Picking a CPU for Solidworks
Picking a CPU for Solidworks
Hello, I am new to the forum and i am trying to find the best cpu to use in building a rig for running solidworks. There are a couple threads designated to a whole build, but I really want to figure out soully the cpu. From my research, Solidworks is a CPU intensive program and runs mainly single thread loads. It usually gets preformance boosts from clock spead and number of available cores. Quite a few articles recommend intel 13-14th gen i7 and i9 processors, but with the recent frying problem, I am reluctant to go with those. There are also some recommendations for the ultra series, but i have heard some mixed feed back on whether they are worth it. The thing that has surprised me the most is that AMD has really not been mentioned in any articels. Some more personal twists to the hunt. I am a mechanical engineering student so i can't blow thousands of dollars on a high end Xeon chip. Id like to find a chip around 500 usd or less. If its over no worries. I am more than willing to wait and find a good deal. I also do enjoy gaming in my free time, but free time is hard to come by in my degree. So gaming is definitly not top priorety. So in summary, I'd like ideas or recommendations on cpu's that would work well for this application.
Top picks for Intel Core Ultra workstations tailored for SolidWorks. List includes CPU, motherboard, and other components with pricing that covers shipping and taxes. Selected based on optimal parameters as of September 8, 2025.
ECC RAM isn’t worth the investment unless you’re working on complex simulations like finite element analysis or fluid dynamics. For most students, it adds little value. Instead, prioritize a strong GPU with ample VRAM—8GB is a good start, more helps prevent crashes during detailed modeling. ECC shines only when every part of your setup supports it, reducing errors in long runs. The right hardware can be costly, so unless you plan FEA/CFD work, focus on a fast CPU with solid single-core performance. For future projects, aim for the top AMD multicore processor you can afford to speed up repetitive calculations.
Thanks for the update. I'm getting comfortable with FEA, especially Ansys, though you mentioned ECC RAM is a good point. I think it would be helpful if it were available, and if I find deals, I'd definitely consider it. From what I've read, it seems more of a convenience than a must-have. I'll check the recommendations and see.
There are specific reasons behind this, especially before recent updates in SolidWorks. Until fairly recently, Intel processors significantly outperformed AMD ones. For instance, an i9-12900K is roughly twice as fast as a Ryzen 9 7950X when it comes to CPU performance (the benchmark you should focus on if you're doing complex work in SolidWorks). However, with the latest versions of SolidWorks, using an AMD processor is still acceptable, and the performance gap has been reduced.