Basic System

Consider creating exemptions for SOLIDWORKS file types and folder locations to improve SOLIDWORKS file based runtime performance such as File Open/Save/Save As and PDM Vault Checkin/Checkout. If you encounter install or runtime errors or warnings from your antivirus product, first check the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base for known issues or contact. Each computer running SOLIDWORKS Visualize or SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost must meet these requirements: Windows ® 7 or Windows ® 10 (64-bit) Minimum: Dual core CPU. Recommendation: Quad core. Minimum: 8GB RAM. Recommendation: 16GB. Search 'Prerequisites and System Requirements' in the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base. Provide feedback on this topic SOLIDWORKS welcomes your feedback concerning the presentation, accuracy, and thoroughness of the documentation. Minimum hardware requirements for SOLIDWORKS 2019: The minimum requirements can be found on the SOLIDWORKS System Requirements website. Video: A certified OpenGL workstation graphics card and driver. For a listing of tested and certified graphics cards and driver, combinations visit the SOLIDWORKS System/Graphics Card Requirements Website. View the SOLIDWORKS 2015 System Requirements SOLIDWORKS 2013 System Requirements. We get a lot of support inquiries dealing with what kind of PC is the best to run Solidworks. Here are a few tips from the MCAD tech staff on selecting your next SOLIDWORKS system. Operating System. Windows 7 Professional x64 – recommended and preferred.

Processor: 3.3GHz or faster, Intel® Core i5, i7 or equivalent AMD®
Operating System : Windows® 10 and 7 (2020 is the last year for Windows 7 support)
Memory: 8GB or more is required
Hard Drive: Standard or Solid State Drive (SSD) > 250GB, keeping 10% drive capacity free space
Graphics Cards: NVIDIA® Quadro® P2200

System for simple parts, small assemblies (200 or fewer components), and drawings.
This system will support part and assembly simulations including linear statics, thermal, frequency, fatigue, and optimization. Gap and contact simulations will run on small assemblies that contain simple components.
This system will also support simple flow simulations.

Intermediate System

Processor: 3.3GHz or faster, Intel® Core i7, Xeon or equivalent AMD®
Operating System : Windows® 10 and 7 (2020 is the last year for Windows 7 support)
Memory : 16GB or more as required
Hard Drive: Solid State Drive (SSD) > 250GB, keeping 10% drive capacity free space
Graphics Cards: NVIDIA® Quadro® RTX 4000

System for complex parts with advanced shapes, large patterns, shells, 200+ features.
This system is also for assemblies containing 200-1000 components and drawings.
This system will support part and assembly simulations including non-linear, dynamics, random vibrations along with moderate gaps and contacts.
This system will also support moderate flow simulations.

Advanced System

Processor: 3.3GHz or faster, Intel® Core i7, Xeon or equivalent AMD®
Operating System : Windows® 10 and 7 (2020 is the last year for Windows 7 support)
Memory: 32GB or more as required
Hard Drive: Solid State Drive (SSD) > 250GB, keeping 10% drive capacity free space
Graphics Cards: NVIDIA® Quadro® RTX 5000, RTX 6000, RTX 8000

System for very complex parts with advanced surfacing features or hybrid modeling.
This system is also for assemblies containing 1000 – 200,000 components.
This system will support large complex analysis and large flow simulations.

Minimum hardware requirements for SOLIDWORKS 2020:

The minimum requirements can be found on the SOLIDWORKS System Requirements website .

Video:

A recommended OpenGL workstation graphics card and driver.
For a listing of recommended graphics cards and driver combinations visit the SOLIDWORKS System/Graphics Card Requirements Website.
https://www.solidworks.com/support/hardware-certification

CPU:

Intel® or AMD® with SSE2 support. A 64-bit operating system required.
SOLIDWORKS can be made to run on Apple Mac® based machines running under Parallels or BootCamp. It is not a recommended hardware configuration.
http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/11168_ENU_HTML.htm
NOTE: Non-server products are only supported in the Parallels environment.
eDrawings® is supported on Apple Macintosh®-based machines.

Other:

Mouse or another pointing device.
DVD drive or broadband internet connection
Microsoft Excel 2013, 2016, or 2019
Internet Explorer version 11 or Microsoft Edge
Anti-Virus ( http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/AntiVirus_SW.html )

Network:

SOLIDWORKS is tested only with Microsoft’s Windows Networking and Active Directory network environments.
Novell networks and non-Windows based network storage devices are not supported.

OS:

Window 10® (SOLIDWORKS 2015 SP5+) Note: Windows Home, Small Business, and To Go editions are not supported.
Windows 7® 64-bit professional or greater editions only (2020 is the last year for Windows 7 support)

SNL Server Requirements:

Windows 7®, 10®
Windows Server 2016®, 2019®
Virtual servers are supported for SNL only for the ones listed here ( http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/11168_ENU_HTML.htm ).

PDM Professional, Standard:

Cyberlink powerdvd 16 offline activation. The system requirements for PDM can be found here, https://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/SystemRequirements.html

Solidworks Minimum Requirements 2019

End of Life Product Info

These requirements apply to all SOLIDWORKS products except where noted. Use this information to ensure you are always working with a SOLIDWORKS-supported and optimized system for hardware, operating system and Microsoft products.

Operating Systems

SOLIDWORKS 2019 (EDU 2019-2020)	SOLIDWORKS 2020 (EDU 2020-2021)	SOLIDWORKS 2021 (EDU 2021-2022)
Client Products (e.g. SOLIDWORKS)
Windows 10, 64-bit
Windows 7 SP1, 64-bit
Server Products (e.g. SOLIDWORKS PDM)
Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2012 R2
eDrawings for Mac
macOS Catalina (10.15)
macOS Mojave (10.14)
macOS High Sierra (10.13)
macOS Sierra (10.12)

Solidworks Minimum Requirements 2018

Microsoft SQL and Office

SOLIDWORKS 2019 (EDU 2019-2020)	SOLIDWORKS 2020 (EDU 2020-2021)	SOLIDWORKS 2021 (EDU 2021-2022)
MS SQL
SQL 2019
SQL 2017
SQL 2016
SQL 2014	SQL 2014 SP3 required	SQL 2014 SP3 required (End of Life: SW2021 SP5)
Microsoft Excel and Word	2013, 2016, 2019 (SW2019