Ensure that you are always working with an optimized system for hardware, operating system (OS) and Microsoft products to get the best out of your SOLIDWORKS investment. Our SOLIDWORKS System Requirements is always updated to the latest information.
SOLIDWORKS Products for Windows
| Operating Systems | SOLIDWORKS 2017 (EDU 2017-2018) |
SOLIDWORKS 2018 (EDU 2018-2019) |
SOLIDWORKS 2019 (EDU 2019-2020) |
| Windows 10, 64-bit |  |
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| Windows 8.1, 64-bit | |
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| Windows 7 SP1, 64-bit | |
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(End of life: SW2020 SP5) |
| Hypervisor | |||
| VMware vSphere EsXi | 6.0 (SW2017 SP02) | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| VMware Workstation | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Microsoft Hyper-V | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 |
| Parallels Desktop, Mac1 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Citrix XenServer | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| Hardware | |
| Processor | Recommended Intel Core i7 or Xeon with 4-core or higher,
AMD Ryzen 7 or Threadripper |
| RAM | 3D CAD: 16 GB or more
PDM Contributor or Viewer: 8 GB or more PDM Web Client or Web Server: 8 GB or more |
| Graphics Card | Certified workstation-class GPU
AMD: Recent model of FirePro W-series and Radeon Pro WX-series NVIDIA: Recent model of Quadro G-series, K-series, M-series, P-series, RTX-series, Tesla-series |
| Drives | SSD Drives is recommended |
| Disk Space | PDM Contributor or Viewer: 10 GB or more
PDM Web Client or Web Server: 5 GB or more PDM Archive Server or Database Server: 50 GB or more SOLIDWORKS Manage: 10 GB or more |
SOLIDWORKS Server Products
| SOLIDWORKS 2017 |
SOLIDWORKS 2018 |
SOLIDWORKS 2019 |
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| Operating Systems | |||
| Windows Server 2016 |
(2017 SP2) |
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| Windows Server 2012 R2 | |
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| Windows Server 2012 | |
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| Windows Server 2008 R2, SP1 | |
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| SQL Server | |||
| SQL 2017 | |
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| SQL 2016 | |
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| SQL 2014 | |
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| SQL 2012 | |
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Microsoft Products (SOLIDWORKS 2017 – 2019)
| Microsoft Products | Start of Life | End Of Life 1 |
| Windows 10, 64-bit | SOLIDWORKS 2015 SP5 | Active |
| Windows 8.1, 64-bit | SOLIDWORKS 2014 SP1 | SOLIDWORKS 2018 SP5 |
| Windows 7, 64-bit | SOLIDWORKS 2010 SP1 | SOLIDWORKS 2020 SP5 |
| Windows Server 2016 | SOLIDWORKS 2017 SP2 | Active |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 | SOLIDWORKS 2014 SP3 | SOLIDWORKS 2019 SP5 |
| Windows Server 2012 | SOLIDWORKS 2014 SP0 | SOLIDWORKS 2018 SP5 |
| Windows Server 2008 R2, SP1 | 2009 | SOLIDWORKS 2017 SP5 |
| SQL Server 2017 | SOLIDWORKS 2018 SP0 | Active |
| SQL Server 2016 | SOLIDWORKS 2017 SP0 | Active |
| SQL Server 2014 | SOLIDWORKS 2015 SP0 | SOLIDWORKS 2021 SP5 |
| SQL Server 2012 | SOLIDWORKS 2013 SP2 | SOLIDWORKS 2019 SP5 |
| SQL Server 2008 R2 | SOLIDWORKS 2010 SP4 | SOLIDWORKS 2017 SP5 |
Notes
- End Of Life (EOL) corresponds to the last SOLIDWORKS release where a Microsoft product is supported (This is synchronized with the Microsoft Mainstream Support End Date). SOLIDWORKS releases after the EOL are not supported for the said Microsoft product and SOLIDWORKS installation is blocked in the case of an operating system.
- SOLIDWORKS Product Support Lifecycle defines the End Of Support for SOLIDWORKS versions.
- SOLIDWORKS supports each Windows 10 release for applicable SOLIDWORKS releases as long as it is still covered by both the SOLIDWORKS Product Support Lifecycle and Microsoft Windows Lifecycle Fact Sheet.
- SOLIDWORKS recommends using a Windows Server operating system for all SOLIDWORKS server-based products.
- Windows Server operating system support applies to Standard and Enterprise editions only.
- Beginning with SOLIDWORKS 2020, DVD distribution media will only be provided on request. Please do contact us if required.
