running, browser, email, spreadsheet, pdf etc.

Hardware is a fixed cost. Your time waiting has no limit.

Re: Recommendations for best CAD computer.

info45 — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:46:16 GMT

Alright. Thanks for your thoughts guys. I needed some opinions.

Re: Recommendations for best CAD computer.

James_Willo — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 05:56:19 GMT

Here are the minimum requirements for Inventor. You may get away with using less if your work is not complicated but this is what is recommended. You'll notice that minimum is 16GB, recommended will be for larger assembly performance. But generally the more RAM you can get, the better for Inventor.
https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-Autodesk-Inventor-2025.html

Also note if you want to use Ray tracing there are some graphics driver specs.

https://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-541FB861-54C5-4D90-851F-575EFC15EC0C

Re: Recommendations for best CAD computer.

J_Pfeifer_ — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 20:52:32 GMT

Second this, my home PC has 32 gb and I feel nothing. My work PC only has 16gb running near 70-80% all day. You can feel the shuddering. You guys should see me trying to draw in paint sometimes, teleporting cursor problems. It's also important to consider what kind of software you might be running in the background for IT and other things as well.

Re: Recommendations for best CAD computer.

chris — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 21:04:59 GMT

@info45 All the machines I've ever used that "IT" spec'd for CAD usage have made it through... The last company I worked for askedme to build my own workstation, so that was a good one, (maybe $5000), and my personal machine is an i9 12900-3.9 GHz, 120 GB RAM, and a 3090Ti card, I don't even feel large CAD files or wait for drawings.

And in the scheme of things, my system isn't even really "that" anymore, compared to newer processors and lower prices.

I will say if you can watch youtube and feel comfortable building a machine, it's much cheaper then buying a built system, useless the company has a Dell account.