Civil 3D Computer Specifications

[JAY_00]

I am looking to get some advice if the specs on my work laptop are in need of upgrading in order to have better performance. For normal day-to-day use and drafting it is working fine but once I get to processing large data sets such as LiDAR and using them in design my laptop performs a little more slowly (saving, panning around, etc.). I normally use data clips and data reference these surfaces so as to not have a bunch of surfaces live in a single file and also good practice of data management. 

I currently have 16GB of RAM and the graphics card is NVIDIA RTX A1000 Laptop GPU, I was looking at the certified graphics hardware page and this particular one is not listed and the next similar graphics card that is listed is the NVIDIA RTX A2000 Laptop GPU which I assume is an upgraded version. Could the hardware on my laptop be upgraded (i.e. more RAM and upgraded graphics card)?

[ChicagoLooper]

Hi @JAY_00 

If this is a work computer tell your IT group you want more RAM. Your current 16Gb is minimal, not great, in fact it’s not even good. It’s fair and that’s being generous. Upgrading RAM is the cheapest and most effective way to increase performance. 
 
Generally speaking, laptops are lousy for upgrades. Towers are the best because there’s for ‘interior space’ inside a tower compared to a laptop. Look at specs for laptops vs. desktops  for comparison. 

A solid state drive (SSD) has faster read and write capabilities, i.e. retrieve and save respectively. 

Your graphics isn’t necessarily bad, it just wasn’t ‘evaluated’ by Autodesk. 

If your are running 2022 or 2023 version make sure you have the latest updates to your operating system. Your IT group may also have installed security software with updates occurring automatically. The security software is typically company-wide and there’s nothing you can do about it, learn to tolerate it. 

[rl_jackson]

Buy a Desktop would be the best thing you ever did. Graphics Cards do have some play in it. But in the long run its Processor/Speed, and Ram. If your laptop and support 64 to 128GB, that's what you need when dealing with or processing Lidar Data.

It sounds to me like you may not necessarily be processing Lidar data but instead using it. If that's the case you need to reduce the dataset to something more manageable, you can't just import some monster LAS/Z file and think C3D is going to make it the best in the world. 75% of the data doesn't need to be in the surface in most cases. Lidar is a great tool, but you cannot place an 80gb Lidar dataset in C3D and expect it to be able to work efficiently. This is where other workflows will need to be implemented. You could try the C3D Lidar Tools in the APPSTORE for starters.

[JAY_00]

Thanks. We have laptops because our stations were meant more for hotdesking in the office. We have been talking about upgrading the RAM on the laptop. Would going to something like 64GB be better? I think initial talks have been about 32GB but if more will be better then I will convince them to give me more.

[JAY_00]

Our office is built more hotdesking hence the laptops. I will get them to get me at least 64GB of RAM as an upgrade.

I've never used external tools for LiDARs. You are correct in that it is when I use the surfaces that it really bogs down the performance. Is there any other tips that you could recommend to make large LiDAR data more manageable in Civil 3D?

[rl_jackson · Accepted solution]

Of course, it's best to have the maximum possible that is available. Assuming you have the fastest processor available, and you're running this on an SSD drive with your A1000 GPU. I would venture to say that for every 32gb that is added you'll get a 25% reduction in wait time for certain processes. I would also say this is multiplying effect so (2x ,4x, 6x), So you could certainly go with 64gb to start with, however, if you're going to make that jump and your system can handle 128gb set the upgrade up so that you just add the additional 64 gb. Make the system easily upgradable the next time around.

"I've never used external tools for LiDARs. You are correct in that it is when I use the surfaces that it really bogs down the performance. Is there any other tips that you could recommend makie large LiDAR data more manageable in Civil 3D?"

Lidar Datasets are generally very large. A linear 1500' Lidar dataset can be on the order of 22GB, with that said if you create a surface in C3D and there is a *.mms file create in the folder with the drawing file then C3D performance while be significantly reduced. Assuming you are using one of the industry standard Lidar formats then @TerryDotson LidarTools | Autodesk Civil 3D | Autodesk App Store can help reduce and thin down the data set. There's also changes in workflow that can be made with Lidar data by using tools specific geared towards handling the data and extracting the minimum needed. For example, I recently had an 80gb dataset of 250 acres that I converted into a surface drawing that was 10mb using a Recap to Infraworks to C3D workflow. So there is great benefit in changing your workflow as the key is reducing the data that C3D is handling to make a project run smoother.

HTH

[JAY_00]

Is there a workflow guide somewhere in using the Recap to Infraworks to Civil 3D for managing large datasets? I've never used this method before and I am curious how this works.

[rl_jackson]

Jaromir,

There is most of those are Infraworks based. As it's the "middle man" in the process. Recap, does the initial heavy lifting, the IW takes the data a further in the process towards C3D.

Migrating a Surface Model from InfraWorks to Civil 3D - Bing video

[mindaugas.leliungaUQUY7]

Hey,

We are planning on upgarding in our office and I am trying to prove my IT that 2x16 RAM is not enough and at very least we want 1x32 RAM socket, prefarably 64RAM. You may know is there anything written about Civi3D usage of computer resources by Autodesk or some reports outside it, since forum post is won't be enough.