6 Best Graphics Cards For CAD: Reviews For Improving Design

Graphics Card For CAD Compared

Why CAD Requires Quality Video Cards

Ultimately, if you want the most from your CAD program(s), you need a high-quality GPU. What happens if your graphics card isn’t up to par?

Installing a quality graphics card will significantly widen your CAD programs' capabilities, no matter whether you're rendering 2D or 3D designs.

Buying Guide: Choosing Quality GPU for CAD

At this point, you may be asking yourself: "What specs do I need for CAD?" This can be the confusing part, so we've broken it down into easy-to-digest points to run through for the best results possible.

CAD Software Compatibility

Usually, the easiest way to go about choosing the best GPU for CAD is to go off of your software. Ensure you check the system requirements for the application(s) you're using and use it as a base.

If you can get better specs than that, that's even better. Also, consider the design of said software. For example, a multi-threaded program would do well with multiple cores. Make sure the memory capacity is large enough to run the latest features of your software program(s) as well.

Workstation Monitor

CAD Project Size

What is the average size of the projects you're working on? This will also have a considerable influence on the specs you should aim for with your new graphics card. Try to opt for at least 8GB of RAM, but if you can get it a bit higher, you'll probably find you can handle larger or more complex projects.

CPU and GPU Balance

Both are crucial to optimum performance, though when it comes to 3D work and graphics-related tasks in general, the GPU takes the lead. Processing speed, however, is much more likely to bottleneck than memory.

Graphics Card Features

Brand (Nvidia vs. AMD)

These are both excellent products, though when we really begin to compare graphics and versatility, Nvidia wins. They place more of a focus on GPU tech, offering the ideal GPU-CPU balance. However, when it comes to CAD, we can't go all out and say Nvidia is the best through-and-through as AMD offers some great solutions as well.

GPU Cores

Thousands of cores can be built into a single chip, which is necessary for all necessary computations to even render the graphics and design projects you have. In this case, the more, the better your graphics are going to be – however, you don't need to go for the maximum cores to get great results. 

GPU Clock Speed

Measured in Megahertz (MHz), this will be the graphics card’s speed in non-stress testing uses. The higher the rate, the higher the number of pixels that can be processed per second by the graphics processor.

Memory & Bandwidth

The memory bandwidth is essentially the speed of video RAM, measured in GB/s. The more bandwidth you have, the higher the quality and speed of the images produced will be.

Thermal Design Power

The cards we use today often cannot be powered by the system alone. Instead, they'll usually require 6-pin connectors, and the higher the configuration of the card is, the more power it demands. However, it's important to note that mid-range alternatives can typically be powered just fine solely by the system.

The need to dissipate heat efficiently is crucial to the health and performance of these cards. Coolers are effective in keeping them from overheating, slowing down, and even GPU failure.

Design

Consider the ports available as well. Most will come with DVI ports, which are versatile as you can convert them to both VGA and HDMI with basic adapters if you'd like to connect to additional monitors. If you're using more modern monitors, make sure the card also has a DisplayPort (DP) connection.

You may be wondering about aftermarket vs. reference coolers, as well. The former is known to be the quieter and cooler alternative. However, reference coolers move all heated exhaust air out of the back of the case, which is also beneficial.

Form Factor

Price & Warranty

Chances are you're probably not here to spend as much money as possible. Instead, you want the best balance of affordability and quality. To get there, you first need to come up with a budget for yourself. Once you have that guideline down, you can narrow down your options based on the specs above. 

It's also important to look at the warranty that comes with your new graphics card. A good warranty can save you quite a bit of cash, so if it comes down between two similarly priced items, it's always a wise move to go for the pricier one with longer coverage.

1. NVIDIA VCQP2000-PB Quadro P2000

Best Graphics Card for CAD

To start things off, we have the VCQP2000-PB Quadro P2000 Nvidia graphics card for CAD. Remember when we mentioned looking for a nice balance of features and performance? Well, you have that right here, with this card offering the “sweet spot” for 3D CAD.

With 75W, you don’t have to worry about any more power required than what the PCIe bus can provide. Based on the Pascal GPU architecture, it’s incredibly efficient as well. With 1024 CUDA cores, you can expect lightning-fast rendering and very detailed designs, for even the most complex projects.

If you compare it to other good graphics cards for CAD, you may notice that it comes with slightly less memory: 5GB. However, that didn't have a huge effect on performance, and we found it quite powerful.

While it's also not as small as some other cards in the Quadro line, it still has a low-profile form factor that makes excellent use of its footprint and does well with more compact workstations. The four DisplayPorts make it possible to connect up to four 4K monitors at 60Hz, making it very versatile.

Adding to that, you can connect two Pascal-based Quadro Gp100's with the brand's NVLink technology to further scale performance with a solid 32GB of HBM2 bandwidth memory.

2. AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100

Best Graphics Card for CAD

Nvidia may be the leader in GPU sales currently, but we highly recommend you take a look at the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100. When tested with SolidWorks, it hit the ball out of the park in visualization and simulation.

The single-slot form factor it comes with means it has a small footprint perfect for compact workstations and if you need to install another PCI add-in card in the future.

If you're also trying to get a VR-capable CAD workstation on a budget, the 7100 could be a nice solution. However, it works with just about any CAD tools you may need or want for years to come. Thanks to supreme build quality and powerful heat sinks, it’s one of the most long-lasting cards. Backed with a generous 10-year warranty, AMD makes sure of that.

We found very similar GPU performance to the Nvidia cards, even when RealView and Ambient Occlusion effects were turned on, helped out by the speedy 1188 MHz base clock speed, and 8GB of memory.  However, when graphic detail was significantly increased, we did notice a bit of slowing down.

3. PNY NVIDIA Quadro K1200

Best Graphics Card for CAD Rendering

4. ASUS GeForce GTX 1080

Best Graphics Card for CAD and Gaming

5. NVIDIA Titan RTX

Top of The Range

Nearing the end of our list, we have an incredibly powerful Nvidia graphics card for CAD.

The card seems to be gold in both performance and appearance, with a gilded color scheme that is sure to attract all the right attention. Visual aesthetics are enhanced by the sleek and smooth build, despite having a dual-slot form factor.

While it may sound like an exaggeration, this model is a jack-of-all-trades, making it an excellent option for those who will be rendering and designing 3D scenes and much more.

Doubling the memory and offering higher peak memory bandwidth than previous generations, the Titan RTX is the one to go to if you don't mind spending more cash. On top of that, you get cutting-edge Tensor Core and RT Core technology ideal for AI and ray tracing.

To keep everything operating in ideal conditions, you have dual 13-blade fans, which allow for high airflow while remaining incredibly quiet, along with a large vapor chamber. All in all, if you want the best graphics card for 3D CAD, this is it.

6. PNY VCQK620-PB

Best Budget Option for CAD

Last but not least, we have the PNY Quadro K620 from NVIDIA. If you're on the hunt for CAD on a budget for the best graphics card, then this model absolutely cannot be beaten. It may not be the most robust out there in terms of performance, but it will still get the job done and even let you create large 3D models.

With a low-profile, single-slot form factor, it is great for smaller/compact workstations. However, you’ll still be able to take advantage of 384 CUDA cores and 4GB of memory. The power-efficient card comes with DisplayPort 1.2 support as well to work with super-high resolutions of up to 60H and 30-bit color.

While it may be easy on the budget, it’s definitely not cheap. The NVIDIA Quadro construction is supreme in durability and shows time and time again why it’s one of the best professional CAD options out there today.

CAD Software Applications That Require Good GPU

CAD software is a huge help when designing something, particularly when used in industrial design, mechanical design, architecture, and much more. Each CAD model contains vital information like the dimensions, tolerance, manufacturing process, and so on. There are even some programs that let you process advanced rendering and animation!

The most popular CAD software programs are:

Gaming Cards Vs. Professional Graphics Cards

There is quite often some confusion as to which of the two a CAD designer should use. While it's not always a rule, gaming cards are typically not the best-suited for CAD. They instead focus on quick loading and smooth frame rates for beautiful graphics as you're playing.

However, this comes at the expense of detail and speed, which is vital in CAD. On the other hand, workstation-class cards offer quicker performance, computing power, and GPU acceleration technology.

If you want the best of both worlds, check out the ASUS GeForce GTX 1080.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What does GPU benchmark mean?

What do the model numbers mean on GPUs?

Generally speaking, higher numbers offer better performance. However, each differs slightly, and some may have the same model number but be from different manufacturers. These will very rarely have a big difference between them, and if they do, they're usually things like new fans or lights that won't affect performance much.

Will my graphics card for CAD be future proof?

It's hard to give a definitive answer here, as it's a little of both. We can't predict the future, so we can't say "yes" or "no" with 100% certainty. However, if you want to make the most out of its use, we recommend getting a card with the highest specs you can realistically afford.

What are the differences between integrated vs. dedicated graphics?

Integrated graphics do not come with their own CPU, while dedicated graphics cards do.

Are gaming PCs good for CAD programs?

Where is the best place to buy these graphic cards for CAD?

Amazon is the best choice for most, as they offer quick shipping, great prices, and offer real customer reviews, so you know what you're getting.

Conclusion