Configuring a Workstation for SOLIDWORKS 2026

Each year, the APDRC takes a look at the most recent update of Dassault Systèmes’ SOLIDWORKS, and speaks with the team at GoEngineer for recommendations for optimizing engineering workstations for the latest release. According to Dassault, key enhancements this year include enhanced large assembly features; improved part features (including streamlined physical product creation, faster sketching, and simpler flange start and end point definition in sheet metal); drawing stamping with user attributes; improved user interface features, and more. The new release also features generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to accelerate drawing, detailing, and assembly creation, and an integrated AI virtual companion.

SOLIDWORKS performance can be improved and optimized by using a correctly configured, professional engineering workstation, like those in the Dell Pro Max workstation line, equipped with NVIDIA RTX PRO GPUs. Bryan Pawlak, Senior Application Engineer, Strategic Solutions, at GoEngineer, spoke with us to discuss hardware configuration recommendations for the latest release. 

What GPUs would you recommend for typical SOLIDWORKS 2026 workflows?

We recommend the NVIDIA RTX PRO 2000– 4000 Blackwell GPUs. The 2000 series is a very good GPU for most engineers.

What do you typically recommend for SOLIDWORKS users when it comes to CPUs? 

Clock-speed is king. We want the fastest boost-speed (this is the fastest potential the chip can reach). The fastest chip we are currently using is Intel Ultra 9 285K CPU.

What workflows are best suited to those higher core count CPUs?

Simulation products are more multi-threaded, but they vary based on the different solvers.

How much RAM do users need?

We recommend 32GB to 64GB of RAM. Most users are fine with 32GB, but we tend to go to 64GB with the extremely large assemblies. Many customers are increasing RAM to 64GB to have a buffer.

What are the best options for working with large assemblies remotely/from home?

We get the best performance working locally. Pulling files over a VPN connection is slow. Users that have SOLIDWORKS PDM can check out all the files before leaving the office and work in offline mode to block the need to contact the server. The 3DExperience tools are accessed over the internet and can avoid VPN connection issues.

Are there any new features related to large assemblies that may influence hardware selection?   

There are not any specific functions that have changed how we select hardware.

What are some other tweaks or changes to SOLIDWORKS settings in the latest release that can improve performance?

The most important setting I see affecting performance with large assemblies is the Large Assembly Mode. Many users have turned this off because they did not like the files loading lightweight and manually having to resolve the files to work on them. Users can lose as much as 40-50% efficiency by turning this setting off. SOLIDWORKS has changed the way this function works. It will not automatically resolve the components as users drill down in the feature manager. This makes it much more seamless and easier to use. I recommend that users that have turned this off in the past go give it another look.

SOLIDWORKS has incorporated AI functionality. Will this impact workstation configurations for end users?

SOLIDWORKS has added and will be adding new AI capabilities. The 2026 release introduced the automatic recognition of fastener shaped objects, and will mate them just by dragging them to the correct location in the assembly. There is a system option to enable this function.  

New laptops such as the Dell Pro Max series now contain dedicated NPU (neural processing unit) processing. This will process the AI data without using the CPU or GPU resources. SOLIDWORKS tools do not appear to use this function yet, but that could change as more tools are added.

You can learn more about SOLIDWORKS 2026 here.

If you are attending the upcoming 3DEXPERIENCE World event in Houston (Feb. 1-4), visit NVIDIA and Dell at Booth #210. In addition, Dell, NVIDIA, GoEngineer and PUSH Industries will present a session on Wed. Feb. 4 at 8:30 am titled “Supercharging Design, Simulation, and AI with Accelerated Computing.” NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang will participate in the keynote presentation on Tues., Feb. 3.