Have you ever wished you could find that one person in the world that has already done to their computer what you need to do to yours?
Performing a Google search is the fastest way to find your answers. However some people never seem to think of this as a research tool. I always try to keep some important links from the web to help with questions users might have or a colleague might need. My links are always growing, but these are a few that I hope you will enjoy. They vary between SW tutorials to installing SP3 XP via a slipstream DVD (I recently had to make one for my home computer. Doing this resolves pci.sys file errors).
SolidWorks PhotoWorks Tutorial - http://www.solidworksgallery.com/index.php?p=tutorials_general
3GB switch lead by some of the more important SolidWorks newsgroup users - http://www.kcswug.com/documents/3gb_switch_part_one,_two,_&_three.pdf
Microsoft's page on the 3GB switch - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms791558.aspx
Black vipers site has many Microsoft Windows tweaks and answers to your Windows questions. Helps with understanding processes and services - http://www.blackviper.com/
Windows Clean-Up Utility (last resort when you can't uninstall or reinstall SW or other Windows installer applications) - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
Slipstream a DVD with XP SP3 and then install using that DVD - http://lifehacker.com/386526/slipstream-service-pack-3-into-your-windows-xp-installation-cd
Understanding Vista Product Editions - http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_02.asp
Free application for converting most popular units to another form of unit:
http://joshmadison.com/article/convert-for-windows
Free SolidWorks Tutorials
http://www.tutorialhero.com/view-694-solidworks_tutorials.php
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Design News Golden Mousetrap Awards
So you've built a better mousetrap and want to enter it in the Design News Golden Mousetrap Awards? You've still got time to enter!Enter Now: www.designnews.com/mousetrap
Design News magazine has extended their entry deadline to June 1st, 2009. Your design will be judged by the highly competent editors of Design News.
The winning entries will be announced in the Design News Special Awards Issue in September 2009. Winners will also be honored with a specially commissioned Golden Mousetrap Award, presented in person by a member of the Design News team.
Did you design an AMAZING product in 2008? Enter to win and you could be profiled along with other great products in the Special Awards Issue coming out in September.
Award Categories:
- Computer Hardware/Software
- Electronics/Test Equipment
- Motion Control/Automation
- Materials and Fastening/Joining/Assembly
- For the full list of categories click here
Reasons to Enter:
- Product Visibility - If your product is judged to be the best it will be featured throughout the year in Design News - in print, in e-newsletters and online.
- A Specially Commissioned Plaque - will be delivered to you in person from Design News. Your company will also have access to Design News promotional material, such as a "web bug" for use on your website, email blasts, letterheads, etc. so you can announce your award to the world.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
What to Look for When Buying a Video Card
One question we get asked a lot here in support is "What video card should I use?" As much as I would like to tell a user what he/she should use, I can't. However I do have some recommendations for those of you who are looking for a new video card.
1) Determine if your video card slot is AGP or PCI-E.
Most card slots on today's computers are PCI-E, but for those of you still using an old machine it's a good idea to make sure that you can run PCI-E cards before buying one. Otherwise it won't do you any good to proceed further until you get a machine that supports that type. Almost all AGP cards are no longer supported by SolidWorks.
2) I do recommend one brand name card over another.
I recommend Nvidia over ATI cards. In technical support we see many issues with video card problems. I know most people who call their VAR are tired of hearing us say "What video card do you have and what driver are you using?" There is a reason we ask this and that simple reason is because about 80% of stability/graphic problems are a direct result of video card/drivers. In recent years I have noticed that certified ATI cards seem to be more unstable and have a tendency towards more problems than certified Nvidia cards. SolidWorks does recommend both drivers. Here is a good resource for system/graphics card requirements in order to run SolidWorks. http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/videocardtesting.html. In the end I recommend the Nvidia Quadro FX series cards per the list at the above site only.
3) Modeling complexity and assembly design.
When looking for a video card you need to know the difference between extreme modeling and basic modeling. What type of work you do on a daily basis is going to determine what type of card you need to buy. If you do high-end assemblies with complex components, then a higher end card will most likely work best for you. If you just build a few models and a couple hundred component assemblies that have little complexity, then a low to mid range card is more your speed. If you use Simulation, a mid to high range card is probably the best choice.
4) How much can you spend?
The higher end the card the more you are going to pay. Most people buy the larger card expecting that because they buy the biggest, baddest card on the market they will get the most bang for their buck. That's not true at all. You need to purchase the card that best fits your needs and not pay top dollar for a high-end card that you don't need. The card is not the only solution to fast performance and stability, but it is one of the key components.
Some companies today are trying to find ways to cut costs, but get what they pay for. That is why I recommend checking out the benchmarks online. These are very helpful in showing you how one video card compares to another. I want to see each SolidWorks user get the card they need at a cost they can afford. Nothing is more upsetting than spending a lot of money with nothing to show for it.
Here are some sites I recently uncovered for a customer looking to buy a new video card:
http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=3321&page=1
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/quadro-fx-4800,2258-8.html
You can also visit our E-Store to see the selection of Nvidia cards we carry online.
1) Determine if your video card slot is AGP or PCI-E.
Most card slots on today's computers are PCI-E, but for those of you still using an old machine it's a good idea to make sure that you can run PCI-E cards before buying one. Otherwise it won't do you any good to proceed further until you get a machine that supports that type. Almost all AGP cards are no longer supported by SolidWorks.
2) I do recommend one brand name card over another.
I recommend Nvidia over ATI cards. In technical support we see many issues with video card problems. I know most people who call their VAR are tired of hearing us say "What video card do you have and what driver are you using?" There is a reason we ask this and that simple reason is because about 80% of stability/graphic problems are a direct result of video card/drivers. In recent years I have noticed that certified ATI cards seem to be more unstable and have a tendency towards more problems than certified Nvidia cards. SolidWorks does recommend both drivers. Here is a good resource for system/graphics card requirements in order to run SolidWorks. http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/videocardtesting.html. In the end I recommend the Nvidia Quadro FX series cards per the list at the above site only.
3) Modeling complexity and assembly design.
When looking for a video card you need to know the difference between extreme modeling and basic modeling. What type of work you do on a daily basis is going to determine what type of card you need to buy. If you do high-end assemblies with complex components, then a higher end card will most likely work best for you. If you just build a few models and a couple hundred component assemblies that have little complexity, then a low to mid range card is more your speed. If you use Simulation, a mid to high range card is probably the best choice.
4) How much can you spend?
The higher end the card the more you are going to pay. Most people buy the larger card expecting that because they buy the biggest, baddest card on the market they will get the most bang for their buck. That's not true at all. You need to purchase the card that best fits your needs and not pay top dollar for a high-end card that you don't need. The card is not the only solution to fast performance and stability, but it is one of the key components.
Some companies today are trying to find ways to cut costs, but get what they pay for. That is why I recommend checking out the benchmarks online. These are very helpful in showing you how one video card compares to another. I want to see each SolidWorks user get the card they need at a cost they can afford. Nothing is more upsetting than spending a lot of money with nothing to show for it.
Here are some sites I recently uncovered for a customer looking to buy a new video card:
http://features.cgsociety.org/story_custom.php?story_id=3321&page=1
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/quadro-fx-4800,2258-8.html
You can also visit our E-Store to see the selection of Nvidia cards we carry online.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
More CAD Jobs Found on Twitter
- CAD Technician - Schaumburg, IL (http://tinyurl.com/d4mwww)
- CAD Layout/Estimator - Rockford, IL (http://tinyurl.com/dyx4kl)
- Sr. Mechanical Engineer, CAD, Solidworks - Dayton, OH (http://tinyurl.com/d4ejkd)
- I&C CAD DESIGNER - Richmond, KY (http://tinyurl.com/cbqhd4)
- Engineer-Heater Design/3D CAD/Electrical Mechanical - Kansas (http://tinyurl.com/dkqn89)
Get Cad Jobs - Twitter
Look what I found today on Twitter:
SOLIDWORKS CAD SPECIALIST - Cincinnati, OH (http://tinyurl.com/caftwl) Get Cad Jobs
Follow @GetCadJobs on Twitter to receive the latest updates!
SOLIDWORKS CAD SPECIALIST - Cincinnati, OH (http://tinyurl.com/caftwl) Get Cad Jobs
Follow @GetCadJobs on Twitter to receive the latest updates!
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