SOLIDWORKS 2024 System Requirements and Recommendations (Updated)
Did you know? Every year, SOLIDWORKS comes out with a new release which includes numerous enhancements and new features? The SOLIDWORKS development team works hard to enhance the performance of SOLIDWORKS each year to help you improve productivity by working smarter, faster, and together with industry-leading product development tools.
It is beyond dispute that SOLIDWORKS is a powerful 3D CAD software for engineers and designers across industry. However, with new advanced capabilities emerging each year, you might be wondering what is the relevant hardware and SOLIDWORKS system requirement to work on its best efficiency?
Let us get rid of those doubts and worries. In IME, we never want you to get left behind! We provide the best and up-to-date guidelines in finding the right system requirements, updated for SOLIDWORKS 2024.
Software Requirement
1. Operating Systems
The operating system is the most dominant specification of a computer. SOLIDWORKS 2023 is supported for Windows 10 and Windows 11, 64-bit. A refreshing update, as SOLIDWORKS only started to support Windows 11 for version 2022 SP02.
2. Server Products
For those using SOLIDWORKS network licenses or PDM, you may use Windows Server 2022 or Windows Server 2019. Windows Server 2016 is still supported in SOLIDWORKS 2023, but this will be the end of life for this release.
3. Microsoft Office
SOLIDWORKS uses Microsoft Excel and Word for quite a number of features such as Bills of Materials, Design Tables, and Simulation Reports.
It is most recommended to use Microsoft Office 2021 for Excel and Word. SOLIDWORKS 2024 still supports Microsoft 2016 and 2019. However, this will be the end of life for both of these versions.
4. Microsoft SQL
Microsoft SQL is one of the most often overlooked items for hardware considerations when in fact, it is an important requirement especially if you are using SOLIDWORKS Electrical or PDM.
SOLIDWORKS 2023 supports Microsoft SQL 2022, 2019, 2017, and 2016.
Hardware
Hardware requirement for SOLIDWORKS 2024 is much more straightforward. You will need a 64-bit Processor, a minimum of 16GB RAM, and make sure that your graphic cards and graphic card drivers are both certified. SSD drives are also recommended for optimal performance.
To put things into perspective, let us summarize all the above information in the table below. We also include requirements from SOLIDWORKS 2022 for comparison.
| SOLIDWORKS 2022 | SOLIDWORKS 2024 | ||
| Software | Operating Systems | √ Windows 11, 64-bit (SP2) √ Windows 10, 64-bit | √ Windows 11, 64-bit √ Windows 10, 64-bit |
| Server Products | √ Windows Server 2022 (SP4) √ Windows Server 2019 √ Windows Server 2016 | √ Windows Server 2022 √ Windows Server 2019 √ Windows Server 2016 (End of Life) | |
| Microsoft Office | √ 2021 (SP2) √ 2019 √ 2016 | √ 2021 √ 2019 (End of Life) √ 2016 (End of Life | |
| Microsoft SQL | √ SQL 2019 CU4 √ SQL 2017 √ SQL 2016 | √ SQL 2022 (SP2) √ SQL 2019 CU4 √ SQL 2017 √ SQL 2016 (End of Life) | |
| Hardware | Processor | 64-bit | |
| RAM | 16 GB minimum | ||
| Graphics | Certified cards and drivers | ||
| Drives | SSD (recommended) | ||
Still uncertain on whether your computer has what is takes? Drop us a chat at +6019-269 2054 or email us at swsupport@cadcam.com.my. Our technical support team is always ready and happy to help you find the best hardware or check your current hardware’s compatibility.
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-Eka Darwin, Senior Application Engineer, IME Technology Sdn Bhd.