Windows 7: Built for CAD?

Now that the dust has settled and there is talk of the impending release of Service Pack 1, many in the worldwide enterprise are looking at finally pulling the trigger and making the move to Windows 7 from Windows XP. Or, there are those intrepid few who adopted Windows Vista and dealt with all the problems that it had just as those few users did with Microsoft Windows Me they are looking at Windows 7 for stability. Still, many people are waiting for the release of Service Pack 1 before they adopt the latest in the line of Windows Operating systems. What is in store for Service Pack 1? What makes Windows 7 prefect for CAD? Lets take a look under the hood!

Why Wait for SP1?
For Microsoft, it has become a rule of thumb, much as measure twice, cut once is for carpenters: You should never deploy a version of Windows until the first service pack has been released. With Windows Vista, there were so many problems that Service Pack 1 took way too long to arrive. Microsoft's corporate customers by and large took the "wait until SP1" mentality, (once burned, twice shy). By waiting for SP1, you can be sure that any showstopper-type bugs have been resolved before moving your machines to it and then suffering the consequences. Many of those customers who wait for the release of SP1 will be happy to learn that the first inklings of a public SP1 beta program are beginning to emerge.

What Windows 7 SP1 will likely do
Even though there is very little information available as I write this column, Randall C. Kennedy at InfoWorld made some very educated guesses and said that the following are some very likely inclusions for Windows 7 SP1. First, there are the obvious bug fixes and security patches that have come out up to this point and a few that are in the works. Next, Windows 7 SP1 will likely add support for the new USB 3.0 standard and incorporate enhancements to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. In so doing, Windows 7 will retain its most easily configured version of Windows-ever moniker. As important as these additions are, Service Pack 1 will be the signal that it is now OK for IT to pull the trigger on their Windows 7 deployments and move ahead. So now that it is going to be OK with IT to upgrade, why should you consider Windows 7 for CAD?

Built for CAD?
In many ways, Windows 7 is built for CAD, all because of resources. We have all been waiting for the emergence of the 64-bit operating system that would become common and not just for those adrenaline junkies that had to be first on the block to run it. My first article in this column about 64-bit hardware and operating systems, 64-bit PCs and operating systems: Worth the investment yet? was published in 2006. Since then, I have revisited the topic with Leading edge or bleeding edge:
How to determine if the latest and greatest technology is ready for your computing world (and more. With each new version of CAD application, the applications have grown hungrier; hungrier for disc space, processor speed and RAM. CAD has long been the place where the deployment of a 64-bit operating system would have made the most sense. This would finally get the PC past the 4 GB RAM barrier, but up until now, application and driver support for 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows lagged or simply was not there. Anyone who tried to get Windows XP 64-bit edition knows exactly what I am talking about. Vista did a better job with 64-bit editions, but Vista had its own pitfalls. Windows 7 will finally unleash the potential of todays CAD applications.

Towers and Laptops?
Yes! Many people have asked about a laptop to run resource hungry applications (i.e. Inventor 2010), but there were always two limitations: Certified video and system RAM. Windows 7 lays those limitations to rest. I recently spec-ed a laptop that we use internally for our solutions engineers. What I found was a system that not only could do the job, but do it without reservations. Take a look at this!

1)     Intel Core i7 950 3.06 GHz with 8 MB onboard cache
2)     17 WUXGA LCD Screen / 1920 x 1200 resolution
3)     12 GB of DDR3 RAM
4)     2 500 GB 7200 RPM SATA II hard drives
5)     Blu-Ray Reader / DVD-R/RW burner
6)     NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M (with 1 GB Dedicated RAM) and a WHQL Certified Video Driver
7)     USB 2.0 and Firewire Ports
8)     DVI and HDMI Output and more
9)     Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit Operating System
This system is better that a lot of tower systems I have seen and the price is not bad either (ask us for a quote!). The one thing we have seen is that if you go with Windows 7 64-Bit and will only put in 6 GB of RAM, you will NOT see a discernable performance gain. When it comes to performance, 4 GB or less is actually worse than running the 32-Bit version. As it has always been when dealing with RAM, more is MORE!!!! With Windows 7 64-Bit, I would recommend configuring your system with nothing less than 8 GB of RAM and I would heartily recommend 12 GB or more!

What should you do now?
As with any new operating system implementation, make sure the version of application software you have is supported on the new operating system and in the version you are running (32-bit or 64-bit). Just because you can run it does not mean you should. Many vendors only support their current version of software on new operating software and rarely will they provide support for an older version of their application, so dont be left out in the cold! And just as in the case of Autodesk, there is a list of applications that are supported with Windows 7. Make sure once Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is released that those applications are still supported. Dont assume they are. After all, we all know what happens when you assume!

How can I get more information on this subject?
As with all new releases, we strive to stay up-to-date and provide you with the latest information available. If you have questions or comments about this article or if there is anything new on the subject, contact me. I would be happy to respond!

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This page last edited on Wednesday, November 10, 2010