Graphics Adapters and Drivers
Identify your graphics adapter.
If you have video display issues, first identify your graphics adapter
to determine if the problem is with adapters or drivers.
If you know that your graphics adapter and driver are not the cause,
see display
issues.
To identify your video card:
On your Windows desktop, right-click and select
Properties.
In the Display
Properties dialog box, on the Settings
tab, click Advanced.
On the Adapter
tab, click Properties.
On the General
tab, your video card is listed.
On the Driver
tab, the driver version is listed.
Click OK
until the Display Properties dialog
box closes.
You may need to adapt the instructions based
on your operating system.
Tested Graphics Adapters
The quality and performance of SolidWorks can depend on your choice
of graphics adapter and driver. SolidWorks has tested several commonly-used
graphics adapters and drivers.
To view graphics adapter test results:
http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/VideoCardTesting.html
Some graphics adapters support RealView.
If your graphics adapter supports this display function, RealView
Graphics 
displays on your View toolbar when you
have a model open.
Adjusting Hardware Acceleration
Decrease hardware acceleration
If you suspect video problems are causing performance or display issues
in the software, decrease hardware acceleration. This is one way of determining
if the problem is with your graphics adapter or video driver.
To decrease hardware acceleration:
On your Windows desktop, right-click and select
Properties.
On the Settings
tab, click Advanced.
On the Troubleshoot
tab, move the slider left to decrease Hardware
acceleration.
Click OK
until the Display Properties dialog
box closes.
For more information:
Software OpenGL
Open SolidWorks using Software
OpenGL.
If you suspect problems with the graphics adapter, you can start SolidWorks
using Software
OpenGL. This disables the graphics adapter hardware accelerator,
and enables graphics rendering using only software.
To enable Software OpenGL:
Start SolidWorks normally.
Before you open a document:
Click Options
(Standard toolbar) or Tools,
Options.
Select Performance.
Select Use
Software OpenGL.
Click OK.
Open a document and examine the display.
If the display improves, your graphics adapter
is potentially the cause.
If there is no improvement, your graphics
adapter is likely not the cause.