SOLIDWORKS 2025 System Requirements
Hardware specifications for minimum, recommended, and high-performance configurations.
Overview
SOLIDWORKS 2025 requires a 64-bit Windows system with a certified graphics card. The specifications below cover three tiers — from basic part modelling to heavy simulation and rendering workloads.
An internet connection is required for licence activation and periodic validation. SOLIDWORKS does not run on macOS or Linux natively.
Hardware Requirements
- cpu
- Intel / AMD, SSE2 support
- ram
- 16 GB
- gpu
- Certified OpenGL — NVIDIA T400 or equivalent
- storage
- 20 GB free on SSD
- os
- Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)
- display
- 1920 × 1080
- cpu
- Intel Core i7-13700 / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- ram
- 32 GB DDR5
- gpu
- NVIDIA RTX A2000 / AMD Radeon Pro W6600
- storage
- 512 GB NVMe SSD
- os
- Windows 11 (64-bit)
- display
- 2560 × 1440 (dual monitor)
- cpu
- Intel Xeon w5-3435X / AMD Threadripper PRO
- ram
- 64 GB+ DDR5 ECC
- gpu
- NVIDIA RTX A5000 / RTX 5000 Ada
- storage
- 1 TB+ NVMe SSD
- os
- Windows 11 Pro (64-bit)
- display
- 3840 × 2160 (4K)
Certified Graphics Cards
SOLIDWORKS certifies specific GPU models each year. Using a certified card ensures stable, artefact-free performance.
Performance by Use Case
| Workload | CPU | RAM | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small parts & simple assemblies< 100 components | Core i5 / Ryzen 5 | 16 GB | Entry-level certified |
| Medium assemblies100–1,000 components | Core i7 / Ryzen 7 | 32 GB | Mid-range certified |
| Large assemblies1,000+ components | Xeon / Threadripper | 64 GB+ | High-end certified |
| Simulation & RenderingFEA / CFD / Visualize | Multi-core Xeon | 64 GB+ | RTX A4000+ |
Laptop vs Desktop
Desktop Workstation
- Best price-to-performance ratio
- Easier to upgrade RAM, GPU, storage
- Better thermal headroom for sustained loads
- Recommended for: simulation, large assemblies, rendering
Mobile Workstation
- Portability for site visits and client demos
- Look for certified mobile GPUs (RTX A-series)
- Minimum 15.6" display, 1080p or higher
- Recommended for: on-site work, design reviews, training
Requirements by Package
Simulation and Visualize modules have higher demands than the core CAD modeller.
| Package | RAM | GPU | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 16 GB | Entry-level certified | Core modelling only |
| Professional | 32 GB | Mid-range certified | eDrawings, routing, costing |
| Premium | 64 GB+ | High-end certified | Simulation, flow, tolerances |
Performance Optimization Tips
Use the manufacturer's certified driver — not Windows Update auto-installs. Check the SOLIDWORKS certification page quarterly.
Turn off transparency, animations, and shadows in Windows Performance Options. This frees GPU resources for SOLIDWORKS.
Open components in Lightweight or Large Assembly Mode. This dramatically reduces RAM and GPU load.
File open/save and rebuild times are directly tied to storage speed. Never work from network drives for active projects.
Reduce anti-aliasing quality and disable RealView graphics when working with assemblies above 500 components.
Frequently Asked Questions
You need a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 system with at least 16 GB RAM, a certified OpenGL graphics card, and 20 GB of free SSD storage. An SSE2-capable Intel or AMD processor is required.
Gaming GPUs (GeForce, Radeon RX) may work but are not certified. You may experience graphical artefacts, driver conflicts, and instability in large assemblies. For production work, certified Quadro/RTX Pro or Radeon Pro cards are strongly recommended.
For assemblies with 1,000+ components, 64 GB RAM is recommended. Medium assemblies (100–1,000 parts) work well with 32 GB. Simulation workloads benefit from 64 GB or more regardless of assembly size.
SOLIDWORKS does not run natively on macOS. Intel Mac users can use Boot Camp to run Windows. For Apple Silicon Macs, virtual machine options like Parallels exist but are not officially supported. We recommend a Windows workstation for production use.
Yes, SOLIDWORKS supports VMware, Citrix, and Hyper-V environments. GPU pass-through is required for acceptable performance. Contact us for guidance on configuring VDI setups for your team.
Need Help Choosing Hardware?
Our engineers can recommend workstation configurations matched to your team's specific workflows and budget.