Graphics Card Requirements

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I'm wanting to get a new computer (looking at relatively good spec consumer Windows laptops, but not wanting to buy a super-powered gaming pc etc), partly to run Fusion; and I was just wondering about the necessity of a graphics card. I'm only going to be doing some pretty basic modelling for some hobby woodworking/furniture design, so I won't need to be running any of the more complicated rendering/animations/stress-modelling etc (for context I'm currently using TinkerCAD and that's like 80% of what I need, and if I have to get a graphics card I would consider just sticking with TinkerCAD) and my models aren't going to be big. Given that, I suppose I want to know

A) If having a graphics card is a hard requirement (ie. will the software refuse to install/run on a computer without one)

B) Is there specific functionality I'm likely to use given my context that might be unworkably slow on a computer without a graphics card, or whether even just building simple models without a graphics card will be impossibly slow

Thanks,

David

[HughesTooling]

Minimum specs are listed here. Do you have a PC now and have you tried installing Fusion? On the graphics diagnostics dialog there's an option limit effects to help performance.

Mark

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I'd seen that spec sheet, and no, my current machine is 32bit, so I can't run Fusion. But you seem to suggest it'll work without a graphics card?

[ryan.bales · Accepted solution]

For graphics, the short answer on both those points is yes. But its more appropriate to drill in and ask yourself some key questions:

1. How do you intend to use the tool? 
   • Complexity of design
   • Size of models
2. What do you expect for performance?
   • In other words, how fast do you draw and what are your expectations for response to commands
   • Graphical quality?

Many folks draw in Fusion without standalone (discrete) graphics cards. But your expectations will make the difference on that experience. It can be done and many do it. just know it may not be right for you.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Ryan, that's really helped answer my question. I think given it will run, that people do use it without a discrete graphics card, that my models will be super small, and that I won't be using it THAT often, I'm going to get a laptop without a graphics card (for cost and portability). In future, if I end up using it a lot, and it's really slow I'll build myself a dedicated tower, but for now it doesn't sound like I need it.

Thanks,

David

[number1cas]

I'm sorry but your minimum requirements are a joke. You can barely use the software with that. why cant Autodesk just be real and give specs where it is actually USEABLE

[g-andresen]

Hi,
I have used a pny nv 310 (1 GB) for about 2 years without reaching any limits.
With a new PC, a GTX 1060 ( 6GB ) is now in use on recommendation. If I have ever observed, I get a maximum of 30% load with intensive display actions. In my experience, a graphics card is determined by applications like games or video editing. Even if you render locally, only the CPU is required.

günther