The system requirements for 32-bit AutoCAD:
- Intel® Pentium® 4 processor, 2.2 GHz Recommended
- Microsoft® Windows Vista™, Windows® XP Home and Professional (SP2), Windows® 2000 (SP4)
- 512 MB RAM
- 750 MB free disk space for installation
- 1024×768 VGA with True Color
- Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 6.0 (SP1 or higher)
- Available on CD (Worldwide) and DVD (select countries and languages)
Additional System Requirements for 64-bit AutoCAD
- Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Vista 64-bit
- AMD64 or Intel EM64T processor
- 1GB RAM, 2GB for Windows Vista 64-bit
- 750 MB free disk space for installation
AutoCAD 64-bit cannot be installed on a 32-bit Windows Operating System.
The System requirements for Windows Vista or 3D modeling (32 and 64-bit AutoCAD)
- Intel® 3.0 GHz or greater
- 2 GB RAM or greater
- 2 GB free hard disk available not including installation
- 1280 x 1024 32-bit color video display adapter (True Color) 128 MB or greater, OpenGL®, or Direct3D® capable workstation class graphics card.
- For Windows Vista, a Direct3D capable workstation class graphics card with 128 MB or greater is required.
Hi,
I am about to start studying electromechanical engineering & I’m in the market for a laptop that Autocad 2008 & 2009 would efficienlty work on, 2D & 3D.
My question is: which one of these 2 laptops should I buy ???
HP Pavilion DV6820 (core 2 duo T5550 1.83 GHz, Nvidia GF8400 256mb, 2GB RAM Vista) or
Acer extensa 5620G (core 2 duo T5750 2 GHz, Intel x3100 up to 384mb, 2 GB RAM, Vista )
those are the only decent laptops I can afford…….Please help me choose, Thanx in advance 🙂
Abdo,
I would mention the graphics card can be the most important part of your machine when using an intensive graphics application like AutoCAD. Get the most you can go with Windows XP or Vista and 3Gig RAM.
Best Regards,
Shaan
I’ve just entered the first year of an Architectural and Engineering Design program and i need Autocad, specifically architecture. I had bought a macbook last year and am trying to find out if i can run it through bootcamp, the apple store in town was unsure. my macbook is an intel core duo 2.16 ghz 1gb with integrated video. will i need to get an macbook pro instead or switch back to a pc (which id rather not do)
Hi I need to buy a laptop to run AutoCAD…but am confused to the max as to which one I should get.
Any suggestions on the perfect laptop to make my CAD days a smooth experience??
Thanx CJ
CJ,
I don’t make official recommendations, only personal ones. I do not know enough about your needs such as 2D or 3D, what products you use, how large and complex of files, or if you are wanting XP or Vista. These are all important to determining a good machine.
In general I would get a machine with as much RAM as you can get as well as get a good DirectX graphics card not a default general purpose graphics card.
Best Regards,
Shaan
hi will a laptop with the following spec do for civil engineering autocad.
1.86ghz duel coremobile processor t2390
3 mb ram
200gb
vista 32 bit
intel integrated x3100 graphics card.(this is my main worry)
thanks
Hi Shaan;
Your reply below is that only for external HD’s? I would like to use Boot Camp and set a patition for 80GB to run AutoCAD on an internal HD with Vista ot XP (Mac Book Pro 2.4GHz with 320GB 7200RPM WD HD and 4GB RAM).
“AutoCAD is currently only supported on Windows Operating System XP & Vista. We have tested using Apple Bootcamp but discovered that the software licenses can be broken with certain external hard drives.”
Best Regards,
Shaan Hurley
We want to set up an Autocad lab in our College for the Civil Engineering students. A batch consists of 15 students. Do we have to install autocad (with appropriate licences) in all the 15 machines or can we nstall the software in a server machine and have 15 client machines.? Will the client server configuration reduce the speed of operation? Thanks & Regards
Hi!!!!!!!! I have dell xps m1530m with windows vista bus 64bit and 4 gb ram .i have autocad 2009 when i open the programs is always hanging .. i replace ram tooo but same problems
Lakshmi,
You could use either method. I would suggest using a license server for a classroom environment with 15 seats.
Best Regards,
Shaan
Meer,
There isn’t enough details posted to provide a solution or even where to begin. I assume you are using the 64bit AutoCAD 2009, it could it be perhaps you have a 32bit ObjectARX application you are trying to load or a .NET issue where installing a new .NET version will help.
Best Regards,
Shaan
can u give me the major and minor difference between autocad 2007 and autocad 2008
Roshabh,
You can review the comparison matrix for a high level list of differences from AutoCAD 2007 to AutoCAD 2009.
http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/autocad_2009_release_comparison_matrix.pdf
Best Regards,
Shaan
what do you think of this new system for Acad Architecture 2008? I don’t do rendering, but do use Sketchup for modeling.
HP dv7t (customized):
-Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P8700 (2.53GHz)
-4GB DDR2 Memory (2 Dimm)
-320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
-512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
-Vista Home Premium (64-bit)
Is there any need for more memory?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks!
Laura,
Your machine specs should be fine provide you do not do heavy 3D modelling.
Best Regards,
Shaan
I was just wondering how well the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD would run AutoCAD 2009?
Rob
Hi, I’m currently using the AutoCad 2009 64bit version. I’ve noticed that it’s not as fast as the previous versions (on 32bit or xp). It lags or is “sticky” as they call it especially when placing dimensions (or when there are a number of dimensions already on the model). Is there any way I can speed things up (without having to turn off layer/ palettes)? It’s quite disappointing since the laptop already has 4gb of ram…
Thanks.
by the way, my laptops’s specs are:
System Model: HP Pavilion dv2700 Notebook PC
Processor: AMD Turion(tm) 64 X2 TL-62 2.10Ghz
Memory: 4030 RAM
BIOS: PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.1
Video: NVIDIA MCP67M (GeForce 7150M) 1068 MB
Windows OS: Windows Vista Home
Clarissa,
Thank you for your question on the blog.
Unfortunately it is difficult to determine a machine problem remotely. One thing to bear in mind is 64bit machines do not mean faster machines, and in some cases they can be as slow or slower than 32bit. It could be a hardware driver as in my experience many of the 64bit drivers as well are not up to the level of quality as their 32bit sibling.
Your graphics card is a non workstation class GeForce gaming card that when working in large drawings, renderings, or models is not ideal for CAD use.
The benefit for 64bit is the ability to have extended addressable memory beyond the 3Gig in 32bit and able to load and work with larger files and models.
Best Regards,
Shaan
could a nVidia GeForce 8600 GS capable for 3D in Autocad?
Nick,
The easy answer is yes the GeForce may work for 3D in AutoCAD but it may not be the best performance or all graphics features working or enabled. The GeForce is primarily a gaming card but can work but certainly not ideal or suggested.
Best Regards,
Shaan
Hey Shaan,
Like everyone else I have a few questions regarding laptop specs for autocad.
Of the choices I have like 3, a macbook pro (which seems isn’t the best idea) a dell studio xps 16″ and a HP HDX 16t. The specs are as follows:
Dell studio XPS 16
-2.56 Ghz, 6 MB cache
-16″ RGBLED (1920×1080)
-4GB DDR3
-320 GB @ 7200 RPM
Most important part:
-Ati Radeon 512MB HD 3670
$2100+tax CAD
HP HDX 16t:
-2.53 Ghz, 6mb cache
-16″ (1920×1080)
-4GB DDR2
-320 GB @ 7200 rpm
most important:
-GeForce 9600M GT 512 MB
$2500+ tax CAD
So now I prefer the dell, but just want the best choice, I realize at this point anything but the quadro and fire gl series is lousy, but I’m still doing 2d and hoping to start 3d by mid to end of this year and just don’t want to be held bacl because my computer can’t support it. Please help, would the requirements for the dell suffice for autocad 2010? Hope to hear from you soon, thanks again.
P.S.
What are the main reasons as to why macs are no good for autocad, just so I know for myself and my pressing mac friends 🙂
Ish,
I use both Mac and PC now although still prefer the PC. AutoCAD is not officially supported on the Mac currently, but you can run it using Apple Bootcamp or a slower virtualized solution like Parallels or VMware.
(http://autodesk.blogs.com/between_the_lines/2008/12/run-autocad-on-a-mac.html)
If you want to be on a supported platform I would say the HP or Dell would both be good machines.
Best Regards,
Shaan
Can I add Aotocad 2008 in window vista home premium sp1 laptop? please give replay.
AutoCAD 2008 will run and is supported on Windows Vista Home.
Best Regards,
Shaan
hi, i’m planing to get a dell studio 17 Intel® Pentium® Dual Core T4200 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/1MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1 64 Bit
4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz
Size: 250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
are these specs enough for me to run an autocad 2008? this is the only new laptop i can afford.
i hope somebody can help me and email me at nanofossil@yahoo.com
thanks a lot
Gilbert,
You have a great system specified but one critical component needs an upgrade of any graphics application. You need to get more than the built in graphics card.
Having that graphics card is like having a sports car and putting wooden tires on it. There are graphics cards that are not too expensive of an upgrade that would make this machine a great system for AutoCAD.
You don’t need to go 64bit unless you are planning on using very large files or have another application that requires 64bit.
I wish you all the best of success.
Shaan
Hello, I am trying to see if the ATI RADEON HD 256MB will work with AutoCAD Civil 3D we are currently using 2008 but are working on upgrading.
OH one more thing it is the 3450 Graphics dual DVI for dual monitors
Katie,
Your graphics card sounds fine but it all boils down to how large or complex your files are. Also check out the Autodesk Civil3D web page for system requirements http://www.autodesk.com/civil3d
As for the DVI support of the other card,you will have to check with the hardware manufacturer.
Sincerely,
Shaan
I need to buy my sister- a freshman in college- a laptop that supports AutoCad 2008. I went to Best Buy and they said that I need a business computer that could downgrade to Windows XP because AutoCad does not run on Vista. However, I checked the requirements and it seems that it can run on Vista. The most I can spend is $1,000 and their business computers are close to $2,000. What do you recommend? Hope to hear from you soon!
Frinny,
AutoCAD does indeed run on Windows Vista.
As for a machine your sister needs it all depends on the type of work and drawings she will be using. If she were doing just 2D drawings she would would need less of a machine than if she were using heavy 3D or working on very large complex drawings.
I have seen many laptops and desktops around 1K that would be just fine for AutoCAD use out there even in even Best Buy.
Since she is a student she should only need a laptop with 3Gig of RAM, a decent graphics card and a decent sized hard drive. Most mid-level laptops out there meet these requirements.
Hi,
Does CAD 2008 support Windows 7?
Thanks
IM,
Thank you for the question.
Once Microsoft Windows 7 is officially released Autodesk will issue statements on what has been tested, works, or officially supported. I curently use AutoCAD 2010 on Windows 7 Release Candidate without any issues.
Best Regards,
Shaan
I am looking to upgrade PC, currently running release 13 mech. desktop 32 bit, and not interested in upgrading software at this time. Will this software run in the new Vista 64-bit format, or should I stick with 32-bit? Thanks for your input.
hi, i’m using toshiba a500-13f with the following specifications:
Intel Core2 Duo processor P7350
clock speed : 2.00 GHz
standard : 4,096 (2,048 + 2,048) MB
type : ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 supporting HyperMemory technology
i’m also using windows vista sp2.
i’ve already tried and failed installing various autocad version. what should i do?