Software is constantly changing, with new tools that handle today’s most demanding and ever-evolving tasks. To keep vendors and users apprised of how such updates affect the performance of computer systems running particular software, the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC) builds robust standardized benchmarks and tools for evaluating that performance efficiency. This is done by measuring the most relevant use cases as they relate to popular workstation apps. Today, SPEC released its most recent benchmark—the SPECapc SolidWorks 2024 benchmark, an update for those running Dassault Systèmes’ SolidWorks 2024.
“As Dassault Systèmes improves SolidWorks every year, SPEC is committed to keeping the SPECapc for SolidWorks benchmark aligned with the latest features and capabilities,” said SPECapc Chair Jessica Heerboth. “With the new version of the benchmark, we have added measurement for hidden line removal (HLR), which has a dramatically improved algorithm. All users of SolidWorks 2024 will benefit from this up-to-date measurement.”
This benchmark, like all of benchmarks from the non-profit consortium, is extensive. The SPECapc for SolidWorks 2024 benchmark comprises 60 tests: 48 graphics tests and 12 CPU tests that challenge an extensive range of graphics and CPU functionality. In terms of graphics, the tests use four SolidWorks view settings: RealView, ambient occlusion, and shadows (in combination with shaded and shaded-with-edges display styles), in addition to hidden lie removal. Also measured is drawing mode. Meanwhile, the CPU tests entail rebuild, simulation, conversion, and Visualize CPU rendering.
The model sizes range from 392MB to 2.3GB in memory. The following 10 models are included in the benchmark:
- Audi R8 (car)—715MB in memory, exercising graphics and Visualize CPU ray tracing.
- Black owl (desktop computer)—1.15GB in memory, exercising graphics and Visualize CPU ray tracing.
- Digger (backhoe)—464MB in memory, exercising graphics and Visualize CPU ray tracing.
- Ferrari (car)—533MB in memory, exercising graphics and Visualize CPU ray tracing.
- Jet engine—665MB in memory, exercising graphics and Visualize CPU ray tracing.
- Menjac (motor assembly)—514MB in memory, exercising graphics.
- Motor—392MB in memory, exercising graphics.
- SpaceShipCrawler (NASA Crawler Transporter Model)—2.3GB in memory, exercising graphics.
- Super car (gullwing door)—822MB in memory, exercising graphics.
- Tesla tower—495MB in memory, exercising graphics.
This latest SPECapc for SolidWorks 2024 benchmark is available now and can be downloaded from the SPEC website. As usual, it is free for the user community, and costs $2,500 for vendors of computer-related products/services that are not SPEC/GWPG members.