Graphic card for Mastercam and Solidworks

[Richard54]

What graphic card will you recommend for MastercamX4 and Solidworks.

 

[Hardlin]

From the information I can find, you want a strong OpenGL card for those two applications. I found this thread on the SolidWorks site that may be relevant to your question: https://forum.solidworks.com/message/217004#217004

 

[Richard54]

Thanks Hardlin. I do not know much about computers. I spoke to computer salesman and told him what I want. He offered me
1Gb ASUS hd5450 and I think ...integrated. I am not shure if this graphic card will be sutable? 1Gb looks strong but how to find if it is OpenGL?

 

[Hardlin]

That's a fairly low end card (it can do OpenGL if I remember correctly). I guess it really depends on what you are doing in the applications as to how powerful of a video card you need. Look for a 6850 or something like that instead of the 5450,

 

[wwswimming]

I suggest an inexpensive card that is known to be stable. That rules out the FireGL & Quadro, for those cards the manufacturers cost extra for driver stability.

There is another way to obtain driver stability - be patient, use a card that has been out for at least a year. For example, the 5770.

Also, to test it using Mastercam & Solidworks during the time period of the return policy - so you can return it if need be.

 

[96Firebird]

How much are you looking to spend?

 

[Richard54]

Thanks all. I would like to spend as little as posible but spending less and be unsatisfied is not wise too.
How much roughly are strong OpenGL cards?

 

[nenforcer]

Specifically for those 2 software programs I would recommend a professional workstation graphics card

The first entry level card from nVidia I would recommend is the Quadro 600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133354

for $170. Unfortunately it only has GDDR3 memory which is outdated and the Quadro 2000

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133353

costs $450 or $400 after mail-in rebate.

If you want to go the ATI route choose between the FirePro V5700, V5800 or V5900 in these price brackets.


ATI FirePro V5700 - $325
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814195074

ATI FirePro V5800 - $379
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814195097

ATI FirePro V5900- $599
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814195106

The catch is that both Nvidia cards support OpenGL 4.1 and DirectX 11 while only the ATI FirePro V5900 supports the latest OpenGL 4.1 and DirectX 11. The V5800 supports OpenGL 3.2 and DirectX 11 and the FireGL V5700 supports the older OpenGL 3.2 and DirectX 10.1.

 

[Howard]

My work PC uses a Quadro FX 560, I think. It's either the 560 or the 580... works out well enough, anyway.

Also, AFAIK Mastercam shouldn't be graphics intensive at all.