About Improving Windows Performance

Microsoft Windows provides a number of features that allow you to improve your computer’s performance.

You can use the following Windows features to improve the performance of your computer:

• Performance Information and Tools
• Windows Experience Index
• ReadyBoost
• Disk Cleanup

If performance of your AutoCAD-based product seems to be slow, consider doing the following:

• Disable Windows Aero, transparency used for application windows.
• Make sure the latest Service Pack for your AutoCAD-based product is installed.
• Make sure you are running the latest certified driver for your AutoCAD-based product.
• Consider reducing the number of drawing file entries in or the total size of the graphics cache for your AutoCAD-based product. (CACHEMAXFILES and CACHEMAXTOTALSIZE system variables)

For additional information, display the Windows Help and Support viewer to learn how to use the previously mentioned Windows related features, and about other settings that might improve the performance of your computer.

Graphics Cache

The AutoCAD graphics cache improves the performance of opening drawings that contain large numbers of 3D solids (cylinders, spheres, bodies, nurbs surfaces among others). The graphics cache contains one entry per drawing; an entry is created for a drawing if one doesn't already exist when a drawing containing 3D solids is opened, saved or regenerated.

When available, the graphics cache is used while opening or regenerating a drawing instead of computing new geometry. This helps to reduce the amount of memory required to display 3D solids and the overall time needed to regenerate a drawing. If a 3D solid is modified, the information for that object is loaded into memory, and new graphics are generated and stored in the updated cache on the next file save.

The graphics cache remains in the user’s application data folder.