Workstation Graphics Cards for Fusion

[kevinwatts]

I am purchasing a new engineering desktop workstation and need to confirm options on which certified graphic cards to select.  The current link below does not have Fusion 360 listed specifically. I am sure that would be very helpful for everyone. If others can comment from their experience that would also be beneficial. Have we published a current certified list? 

I have worked with Fusion 360 for a few years with no problems with a NVIDIA 210, but have reached the point were my graphic card is no longer compatible with Fusion updates.

I want to select a solid graphic card that supports my software now and will not become obsolete for a while, without breaking the bank. I prefer NVIDIA graphic cards.

GIVEN:
workstation
Windows 10 OS
Fusion 360
AutoCAD Design Suite 2019

Here is what I know is listed:

===================================================
System requirements for Autodesk Fusion 360
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Sys...

Certified Graphics Hardware (note that Fusion is not listed in the software drop down)
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/certified-graphics-hardware

Recommended graphic card and driver for Fusion 360
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Rec...

Fusion 360 displays - Performance-in-Fusion-360-on-laptops-with-dual-graphic-cards

"Your graphics card might not be optimal to run Fusion 360" warning on start up
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Poo...

Workstation Graphics Card for Fusion
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/workstation-graphics-card-for-fusion/m-p/5...
NVIDIA Quadro vs. NVIDIA GeForce - [see comments from TrippyLighting]

===================================================
System requirements for AutoCAD Design Suite 2019
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/search-result/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/System-requirements-for-...

Graphics Hardware
Minimum: Display adapter capable of 1360x768 at 24-bit True Color. 125% Desktop Scaling (120 DPI) or less recommended.
Recommended: Display adapter capable of 1600x1050 at 24-bit True Color. 125% Desktop Scaling (120 DPI) or less recommended.
Notes:
256 MB DirectX® 10 capable graphics card with Shader Model 3 as recommended by Autodesk on the Certified Hardware page on Autodesk.com.
Autodesk ReCap requires OpenGL® 3.3 capable workstation class graphics card with 1 GB or greater.
=======================================

[pawel.potyrala]

Hello @kevinwatts,

thanks for posting! We do not have a recommended, certified graphics hardware for Fusion 360. I believe you listed pretty much all the links that might be helpful while choosing the optimal graphics card. I myself use NVIDIA Quadro M2000M with 4096 MB RAM.

You mentioned the Design Suite 2019; as the article about a recommended graphics card for Fusion 360 states, I would suggest reviewing the list of Certified Graphic Hardware for the applications included in the collection.

Best regards,

[TrippyLighting]

The "certification" concerns itself exclusively with the OPenGL performance and stability of these cards, but that is useless information for people that run Fusion 360 and Inventor, because these two applications use the DirectX API and not OpenGL.

[kevinwatts]

Thank you Pawel and Trippy for the replies.

As TrippyLighting mentioned there is a distinction between  DirectX API and OpenGL supported graphic cards.

When a "crash report" is submitted. A non-supported graphic card can be identified and/or sometimes a driver that needs to be updated, if available. So there must be away to narrow down what is and what is not supported or tested.

Regards,

Kevin Watts

[mavigogun]

---

@pawel.potyrala wrote:

 We do not have a recommended, certified graphics hardware for Fusion 360.

Uh......... wha.... the.... Ehem. (compose yourself, Christopher)

@pawel.potyrala, this warrants expounding:  is the position that it doesn't practically matter?    Is the choice akin to "what sort of fuel to put in the tank?"  -brand, not all that critical, but no diesel, and a minimum of 97 octane?

Look, don't you see something seriously wrong with users needing to pull together a hodge-podge of links to make this decision?    Ya, there is a basis to be had, sifting through opinion and fact- but why the reticence to endorse particular hardware?   "Here's what we use- it's rock solid, and what we design to."

[Anonymous]

cant go wrong with a nvidia 1050 or 1060. its got the newest version of opengl and directx so it could be used for other things as well. I know its overkill but the price is good.

[kevinwatts]

Thank you for the suggestions Zachary @Anonymous. I will look into them. I also appreciate Christopher's @mavigogun supporting comments.

I would appreciate it if this post thread could be redirected to the Fusion Technical Support team. The Sales team can only pass on what information is posted online. Please & thank you. @pawel.potyrala, @jeff.starter

Kevin Watts

[kevinwatts]

I think that it might be helpful to simply inquires related to the selection of Graphic Cards which Fusion is compatible with, if more details could be included in the technical system specifications.

I am not claiming to be an expert or to go deep into the hardware descriptions and functions. Nor am I representing or promoting a brand. Those of us that are using Fusion 360 for professional applications require a solid reliable engineering software that just gets the job done.

Based on my current understanding:

• Application programming interfaces (APIs) can be used in applications to render 2D and 3D computer graphics.
• Graphic Video Cards API’s (common): OpenGL and DirectX
• Fusion 360 utilizes: DirectX

My System:

• Windows 10 Pro, 64-bit
• 4GB RAM
• Intel Core i5-3570 CPU @ 3.40 GHz
• Nvidia GeForce 210, driver version 342.01
• DirectX version: 11.0
• Direct3D API version: 10.1

You may note that my DirectX version is old. The card has become obsolete (retired) and new divers for that card are not available from the manufacturer.

On the Fusion 360 current specifications. I think that it would be a good idea to note that the graphic card requires support for: GB CPU, Bandwidth DirectX compliant version, to which the current Fusion build is designed and tested to operate. I believe that it is 12?? Can someone confirm please.

To support other Autodesk software that I have along with Fusion 360 on the same computer, I think that a graphic video card that supports both OpenGL and DirectX, with the most current drivers available and compatible, would be beneficial. As suggested earlier by @Anonymous.

I must order my new computer tomorrow! Here is a graphics card that I would like Support to confirm would be compatible with Fusion 360:

Nvidia Quadro P2000 

Specifications:

https://www.pny.com/nvidia-quadro-p2000

Graphics APIs

• Shader Model 5.1
• OpenGL 4.5
• DirectX 12.0
• Vulkan 1.0

Compute APIs           

• CUDA, DirecrtCompute, OpenCL

Regards,

Kevin Watts

[ryan.bales]

Yes it will be more than adequate. Most graphics cards can run Fusion ok. The bottleneck is rarely graphics and most often is RAM or CPU. We offer the minimum to get started and run after that its up to you to determine what you want. 

NYC CNC has some great recommendations on their site

[kevinwatts]

Thank you for confirming Ryan @ryan.bales.

I am going give the Nvidia Quadro P2000 card a try with Fusion and update this post with the results. Please note that it will take a week to get the build and additional time to test.

Regards,

Kevin

[ryan.bales]

Sounds good! 

[kevinwatts]

Update.... To date I have found no issues while running Fusion 360 using the Nvidia Quadro P2000 graphics card. I did not change any settings related to performance. I have been using it in the Model, Render workspaces and creating drawings from Design.

[TrippyLighting]

Thanks for the update!

I run a number of other 3D applications including but not limited to CAD so this is good to know.

I wish more users would report when things do work instead of only reporting problems.

[ryan.bales]

You and me both! I've had few if really any issues with Quadro cards, both in the design world and now here at Autodesk.