Slow Performance - Screen Flickering

Issue: system performance seems slow or the screen flickers.

Windows Settings

Task Details
Clear Show Windows content while dragging.

To access Show Windows content while dragging:

  1. On your Windows desktop, open the Control Panel and select System and Security > System > Advanced system settings.
  2. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
  3. On the Visual Effects tab, clear Show Windows content while dragging.
  4. Click OK.
Minimize or close graphics windows.

Minimize or close all graphics windows except the current window. Some gaming cards may affect performance with multiple windows open. SOLIDWORKS posts a list of tested graphics adapters.

To view test results for graphics adapters:

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/VideoCardTesting.html
Reduce the number of colors or the screen resolution.

Reducing the number of colors or screen resolution enables you to keep more windows active.

To reduce colors or change screen resolution:

  1. On your desktop, right-click and select Display Settings.
  2. Under Display, select a resolution under Resolution.
  3. To reduce colors:
    1. Click Display adapter properties.
    2. On the Adapter tab, click List All Modes.
    3. Select a mode with a lower value in parenthesis.
  4. Click OK.

SOLIDWORKS Settings

Task Details
Clear Use software OpenGL.

To clear Use Software OpenGL:

  1. Close all open documents.
  2. Click Options (Standard toolbar) or Tools > Options.
  3. On the System Options tab, select Performance.
  4. Clear Use software OpenGL.
  5. Click OK.
Locate the Journal file on your local hard disk drive.

Locating the journal file on a network can slow performance. Set the location to your local hard disk drive.

For more information, seePreventive File Management.
Enable Large Assembly Settings.

If you are working on a large assembly, enable Large Assembly Settings. This option includes some display optimization for large assemblies.

To enable Large Assembly Settings:

  • Click Large Assembly Settings (Assembly toolbar) or Tools > Large Assembly Settings.

    Large Assembly Settings appears on the status bar.
Adjust the level of detail for Large Assembly Settings.

To remove detail during changes to view orientation:

  1. Click Options (Standard toolbar) or Tools > Options and in System Options, select Performance.
  2. Drag the Level of detail slider toward Less (faster).

    This increases performance by decreasing detail during changes in view orientation.

  3. Click OK.