Typical requirements as per use case outlined below
| Tier | Model | Processor | Memory | Graphics | Storage | Approx. Price | Typical Assembly Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Dell Pro Max 18 | Intel Core Ultra 7 | 32GB | NVIDIA RTX 2000 (ADA) – 16GB | 512GB SSD | £2,950 | Up to 500–1,000 parts / moderate mates |
| Better | Dell Pro Max 18 | Intel Core i7 / i9 | 32–64GB | NVIDIA RTX 2000 (Blackwell) – 16GB | 1TB SSD | £3,425 | 1,000–3,000 parts / complex mate structures |
| Best | Dell Pro Max 18 | Intel Core i9 | 64GB | NVIDIA RTX 4000 – 24GB | 2TB SSD | £5,000 | 3,000+ parts / large, highly constrained assemblies |
Why upgrade – what performance will you actually gain?
Four years is a long time in hardware. We looked at what a typical 2022 workstation delivers against its 2026 equivalent across every component that affects SOLIDWORKS performance and what the numbers mean in practice.
Desktop tower workstation — 2022 vs 2026
| Component | 2022 | 2026 | Gain | Solidworks impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU single-thread | 3,400 PassMark | 4,690 PassMark | +38% | Rebuilds, drawings |
| GPU — CAD viewport | Ampere (A2000) | RTX 4500 Ada | +34–87% | Viewport, RealView |
| RAM bandwidth | DDR5 ~50 GB/s | DDR5 ~90 GB/s | ~80% | Large assemblies |
| Storage read speed | ~3,500 MB/s | ~7,000 MB/s | ~100% | File open / PDM |
| Overall gain | — | — | ~55% | Across all workflows |
Why buy through SolidX?
Expert Configuration — We help you configure every workstation specifically for SOLIDWORKS, not generic use. You get the right balance of CPU frequency, RAM, and certified GPU for your actual workflows.
Competitive Pricing — Through our partnerships with both Dell and Euro PC, we offer competitive pricing on both new and certified refurbished Dell workstations without compromising on specification or warranty.
Full Warranty Support — Every system supplied through SolidX includes Dell’s 3 Year Next Business Day on-site warranty as standard. If something fails, Dell is on-site the following business day to get you running again.
SOLIDWORKS Integration — We don’t just sell you hardware and walk away. We ensure it integrates properly with your SOLIDWORKS licensing, PDM vaults, and network infrastructure.
SolidX recommend certified Dell workstations, desktop, mobile, and servers .
We have worked with Dell for just over 2 decades – their build quality, performance and reliability are second to none.
Additionally, their 3 year next day on side warranlty offers excellent peace of mind and ensures you’re never down for long if something does (very rarely) go wrong.
Dell’s 3 Year Next Business Day on-site Warranty
- Hardware and software support
Next business day onsite repairs after remote diagnosic
Proactive and predictive hardware alerts with auto dispatch
24/7 phone access to in-region experts
