Reducing SolidWorks memory use

I started using Microsoft Task Manager the other day to see what was
going on with SolidWorks after a program freeze and found some very
interesting things were happening. I've tested this on two systems with
different SP's of SolidWorks with the same results. I found that
SolidWorks uses about 100MB when loaded. It grows when parts or
assemblies are loaded. The interesting thing is what happens after
laoding a decent sized assembly then open a small part and then close
the part. The part can be one in the assembly or a seperate part.
Major memory use drop ocures when the small part is closed. Eventually
after working for a while the memory useage will grow and not be
completely released as files are closed. Closing all files after a
little activity still resulted in SolidWorks using around 300 MB with
nothing open. I'm going to be opening and closing a small file after
loading a large assembly from now on just to see how it effects
SolidWorks usage during the day.

Systems:

#1
Athlon 2200+
1 GB ram
120 GB HDD
Windows XP Pro SP 2.0
SolidWorks 2005 SP 1.0EV

#2
Athlon 2000+
1 GB ram
80 GB HDD
Windows XP Pro SP1.0
SolidWorks 2005 SP0.0

I'm monitoring the SLDWORKS.exe Process with task manager.

The sample assembly stats are as follows:
Total components 1285
Parts 1175
Unique parts 439
Sub-assemblies 110
resolved components 1244

Results for SLDWORKS.exe process:

Start Solidworks 99,500K
open sample assy 700,656K (reached over 800 during load)
Open small part(89K) 710,584K
close small part 142,644K

SolidWorks released 567,940K when closing the 89K part and still having
the large assembly open. It doesn't seem to reach the big number again
after opening and closing the small part. I'd rather start my day with
142MB used instead of 700MB!! It's got to help stability and performance.

Dave H

 

I knew it had memory release problems as well, but I didn't realize how
bad it was. Opening and closing an 89K file to free up over 550 MB is
amazing.

Dave H

 

Here is somebody who realizes it:
http://www.kfoxtv.com/technology/4054850/detail.html

 

Dave & All,
Hers is what I found out while performing some testing:

I could not reproduce the problem using SW04 on WIN 2000 but I could
with SW05 SP0.1 on WINDozzzzzz Xpee (laptop). However, I stumbled upon
something else that proves there is a major problem with SW not
releasing memory properly. Most importantly, I found a simple solution.

SW2005 SP0.1
Boot up SW - 96MB
Open Assembly - 180MB
Open Part - 187MB
Close Part 50MB

Here's the topper:
Boot up SW - 96MB
Iconify - 5.6KB
Maximize - 2.5KB
In the same session:
Open Assembly - 110MB
Iconify - 6.426KB
Maximize - 26MB
(Please note the "KB" versus "MB" numbers.)

I have no clue what's going on, nor do I really want to know. What I
do know is if you want your memory back, Iconify SW, then Maximize and
then go back to work. Better than an Exit or a Re-Boot.
Eddie

 

Sorry, yes. Minimize or make it an icon.
Also, as I noted on the SW Discussion Forum, any desktop application
that is in a minimized state uses less memory.
Check it out. Hopefully SW does and then finds an answer to their leaky
application.

 

This is interesting behavior though there may be a logical explaination.

Say SW isn't leaky in this regard. My guess is that SW minimized has no
graphical calculation and only needs to keep minimal data in que. Then you
maximize and SW stores every visible graphical surface into memory. Rotate
your part and more surfaces get cached into memory. Rotate even more and
more surfaces get cached. Eventually you plateau and SW has now cached
every surface of your model. Now you start working with the model arrowing
over edges and points and surfaces and SW starts caching more graphical
data. This would allow SW to show instant feedback but would eat up lots of
memory and looks like a leaky program.

Corey