Buying a computer capable of running CAD software such as Fusion 360, Inventor, or SolidWorks doesn’t have to break the bank. You will find a wide variety of computers capable of effectively running CAD and CAM software at varying price points. While searching for the perfect CAD workstation to meet your needs there are some things to consider before you buy. Let’s take a look at the different components that make up a PC for some recommendations on what to look for and what to stay away from.

Keep in mind that CAD and CAM requirements can often be very different for a PC. Calculating CAM toolpaths is typically very CPU heavy, and the AMD Ryzen line (3950X and 3900X are a couple notable processors) is a great choice if you’re looking to reduce calculation time. On the other hand, CAD programs can be extremely GPU heavy operations. As a machinist, you usually won’t hit this limit working with single parts or small assemblies – but the more complex your design, the more graphics dependent things get.

CAD Workstations We Recommend

	Desktop (Budget) This desktop is a larger form-factor machine, leaving plenty of room to upgrade later. With mid-range graphics and an SSD, it has plenty of speed for Fusion.
	Desktop (Performance) We used a similar-spec computer to edit NYC CNC videos, but it's also an incredibly powerful computer for Fusion!
	Laptop (Budget, PC) This mid-range gaming laptop is the best value for a low-cost Fusion laptop.
	Laptop (Performance, PC) The Blade is an ultra slim, ultra light gaming laptop. With an SSD, hard drive, and NVIDIA graphics this laptop has plenty of power packed into its small frame.
	Laptop (Apple / Mac) This MacBook Pro is the laptop I carry everyday and often use for Fusion 360, which runs great on it.
	eGPU (Razer Core X) This eGPU is simply an enclosure. You pick a card yourself, and mount it in the Razer to link with your laptop via a Thunderbolt port. These are great for using a light laptop on the go and then docking it when at your desk for extra power.

Hardcore Technical Specs

Operating System (OS)

Nearly all professional CAD and CAM software will run natively on both Windows and Mac OS. Linux support varies from program to program. Typically only 64 bit operating systems are supported, however the majority of computers sold now will run a 64-bit OS. Most new PCs are sold with the latest version of Windows, but the specific edition (e.g. Home vs. Pro) won't make much difference to the CAD software.

If you're an Apple user the latest verson of macOS is recommended. Typically upgrading from a previous version of macOS is free.

The Mac vs PC debate has been going on for years, but which is really the better option? CAD programs will run equally well on both macOS and Windows, what really matters here is hardware. An Apple laptop with the exact same specs and hardware as, say, an ASUS laptop will almost always be more expensive. We have found that a Macbook gets much better battery life than a PC laptop when running Fusion 360, but this may differ from laptop to laptop. This is because Apple designs their OS for ONLY their laptops, and macOS is extremely streamlined while Windows is an OS designed to run on countless brands of PCs sold on the market resulting in a ‘bulkier’ operating system. Because of this, Apple computers can sometimes get away with slightly more while running less powerful hardware. In the end, it really comes down to the specific model you’re looking at, and Mac vs PC is mostly a matter of personal preference.

Processor (CPU)

When looking at a processor, there are two main factors to consider: clock speed and core count. You can think of clock speed like how fast we can machine a part – a higher clock speed gets work done faster. The core count would be comparable to how many machines we had making those parts at the same time, it refers to how much the CPU can handle at once. Also be on the lookout: while a processor may have two cores, it may be hyperthreaded – meaning each core is split into two virtual cores and functioning like a quad core processor. In most cases, a CPU with a very high core count is meant for high workloads and will have a slightly lower clock speed, while a dual-core processor might have a higher clock speed.

While some CAD functionalies are multi-threaded, most only use a single core. Since the majority of the commands are single threaded, the multi-core processors from Intel like the Core i7 series or the AMD Threadripper line may not increase the performance of Fusion 360 or other CAD software.

It is recommend to select a processor based on CPU clock speed instead of core count. For example, if the choice is between a quad-core CPU running at 3.0 GHz or an eight-core CPU running at 2.4 GHz, choose the faster clocked quad-core CPU over the eight-core. It is worth noting that there are processors with both high core counts and clock speeds, but these typically will be more expensive than their counterparts with a high clock/low core count or vice versa.

Graphics Card (GPU)

Computers typically come with two types of graphics, integrated and discrete (typically known as dedicated graphics). Nearly all computers have integrated graphics, but what you’re looking for is a dedicated graphics card to handle CAD processes. You will want to avoid computers with only integrated graphics. Most laptops are able to switch between the two depending on the task at hand to conserve battery, but try to avoid laptops and desktops with only integrated graphics.

AMD and Nvidia are the primary manufacturers of graphics cards, with each having both a gaming series of cards and a professional series. FirePro is AMD’s old line of professional cards, while their new line is called Radeon Pro. Nvidia has the Quadro series (since discontinued and merged with their RTX line). For gaming cards, AMD has the RX series and Nvidia has the RTX line.

Now don’t go out and buy an expensive professional card right away – they have a few caveats. For most CAD work, a gaming grade RTX or RX card works flawlessly. While labelled as ‘gaming’ cards, they perform well at any task that requires graphics intensive work. Where a professional card shines is on tasks with a heavy workload that isn’t necessarily graphics intensive. You will definitely need a professional card if you work with extremely complex models or assemblies with hundreds or thousands of parts. However, for most CAD a gaming card works great! They are also more versatile, and a professional card will actually perform worse at certain tasks than a gaming card because they are designed to handle such specific tasks. You don’t need to buy the most expensive card, the important factors here are budget and your intended use.

Exceptions to the rule: