8 cores would be better if you do a lot of local solves, your CPU has 4. Your RAM and CPU speed seem ok. Local solves do not use your GPU at all so that won't matter. The solver does use some disk so having a fast SSD as your boot drive with lots of free space will be beneficial, and watch the free space as it can get eaten up by the solves. You can free up space using Help - Support and Diagnostics - Clear Cache.
The trick to fast solves is to simplify your model and manage your mesh size. Also be sure you remove components completely - don't just hide them as they will still be meshed and solved. Use the Simplify environment to remove parts or features on parts that won't affect your results. The more faces and edges on your model, especially if they are small relative to the overall model size, the larger your mesh will be and the longer your solve will take.
If you have changed your default mesh settings thinking you need more accuracy, this may not be helping you. You can use the defaults or a relatively coarse mesh and enabled adaptive mesh refinement on your 'final pass' to get the most accurate results. This will do multiple passes and refine the mesh only where there are high stresses, strains, displacements, etc. according to what you pick as the result target. You can also make your mesh finer in key locations and let the rest of the model have a coarse mesh. Manage - Local Mesh Control.
I hope this helps.
Rob McMillan
Software Architect, Fusion Simulation
Autodesk
