C3D now supports multicore?

[Neilw_05]

I just noticed this in the System Requirements for 2017. It appears the software now utilizes multiple cores. Anyone know more about this?

[AllenJessup]

WHIPTHREAD is the only thing I find related to multithreading and Civil 3D 2017. But that's been around for years. I suppose it depends on what they mean by "Support". I think if the program used anything other than that with multiple threads. There would be a much bigger noise about it.

[michael_robertson]

Not sure how much stock I ever see in these listings, it also says 32bit processor. I'm sure you already know Civil3D is 64bit only.

[AllenJessup]

Good catch Mike.

[Neilw_05]

What is intriguing is that feature is not listed in any of the previous system requirements. Also, it is not really a requirement, so why is it mentioned?

[troma]

Maybe people had heard so much about C3D not using multiple processors that some thought it didn't even run or a machine with more than one processor. So Autodesk decided to put it in the list just to say "Yes, the program will run on your computer".

[michael_robertson]

There are some functions that appear to take advantage of multiple processors. Watching processor activity, when importing a point cloud all four processors show increased processing when the operation starts and then drop back down when the processing is complete.

[rl_jackson]

Wow, if that's true there should be a really huge performance increase with Point Clouds, as well as just about everything else (Corridors etc...).

[Neilw_05]

I know that in the past certain graphics processes were multithreaded but apparently they didn't warrant being mentioned in the SYS Requirements. I ran a few tests to see if I could detect whether all the processors were reacting to various commands but I wasn't able to come to any definite conclusions. I think I'll submit a support request to find out what this is about. 

[michael_robertson]

Corridors would be much more complicated, you might be able to split left & right sides into different threads but it would be really tricky because of items that span both or depend on the other side for targets etc. Corridor regions would probably be easier but I'm sure there would be gotchas also.

[dgorsman]

Processor != operating system.  Not certain if they actually make 32-bit processors anymore.

[Neilw_05 · Accepted solution]

Official reply from Autodesk:

Dear Neil, Thank you for choosing Autodesk Support. My name is Almas Suljevic and I will be assisting you with your case. I saw your post on the discussions and double-checked with Peter Funk to so to what extent this multi threading is supported. It turns that it support parts of the AutoCAD graphic system that will use additional processors for display such as zoom and regenerating. So Civil 3D is not yet fully multi threaded application, but some steps are being made in that direction.  Apparently it's the same deal as before.  Please let me know if this answers your question. 

[Anonymous]

Multicore's  have been out for very long time now and C3D doesn't fully support them how disappointing is that.  Ya I sorry to say I know for a fact because I just built a new Skylake computer build with, 6700 processor, M.2 drive and,1070 video and the performance isn't any better then my old computer.  Matter of fact C3D crashes almost as much as it did on my old computer.  Matter of fact if you compare C3D 2004  to  C3D 2017 the performance is pretty much the same.  And what gets me is year after year you still need to install the same patches.  And C3D is still it monster its alway been. Where I am still missing the Land Desk Top.  And with C3D putting everything on LVL 0 nightmare will never end.   I will stop here for I can keep going forever just complaining about prospector.

[joantopo]

Istram Ispol is multi-core for: redraw, calculations, earthworks (compute materials), to generate section views, 3D, BIM.

Also in PowerCivil.

Civil 3D.. no comments.

[tcorey]

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@Anonymous wrote:

....Where I am still missing the Land Desk Top.....

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You're either a surveyor, or you do very small/simple projects, or you're just pulling our legs, trying to be funny. I appreciate a good laugh, so, thanks. 😉

[dgorsman]

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@joantopo wrote:

Istram Ispol is multi-core for: redraw, calculations, earthworks (compute materials), to generate section views, 3D, BIM.

Also in PowerCivil.

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Could you point me to some documentation for this please?

[cvlci_CAD]

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@michael_robertson wrote:

Not sure how much stock I ever see in these listings, it also says 32bit processor. I'm sure you already know Civil3D is 64bit only.

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As stated above.  Processor does not = operating system.  Most processors around today still use the i386 (or x86) instruction set as their base...  And then they add fancy new ones such as IA-64, SSE, MMX, etc....  Even my shiny new 8-core 6900k still uses i386 depending on the app.

[Anonymous]

Yes I am a surveyor is that a problem.  With my old company I was a 16 year happy Micro-station user but had to switch with a new company to Land Desktop which I was ok with.  Plus I also had Carlson survey which would work inside AutoCadD and took all of AutoCAD settings and made it very easy to use.  But that was also with a different company.  Now I am stuck with C3D and yes I am with a small company.  I am also the proficient with C3D and everyone comes to me with questions. Sad but ture.

[tcorey]

Haha, no, of course there's no problem with your being a surveyor. It's just that I commonly hear the same refrain from other surveyors, but very rarely have I heard it from a civil, Civil 3D is so far beyond Land Desktop for design work. 

Looking forward to more interactions,

Tim

[rl_jackson]

@tcorey,

I think a lot of the reason you don't hear about the bad side of C3D from civil is due to the dynamics. Unfortunately adesk has done little to nothing on the survey side short of break what actually worked in LDT from a survey point of view. Short of linework coding with the description it's been undeveloped untouched and broken since 2005