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Solidworks 2005, 2006, and 2007 driver problem 2

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KAASKOP

KAASKOP

Civil/Environmental
Jan 23, 2005
11
I have been working with 2004 a long time now, but since the new versions of solidworks my drivers for my videocard can't work with the newer programs.

I've just used a testversion of 2006 and when it worked wonderfully a week or two ago, now suddenly working with it is an absolute disaster. It is horrendously slow. Every step, like slecting a plane is just slow. Impossible to work with.
Wondering what changed I remembered I installed the official drivers from Ati (7-1_xp_dd_40211.exe) for my Gigabyte Ati 9700 Pro videocard. Before that I had the windows version drivers, which are installed automatically by XP (SP2).
Though rolling back the ati drivers might seem a good solution, I'd like to use the Ati drivers because that makes life easier with other programs. So that is my dillema.

I am desperate for a solution, so I might try my luck here. Hopefully someone can point me to a site, or forumpost I haven't seen or found.

This is the setup:

Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe
2 GB DDR-400 Geil RAM
AMD 2500 + CPU
Gigabyte 9700 Pro GPU

Thanks in advance.
 
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SolidWorks is very sensitive to video cards and drivers -- more so than any other CAD package I have seen. If you use a card and/or driver that's not recommended by SolidWorks, you're eventually going to take a hit in stability (as you have seen first-hand).
 
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I did check the mentioned link, and found out that Radeons do pass the test, but with limitations.
The limiatation only are a limited number of accelerated windows. With 128 Mb of memory that shouldn't be a problem according to their notes.

It is strange windows certified drivers (included with SP2 I guess) does not cause those problems, but tested Catalyst drivers (latest is 6.4, which I have installed) does has the slow/freeze/ problem.

Certified cards are out of my league, financially speaking. So I would love to hear $100 suggestions.
Remember that both Ati and Nvidia make todays-budget cards out of old GPU's, older than my 9700 pro. I do not wish to downgrade visual performance for better stability and workability solely for Solidworks.
 
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BTW, my search did came up with something:


Since most of the tips tend to go into the direction of the resource usage and optimalization, it is perhaps more helpful to others.
My XP is a slender streamlined version. I especially select all my programs (which I keep to a bare minimum) on their resource usage (and being open source). I'm quite confident it is not a resourse issue, since SW2006 did work with the pre-installed windows 9700 pro drivers (not Ati Catalyst drivers).
 
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They list only a portion of the problems, but even if you use a VC in the yellow you are limiting yourself. The yellow is still not recommended and its common knowledge using a VC that is not certified in "[green]GREEN[/green]" you are going to have more issues then what they have listed to you. You are going to have:

1) Slow downs
2) Crashing (instabilty)
3) VC graphically errors (black streaks or color crossing)

So if you choose to continue to use that VC then you can't complain about the problem with it, because that just part of using an uncertified VC.

If might have worked with a older Version of SW, but as you upgrade your hardware is getting hit harder and your VC can't handle it... I don't care how much it cost or how good it will run a game... because the OpenGL is different and this is way your VC will not run SW06 or later.

Scott Baugh, CSWP [pc2]
faq731-376
 
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You should be able to get the version of the driver that SW used in their testing where the card passed with limitations. I think that they are linked from the page with the test results. You might have better luck with that.

Eric
 
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I wasn't complaning Scott, just here looking for help, your words might have worked if they weren't so ...paternalistic. I'm looking for a solution, not a fatherly speech which doesn't help me a bit.

I just can't afford a certified card, I wish I could. I have to do it with a reasonably priced "consumer" card (AGP, mind you), perhaps there is a card there which costs between 100 and 120 USD and readily available or second hand.
I wouldn't mind an occasional crash or something that photoshop can't fix, as long as it is workable, without the problems mentioned in my first post.

I tried the older drivers EEnd, but the problem mentioned above persisted. I think it is strange that Microsoft drivers work better (much better) than the ones from the vendor of the card (In this particular case, Ati).

 
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Thats a nice idea Cor. You think it might work?
 
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rogerius ...
I didn't interpret Scott's reply as being paternalistic, but then I have "known" him in these fora for a few years. You have only logged in to these fora 13 times in just over 2 years, so you are relatively new to them. I suggest you get to know how the people here respond and don't jump to conclusions and misinterpret their replies. Most people are here to help because they like to help, or want to learn or both. Usually you will know beyond a shadow of doubt when a post is "talking down" to you.

If you check out "Full List" option in the MVP section to the right of the screen you will see that Scott has been extremely helpful over the years. He would not be at the top of the list if he was unhelpful.


Check ebay for some relatively inexpensive deals on certified cards.

[cheers]
SW07-SP3.1
SW06-SP5.1
 
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Well then, my sincere apologises to Scott. I might have misinterpretted his reply as not being helpful, because I didn't find the answers I was hoping for. And thats not very wise of me.

I guess I have to revert back to 2004 or the Windows drivers, or perhaps my school can help.

Thanks for the advise.
 
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If you have to run a consumer grade card, I recommend the nvidia cards over the ATI. They seem to have less issue base on the buzz around the net. I have a Geforce 6800GT AGP (about $200)....everthing seems to work fine in 2006 and 2007....no Realview but it screams on everything else.

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
UG NX4.01.0 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2007 SP3.1 on WinXP SP2

 
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Related to this, I've run into some issues with a very large animation (small assembly, but large image size and fps) and noticed that my driver is not the one listed by Solidworks for my card (6.14.10.7756) but 9.1.3.6, one with a slightly later release date. Should I roll it back to the older driver that Solidworks lists?
 
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SilasH,

That depends on the issues you're seeing and whether or not you're going to get your VAR involved for technical support.

If you do get someone involved to troubleshoot your video issues, the first thing that will be investigated is your video card. Assuming the card itself is certified, the next thing looked at will be the driver. As you're not using the certified driver, a request will probably be made that you install the certified driver to see if the later driver is the problem.

If you can work around the issues you're having, it's totally your call on going back to the certified (older) driver.
 
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Enable "Use Software OpenGL"

You'll lose a little performance, but SolidWorks should work just fine.

Have SolidWorks open, but no documents loaded.

Select "Tools>Options>Performance" Check "Use Software OpenGL" at the bottom of the Performance page.

Otherwise, the nVidia Quadro FX 550 and 560 or the ATI FireGL v3300, v3350 and v3400 all sell for under $300 and are certified for SolidWorks 2008 (not just 2007)
 
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I tried that, but the option "Use Software OpenGL" is greyed out.

I've taken a look on ebay, but most sellers only ship to US or North America. Since I'm residing in Europe it is a bit of a problem ot find those cards, even on local secondhad sites.

Nvidia does seem to be the better choice above Ati if you have to opt for consumer cardsk, at least that is what is said here and in other forums.

Thanks
 
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If you Software OpenGL option is grayed out when you have no files at all open, that means that your VC is not being used at all in SW (CPU is doing all the Video processesing), and in turn means your VC is not compatiable.

Good luck finding a good VC that is affordable... not being sarcastic, just telling you Good luck!

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP [pc2]
faq731-376
 
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Following on Scott's reply....

If the Enable Software OpenGL is grayed out AND checked, then it is already running in SW emulation mode. If it is grayed out and unchecked, it means you have SolidWorks files open.

You must close all SolidWorks files before changing this setting.
 
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