SOLIDWORKS and Mac?

 

Can SOLIDWORKS run on a Mac ?

That is a question we see more often in support and generally spoken, SOLIDWORKS, as all other professional CAD system, has requirements to configuration and performance

- Let's cover this request in this article.

 

We have an article about requirement specification here and SOLIDWORKS has a well defined and continuously updated specification here.

PLM Group is obligated to follow and recommend hardware from the list, basically meaning;

Are you using different hardware and/or operating systems than required, this is on your own risk, as SOLIDWORKS cannot guarantee successful operations via non-supported programs and/or hardware.

 

Let's first look at a description of the differences between Mac and PC:

Mac:

 - Produced by Apple

 - Mac = Machintosh

 - Operating system = MacOS (or previously OS X)

 

PC:

 - Many vendors such as Asus, Acer, HP, Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens, etc.

 - PC = Personal Computer

 - Comes mainly with Windows as operating system (could also be Linux, etc.)

 

 

So can SOLIDWORKS run on a Mac? - Well, that questions needs a bit of explanation...;

 

3DEXPERIENCE 

If you use 3DEXPERIENCE X-apps like xShape, xDesign and xGenerative Design, then the answer is yes - actually you can run 3DEXPERIENCE in a browser, on a tablet or even your mobile phone, in case you want to.

 

Read more about the platform here and the different x-apps here  

 

 

DESKTOP VERSION 

If you're running a desktop version of SOLIDWORKS, either SOLIDWORKS desktop license or 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Connector, the answer is no - unless you run it with via bootcamp or a virtual computer.

 

Is it supported by PLM Group and SOLIDWORKS?

 - If  you're running 3DEXPERIENCE via browser, yes, PLM Group and SOLIDWORKS can support you - also, check out the great communities in the platform e.g. SWYM Communities and User Assistance

 - If you have a SOLIDWORKS desktop version; unfortunately the answer is 'no'; PLM Group and SOLIDWORKS are not obligated to support SOLIDWORKS if not being executed on a Windows operating system on a dedicated Windows PC.

SOLIDWORKS Desktop versions are Microsoft Windows based programs that requires Windows operating system (OS) to run.

 

 

 

 

 

But I saw someone using SOLIDWORKS on a Mac...

That is correct; SOLIDWORKS desktop versions can be launched on Mac either:

1. via Bootcamp partition - Intel Macs - most Macs produced before 2020)

or

2. via virtual PC - Intel and M1 / ARM Architecture (most Macs produced after 2020)

 

No one stops you from running another operating system on your Mac (partitioned or virtual PC).

And if you install Windows on your Mac, you should be able to run SOLIDWORKS. 

Just be aware that:

 

PLM Group and SOLIDWORKS are not obligated to support SOLIDWORKS programs running on another hardware and/or operating system than intended.

 

However, If you choose to do it anyhow, please also be aware of the following:

 

Apple Mac with Intel architecture:

You can partition your Apple Mac Intel architecture workstation, and install a windows version on it  

 

Apple Mac with M1 architecture

Since 2020 Apple has launched their in-house Solid State M1 architecture, which does not support partitioning drives. So I it not possible to install a dedicated Windows version on your harddisk, but It is possible to run a virtual machine on an Apple Mac M1 architecture like; Parallels, VMWare Fusion, etc. 

 

For above non-supported methods, be aware that if you run a Windows version via virtual machine, your Windows operating system will only be allowed to use maximum 50% of your workstations CPU and GPU, basically meaning that your performance will be maximum 50% of your hardwares capacity or, in other words, half the capacity of what a Windows PC with the same specifications would perform.

Also SOLIDWORKS always recommend to run SOLIDWORKS on a dedicated computer with separate graphic card for best performance.

SOLIDWORKS cannot guarantee optimal experience, stability and performance if another than suggested graphic cards are being used 

You can see approved graphic card specifications here.

 

 

PLM Group always suggest running SOLIDWORKS on a dedicated and certified Windows PC for best performance and the option for us to assist you

 

Feel free to reach out to us, to get a better understanding of your options