Did you know that in SOLIDWORKS 2016 you can now opt in for a Simulation performance test? This optional test is available for the first time in version 2016 as part of the SOLIDWORKS Rx Performance Benchmark Test.

How to run the Simulation Performance Benchmark test?

Please note that you must first install the full version of the SOLIDWORKS Simulation product and also have one of the following licenses available on your computer to complete this test:

• SOLIDWORKS Premium
• SOLIDWORKS Simulation Standard
• SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional
• SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium

If you are ready to give your hardware a good workout, do the following:

1. Close all applications and reboot your computer.
2. Before you open any applications, in the Windows Start menu search box, start typing ‘SOLIDWORKS Performance Test 2016’ and click on it once your system finds the program.
3. In the SOLIDWORKS Performance Test dialog box, read the instructions and click on ‘Start Benchmark’.
4. Enable the ‘Simulation (May add ## minutes to run the benchmark)’ checkbox in the next dialog then click on ‘Start’

Then sit back and wait as your machine performs the various tests you requested. Behind the scenes, the software will mesh and run a static study of a piping assembly.

The model consists of solid bodies joined by bolt connectors (with no penetration contacts) and is subjected to internal pressure. There are approximately 15,000 high quality (second order) mesh elements created by the Standard Mesher. The benchmark test measures the amount of time your computer takes to mesh and fully solve the study. Your Simulation performance benchmark result is an average of five identical passes.

You can even see how your system compares to others by going to http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/shareyourscore.htm.

So how good is your system for Simulation?

Based on the 533 benchmark tests on the web site that include Simulation scores at the time of writing, your system is better than the average system if it shows 70 sec or less.

As you can see below, the distribution shows a nice bell curve. Note that the most common solution time is around 64 sec.

Originally posted in the SOLIDWORKS Tech Blog.