SW06 + XP64 + Large Assembly = super slow perf.

[4761]

I just purchased a new machine (Xi Computer Corp, Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4600+, 2 Gb RAM, nVida Quadro FX 1400, WinXP64) and installed SoildWorks '06.

I have been working with a large assembly (600+ components, although not that large size-wise: 5Mb). I have noticed that SW bogs down when I do any editing of the assembly (i.e. it locks up for 1 min or so for any particular command). I have a number of linear component patterns in the assembly--a friend told me that perhaps this is slowing the assembly down so much.

Anyone have any suggestions? I've tried messing with the image quality settings in SW as well as virtual memory settings--all to no avail. Any experience with liner component patterns slowing an assembly down?

Thanks, josh

 

[SBaugh]

Do you have the right driver for you video Card? - See FAQ section on help with this.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[Heckler]

Also check the links out in this thread thread559-131402

What are your systems details:

Processor:
RAM:
Video Card:

Best Regards,

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 5.0 & Pro/E 2001
Dell Precision 370
P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
XP Pro SP2.0
NIVIDA Quadro FX 1400
o
_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get me.

- Woody Allen

 

[4761]

Scott: Yup, I have the up-to-date driver for this video card (I cross-checked it with the SW website).

Heckler: System details in bulleted form:

* Processor: Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4600+,
* RAM: 2 Gb RAM,
* Video: nVida Quadro FX 1400,
* OS: WinXP64

SW06 is not slow with other assemblies that are slightly smaller--just this one file. That's why I was inquiring about patterns slowing a model/assembly down.

 

[MadMango]

Linear Patterns should speed things up, not slow you down.

[green]"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."[/green]
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[Theophilus]

Do you have any in-context features within the assembly--especially a cavity or copied surface? This sounds like it could be a SW issue and not hardware, given that this particular assembly file is the troublesome one.


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[sworks]

Working locally on your hard drive or are you opening these files off a network drive? No matter how fast your network is, it's always faster to work locally. I had a case of 4600 components in an assembly that took 6-7 minutes to open over the network, took 35 seconds to open once we moved the files to the local hard drive. Our IT guy was even amazed, which rarely happens.

 

[rporter]

4761

IMO microsoft and the hardware venders have yet to get up to speed with the 64 bit version of windows. I'm not sure that they have all the drivers right for all this yet.

 

[kellnerp]

I think he is running in 32 bit mode.

I ran into similar slowdowns during testing. I also run on a AMD 64 FX53. In the end they were attributable to problems in the assembly itself. The AMD allowed me to actually get in a fix this stuff where my associate's Pentium 3.2GHz machine layed down and died. I had to clean up ALL mating problems and remove all fasteners.

SW is still slow with large assemblies. Unless you can compare your new system to a comparable Intel box it is more likely the slowdown is in the assembly not the computer.

 

[4761]

Kellnerp--

I'm guessing that my problem isn't the computer, too (well, perhaps some bug with XP64. . .), and more likely in SW06. I think I'll reinstall SW05 for the time being and see if that changes anything. I'm also going to try rebuilding my assembly from scratch (a lot of work!) in order to eliminate any unnecessary data.

thanks, josh

 

[SBaugh]

YOu should convert your files over to SW06 first and see if that runs them faster.... Of course make a copy so if you want to go back you can.

REgards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[Spurs]

I have seen similar problems as Josh, when the files contain swept helical surfaces like helical gears. A single file can take what seems to be a minute or more to update (depending on the number of teeth)

A single file like that may be 40 or 50- meg. I wish i knew a quicker way too.

 

[SBaugh]

Don't make super complex files, that will help.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[Standing]

Josh,
Run an “assembly statistics” (after you convert a copy to 2006) on your assembly. How many “Number of top level mates:” do you have? If over 300 try this: Put your assembly into another assembly and then open the new assembly. I would think that the new assembly opens in seconds. Our VAR told us not to have over 300 mates per assembly to make it fast.


Bradley