How much RAM is optimum for Solidworks when designing free form complex parts when using a mix of surfacing and solids? I don't do many assemblies over 25-50 parts. Some of my parts start as imported surfaces from laser scans, which tend to lead to larger file sizes and cause more problems.
I don't get any out of memory errors, but do get some slow rebuild times, which may be due to my modeling technique at times.
I currently run
XP Pro x64 ver 2003 SP2
Dell Precision T7500
Intel Xeon CPU
E5530 @ 2.4 Ghz
6.00 GB of RAM
Nvidia Quardro FX 3800
Solidworks 2010 SP4.0 (should be upgrading to 2011 withing a few months)
I actually have two video cards installed, but I think I really only am utilizing just one of them. (apparantly a Dell error, and they installed 2)
I will be soon adding a second monitor but have not thought too much about how best to incorporate that yet.
I know when I got this machine a couple years ago, the VAR told my IT that it would be "suitable" for running solidworks, but I don't know how optimum it is without going all out spending \$\$.
Any specific suggestions on where I am lacking or where to make the next upgrade?
Thanks!
SolidworksAdministration