¶ How to Install Solidworks
¶ 1. Introduction
The goal of this Wiki article is to go through the steps needed to install SolidWorks for new and recurring ERT members on their PC/laptop.
Note that this procedure must be updated by the responsible SE everytime a new licence batch is granted to the ERT.
¶ 2. How to Install Solidworks
Follow this procedure to install SW.
- Installation procedure Follow the detailed instructions on this page to install the Solidworks license
Congrats !!! You now have Solidworks installed.
You should not attempt to uninstall SW products unless moving to the next version. Bad things happen...
¶ 3. System Requirements and Settings
If your PC is a potato, head first to the System options on the top of your screen and set everything to low. I however recommend to keep your screen resolution as high as possible (except for SW-visualise). SW is CPU intensive and more pixels means more of a part displayed on your screen by your GPU)
Do NOT not get a gaming GPU just for SW. Any GPU is better than no GPU so if you find a CHF 50 deal, the extra display output might be welcome.
If you really want a gpu, and old Quadro from Nvidia will do the job just fine for most people. On the newer side of things, I'd recommend a second hand Quadro P600 or T400. In bonus, you'll even get RealView working
Another thing you want to do is disable add-ins that start up with SW.
- Click the down arrow next to the search field on the top right of the window.
- Select
Commands - Search
Add-Ins... - in the new window, unselect any Add-in you will not use every time you start up SW (which means every single ones (simulation, composer, toolbox, ...))
Now when you want to use any of these module, you will need to click on them in the Solidworks Add-Ins tab in the main window.
This operation will make the start up of SW much faster.