CAD Without Compromise: AMD Talks SOLIDWORKS at 3D Experience World 2026

Dassault Systèmes®  3D Experience World returns to Houston from February 1-4, bringing SOLIDWORKS users, vendors, and industry professionals together across a wide range of fields and professions. The show is an excellent opportunity to explore the future of the CAD/CAE industry while also learning workflow improvements, new ideas, and useful optimizations.

If you're looking to connect with AMD, we'll be on-site with OEM partners like Dell and HP to demo and discuss the latest AMD Ryzen™ AI PRO, Ryzen Threadripper™ PRO, and Ryzen™ AI Max PRO processors. Additionally, I'll be sharing workstation optimization tips for SOLIDWORKS and Visualize at the 3DEXPERIENCE Theater in the Playground on Monday at 4PM, and at with HP and Dell booths on Tuesday, at 11 AM and 4 PM, check your schedule for locations.

At Dell's booth, we'll discuss mobile and tower workstation form factors, from Dell Pro Max laptops to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO processors that power the Dell Precision 7875. At HP's, we'll showcase Ryzen AI PRO Max Series processors and their unique value to the workstation market.

Integrated Graphics Growns Up 

Historically, CAD/CAE applications have been a poor match for the integrated graphics many consumer systems rely on. Limited memory bandwidth and low core counts meant iGPUs were too slow and feature-limited to run demanding workloads or navigate assemblies smoothly.

This is no longer the case.

AMD Ryzen AI PRO Max Series processors combine an efficient GPU engine, a wide, high-speed unified memory architecture, and a much larger GPU core to redefine what users can expect from a laptop or diminutive SFF (Small Form Factor) workstation. Systems like the HP ZBook Ultra G1a and Z2 Mini G1a offer up to 16 desktop-equivalent CPU cores to accelerate the 3DS Stellar Accurate rendering model, while the discrete-class integrated AMD Radeon™ GPU provides quick iterative updates and excellent overall viewport responsiveness.

Recent integrated graphics performance gains aren't limited to the top of the market, either. As this joint HP and AMD report discusses, the iGPU built into recent AMD Ryzen PRO and Ryzen AI PRO processors provides reasonable performance for lighter weight rendering tasks.

These improvements arrive at a fortuitous time. Many of the changes in SOLIDWORKS 2026 are intended to help viewport renders more closely resemble final output. RealView® now includes much of the Dassault Systèmes® physically-based rendering (DSPBR) model, for example, while Visualize supports it in its entirely. Visualize and SOLIDWORKS are more closely connected than before, and the 3DS Stellar rendering engine now supports the Vulkan graphics API. This enables ray tracing on the AMD graphics cards based on the AMD RDNA 2 architecture and all following designs, including RDNA 3, RDNA 3.5, and RDNA 4.

While the largest assemblies still require discrete GPUs, integrated graphics are an increasingly plausible alternative for users who prioritize battery life, power efficiency, and form factor alongside performance. Dassault Systèmes’ decision to unify its visual pipeline across multiple products and its increased emphasis on image quality at every stage of production aligns well with the expanding capabilities of iGPUs. Further details on SOLIDWORKS 2026 improvements and the strengths AMD processors bring to this market are available here.

Optimizing Your System for SOLIDWORKS

My presentations focus on optimizing your workstation for SOLIDWORKS, including OS-level and application-level tweaks that impact everything from UI lag to network-related search delays. Most of the optimizations we'll cover are vendor agnostic, so you don't need to be running hardware from any specific manufacturer or OEM to take advantage of them.

Dr. Adi “DrPax" Pandzic, a mechanical engineer, material testing coordinator, and assistant professor at the University of Sarajevo, will join me at the HP booth to talk through his real-world SOLIDWORKS experience and how eliminating workstation bottlenecks transforms 3D modelling and design. Dr. Pandzic was a winner in the SOLIDWORKS 30th Anniversary model competition and has been featured in an AMD and Dell case study focused on 3D design education using Dell Precision systems powered by AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO CPUs. A time-lapse video of his design skills in action is embedded above. Dr. Pandzic’s presentations combine a deep knowledge of SOLIDWORKS with a love of education, and it’s always interesting to see him speak from stage.

Whether you come for the forecasting, technical sessions, or product announcements you are welcome to stop by the Dell, Lenovo, and HP booths. We’ll be available to answer questions, discuss solutions, and share ideas for system-level performance optimizations. I look forward to seeing you at the show.

AMD works closely with leading ISVs like SOLIDWORKS to optimize, certify, and validate professional hardware and drivers, helping ensure reliable performance and compatibility across enterprise design workflows. Learn More