Allowing SolidWorks to Perform
Josh Altergott, Support Manager, CSWP
Adrian Fanjoy, Technical Services Manager, MCSE, MCDBA
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.
JA
Agenda
• Introductions
• Background
• Disclaimer
• The model
• The environment(s)
• The tests
• The results
• Grand Finale
• Questions
AF
Background
• Josh’s experience in analyzing customer
assemblies
• My experience analyzing modeling environments
• When were we taught proper methodology?
• Hardware and OS configuration is IT’s problem
• What steps will have the greatest effect?
AF
Disclaimer
The information contained in this presentation is meant to assist the audience in improving performance of SolidWorks for the purpose of design, analysis, photo-rendering, and other engineering,
design, or related endeavors.
The information and advice published or made available through this presentation is not intended to replace the services of a VAR, nor does it constitute a VAR-User relationship.
The opinions expressed in this presentation are not necessarily the opinions of Computer Aided Technology, or even the person who said it. (There’s no telling what he was smoking.)
Neither presenter, their employing company, nor their spouses are responsible for any negative results that may occur due to use of the techniques. They do however, claim responsibility for all of the
positive results.
Use of the techniques described in this presentation can cause immediate results. The user should employ these techniques with caution until he/she know how they may react to the results.
The user should not drive or operate machinery while utilizing these techniques. Call your VAR if your performance worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that another condition
is causing your performance issues.
Walking, eating, driving or engaging in other activities while asleep without remembering it the next day have been reported. Other abnormal behaviors include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations
and confusion. Those results generally have occurred with our prosophobic test subjects only, so we’re not sure it’s our fault.
Side effects to this presentation may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and a general distaste for a slight southern accent. If you experience chest pain, nausea, or any other discomforts
during this presentation or if this presentation causes an erection lasting more than 4 hours seek immediate medical help.
JA
The model
• No you can’t see it
• It’s big for a 32bit environment
 550
MB directory
 4099
parts
 774
unique part
 340
mates
• Brought to us because performance was lacking
AF
The environments (this is Beaker)
• Dell T3400
• Dell T3400
 32bit
 4GB
 64bit
RAM
 Windows
 Nvidia
 SW
7
Quadro Fx 1700
2010 SP1
 Up
to 16GB RAM
 Windows
 Nvidia
 SW
7
Quadro Fx 1700
2010 SP1
AF
The environments (this is Beaker)
• 2 – 1 TB 7200 RPM HD
• 2 – 64GB Solidstate HD
 Single
 Single
 RAID
 RAID
0
0
• 1 – 1TB HD for OSs
• 1 – 1TB HD for OSs
• 1 – 80GB HD for extra
storage & SWAP
• 1 – 80GB HD for extra
storage & SWAP
AF
The Baseline (Beaker Rev 1.0)
• Files stored in the current version
• Several Add-Ins turned on
• Files stored on the local machine
• RealView graphics on
• 32bit 4GB RAM / Swap set to OS
default
• Image quality set high
• Storage on a single disk
• Significant number of top level mates
• Assembly fully resolved
• OS and User settings set to default
• SW System options set to defaults
• Sub assembly level mates set to rigid
JA
The tests (this is what we did to Beaker)
• Network file storage
• 64bit vs. 32bit
• External references
• Add-Ins
• Verification on rebuild
• Graphics quality
• Software OpenGL
• Detail level in parts
• Swap file options
• Mating methods
• RAM options
• Machine maintenance
• Hard drive options
• System settings (OS)
• LAM and Lightweight
• Optimal setup
• System options (SW)
JA
The tests (this is what we did to Beaker)
• The baseline is as close to the
original model as possible
• 19 Test Groups
• Some test are expected to show
performance improvement
• Each Test performed 3 times (87 test
runs)
• Some test are expected to show
performance detriment
• Average run ~34 minutes
• Our optimal system relates only to
these tests. There are other
enhancements that could be made
that are not covered in this
presentation.
• 29 Tests
• Almost 50hrs of raw test time
AF
What we didn’t test
• 2009 vs. 2010
• Fragmented vs. defragmented hard
drives
• Extraneous apps. running in the
background

iTunes

Google stuff

Weather bug

Playing music

Etc…
• RAID (1)
JA
Files saved in old version
600
500
400
Baseline
300
Test Run 1
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Results

Opens 20% slower costing 62 secs

Closes 24% slower costing 13 secs

Saves 7% slower costing 21 secs

Modeling 7% slower costing 20 secs
Saves
Closes
AF
RAM Comparisons 32bit
600
500
400
32bit 4GB
300
64bit 4GB
64bit 16GB
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Results

This test won’t run with less than 3GB

Windows 7 won’t recognize more than
3GB
Saves
Closes
AF
RAM Comparisons 32bit vs 64bit
600
500
400
32bit 4GB
300
64bit 4GB
64bit 16GB
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Results 64bit 4GB RAM

Rotates 29% faster saving 91 secs

Models 31% faster saving 85 secs

Saves 13% faster saving 38 secs

Closes 60% faster saving 33 secs
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
AF
RAM Comparisons 32bit vs 64bit
600
500
400
32bit 4GB
300
64bit 4GB
64bit 16GB
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Results

Total 12% faster

Saving 4 min 10 secs
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
JA
Verification on Rebuild
800
700
600
500
Off
400
On
300
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Results

Rebuilds 32% slower costing 2 min 50 secs

Closes 15% slower costing 8 secs

Modeling 6% slower costing 18 secs

Opens 2% slower costing 7 secs
Saves
Closes
AF
Reference File Locations
1000
900
800
700
600
500
No Ref Loc
400
30 Ref Locs
300
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching
sheets
Saves
Closes
AF
Reference File Locations
1000
900
800
700
600
500
No Ref Loc
400
30 Ref Locs
300
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Results

Opens 199% slower

Costing 10 min 21 secs

Most everything slower

Total 41% slower

Costing 13min 53 secs
Rebuilds
Switching
sheets
Saves
Closes
JA
Image Quality set low, RealView Graphics turned off
600
500
400
300
High Graphics
Low Graphics
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Results

Opens 6% faster saving 18 secs

Rotates 16% faster saving 51 secs

Saves 5% faster saving 15 secs

Closes 11% faster saving 6 secs

Total 3% faster saving 71 secs
Switching
sheets
Saves
Closes
AF
RAID Comparisons
600
500
400
Baseline(7)
RAID(0)
300
SS Single
SS RAID(0)
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Results

Comparisons made on 64bit
platform
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
AF
RAID Comparisons (RAID 0 7200 RPM)
600
500
400
Baseline(7)
RAID(0)
300
SS Single
SS RAID(0)
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Results

Opens 11% faster

Saving 32 secs

Saved 25% faster

Saving 61 secs
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
AF
RAID Comparisons (Single Solidstate Drive)
600
500
400
Baseline(7)
RAID(0)
300
SS Single
SS RAID(0)
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Results

Opens 11% faster

Saving 32 secs

Saved 52% faster

Saving 126 secs
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
AF
RAID Comparisons (RAID 0 Solidstate)
600
500
400
Baseline(7)
RAID(0)
300
SS Single
SS RAID(0)
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Results

Opens 10% faster

Saving 30 secs

Saved 58% faster

Saving 139 secs
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
JA
LightWeight and LAM on
600
500
400
Off
300
On
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Results

Opens 39% faster saving 121 secs

Rebuilds 92% faster saving 8 min 18 secs

Saves 86% faster saving 4 min 19 secs

Closes 70% faster saving 38 secs

Total 52% faster saving 17 min 33 secs
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
AF
Using Software OpenGL
800
700
600
500
Off
400
On
300
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Results

Rotations 124% slower

Costing 6 min 29 secs
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
JA
SolidWorks system options
600
500
400
Baseline
300
Test Run 20
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Results
Modeling
Rebuilds
System
Options

Rotations 48% faster


Saves

General


Switching sheets
Closes
Assemblies
Off-Show thumbnail graphics in Windows Explorer
Off-Show latest news feeds in Task pane
Colors
Set Background appearance to Plain

On-Use specified color for drawings paper color

On-Use specified colors when editing parts in assemblies
Performance

Off-Both transparency settings

Level of detail set slider to Off

Check out of date lightweight components: Indicate

Resolve lightweight components: Prompt

Rebuild assembly on load: Never

Mate animation speed set slider to Off

Off-Use shaded preview

On-No preview during open


External References

Feature Manager



Saving 2 min 30 secs

On-Use Large Assembly Mode and all of its
options


Load referenced documents: Prompt

Off-Use transparent flyout FeatureManager tree
in parts/assemblies

Off-Zoom to fit when changing to standard views

Transitions-All 3 sliders set to Off
View
Search

Off-Include 3D Content Central results
AF
Assembly Working Location (Network or Local)
900
800
700
600
500
Local
400
Network
300
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Results

Opens 151% slower costing 470 secs

Rotates 80% slower costing 252 secs

Saves 182% slower costing 545 secs

Modeling 70% slower costing 193 secs

Closes 106% slower costing 57 secs
Saves
Closes
AF
Assembly Working Location (Network or Local)
900
800
700
600
500
Local
400
Network
300
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Results

Total 76% slower

costing 25 min 42 secs
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
JA
Purchased and modeled part level of detail
600
500
400
High Detail
300
Low Detail
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Results

Opens 26% faster saving 82 secs

Modeling 34% faster saving 93 secs

Saves 39% faster saving 116 secs

Closes 52% faster saving 28 secs

Total 23% faster saving 7min 48 secs
Saves
Closes
JA
Purchased and modeled part level of detail
The breakdown

Folder Size 10mb

Components 49

Assembly file size 3.4mb
JA
Purchased and modeled part level of detail
The solution

Remove all unnecessary components
(screws, hidden parts, over detailed, etc…)

Save assembly as a part

20 Solid Bodies

File Size 4.5mb
AF
32bit SWAP Comparisons
600
500
400
System
300
2X RAM
Separate HD
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Results

No discernable difference (<1%)
− System Managed
− Twice RAM
− Separate HD
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
AF
64bit SWAP Comparisons
600
500
400
64bit 16GB
1/4GB
300
Twice RAM
Separate HD
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Results

No discernable difference (<1%)
− System Managed
− 1/4GB
− Twice RAM
− Separate HD
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
JA
Flexible Sub Assembly mates
600
500
400
Ridgid
300
Flexible
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Results

Opens 13% slower costing 39 secs

Modeling 99% slower costing 273 secs

Saves 16% slower costing 49 secs

Closes 14% slower costing 8 secs

Total 20% slower costing 6 min 38 secs
Saves
Closes
AF
Tools Add-Ins Turned off
600
500
400
On
300
Off
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
Baseline (Add-Ins On)

Both Toolbox

PhotoWorks

Simulation

Motion

eDrawings
Adding FloWorks and/or SW Explorer
was enough to crash the macro
during operation
AF
Tools Add-Ins Turned off
600
500
400
On
300
Off
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Results

Rotations 36% faster saving 113 secs
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
JA
Number of top level mates
600
500
400
More Mates
300
Fewer Mates
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Results

Opens 5% faster saving 14 secs

Modeling 15% faster saving 43 secs

Saves 16% faster saving 47 secs

Closes 10% faster saving 6 secs

Total 6% faster saving 126 secs
Saves
Closes
AF
OS and User settings set to optimal
AF
OS and User settings set to optimal
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OS and User settings set to optimal
600
500
400
Default
300
Optimal
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Results

Total 3% faster saving 55 secs
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
AF
Grand Finale
JA
Bang for your buck
• Image Quality set low and RealView turned off – 1 min 11 sec
• All Add-Ins turned off – 1 min 53 sec
• RAID (0) Solidstate drives for storage – 2 min 19 sec
• SolidWorks system options set to optimal – 2 min 30 sec
• Moving to a 64bit environment – 4 min 10 sec
• Purchased parts adjusted / detail reduced – 7 min 48 sec
• Large Assembly and Light Weight Modes on – 17 min 33 sec
AF
The optimal setup (Super Beaker)
• 64bit
• RAID (0) Solidstate drives
• Image Quality set low / RealView
turned off
• 8 – 16 GB RAM
• All files stored in the current version
• SWAP file set to 1/4GB
• All files stored locally
• OS and User settings set to optimal
• Reduced top level mates
• Software OpenGL off (Supported
graphics card and driver)
• Purchased and modeled part detail
reduced
• Add-Ins all off
• Top level mates set rigid
• SolidWorks system options set to
optimal
• Not searching for external references
• Verification on rebuild turned off
• Large Assembly and Light Weight
Modes on
JA
Optimal
600
500
400
Baseline
300
Optimal
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Saves
Results

Opens 47% faster

Modeling 66% faster

Saving 146 secs

Saving 181 secs

Rotations 88% faster

Saving 315 secs
Closes
AF
Optimal
600
500
400
Baseline
300
Optimal
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Switching sheets
Saves
Results

Rebuilds 95% faster

Saves 87% faster

Saving 511 secs

Saving 260 secs

Switching sheets 70% faster

Closing 78% faster

Saving 170 secs

Saving 42 secs
Closes
JA
Optimal
600
500
400
Baseline
300
Optimal
200
100
0
Opens
Rotations
Modeling
Rebuilds
Results

Total benchmark 78% faster

Saving 1587 secs
 34
7
min benchmark
min 33 sec optimal
Switching sheets
Saves
Closes
AF
Thank You
Please join us next time for our 64bit exclusive
Questions?
http://www.cati.com/sww10.htm
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