Expert: Bob - 12/18/2008

Question
QUESTION:

Hello, my problem is that the computer will freeze up for three plus minutes at a time when:
-Switching between Paper Space and Model Space (in most drawings)
-Switching between drawings- especially when one drawing is saved on the desktop and the other is saved on the network
-Using the Undo command
-When plotting (this is generally where it freezes up the longest)

I am using a fairly new computer.  Specs:
Hewlett-Packard
Intel Corel 2 Duo CPU
1.98 Ghz, 2.00 GB RAM
AutoCAD 2006 on a Microsoft XP OS.
User Background: 2 years as a CAD technician for Civil and Landscape engineers.

Also, please that the computer does not freeze up in other programs such as Photoshop.

This all started after working with two large .TIF files that I had to xref into a drawing for an exhibit.

This really kills my efficiency. Any advice or ideas are appreciated.  Thanks.
RR

ANSWER: Hi

I am familiar with the problem, sad to say.

You left out which AutoCAD you have (might matter) and which video card you have (definitely matters)--- put
AUTOCAD VIDEO CARD
into Google, and look for the Autodesk site that lists supported and recommended cards for your release.
You should also check for updated drivers.

Photoshop does not put the same requirements on the card -- and images are raster files, like Pshop, not vector like Acad.

Large image files can make 2 gigs of ram seem crummy -- and they stomp all over the wrong video cards.

as for this>>This all started after working with two large .TIF files that I had to xref into a drawing for an exhibit.
DO YOU MEAN IT NOW DOES IT ON NORMAL FILES????????????????

IF SO -- have you defragged, cleaned out temp files, etc lately (every day with complicated 3D files, for instance) --

IF NOT -- next time turn off the layer where the images reside, unless you need to see them at that moment. (put them on a dedicated layer)

AND-- I hope you mean by "saved on the desktop" that it is on your PC in a folder, and not on the Desktop of the PC -- it is a poor idea to have anything of any size there, as it degrades performance.

Move them AT ONCE, defrag, etc -- and see where you are.

Does this help, or lead you to the right direction?

BOB

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the advice.

My Video card is NVIDIA FX 570, which the AutoDesk website lists as compatible with AutoCAD.  I downloaded Quadro Release 178 and the AutoCAD Performance Driver for AutocAD 2005-2006. I don't know if both are necessary, but hopefully it won't hurt anything.

All these delays and freezes do happen on normal files now- though our normal files can be from 4 to 15 MB.

I have certainly defragged and cleaned out temp files, to no avail. Also, the images are kept on separate layers and turned off unless needed. As for saving things on the desktop, I do admit to doing that out of convenience sometimes.  I have moved the files immediately.  After doing all of this, I restarted the computer and while I haven't checked to see if the other problems are solved yet, plotting is certainly as slow as ever. Hmmm...

Answer
Hi-

OK, cool -- but I dont know if ---compatible with AutoCAD -- means "recommended for your release", and than can vary with which driver is installed, as I best understand. If those huge drawings are 3D, you should have a grade A card, not an OK one.

The delay switching betw local and network drawings is not odd, depending maybe on network issues.

What I don't get is why the delays started with the image files. THAT is the mystery.
---Your AutoCAD files are ENORMOUS for 2D, large even for 3D. (but for all I know, you are on Land Desktop, and they are 3D files, you have not told me.) You should really not be at that size, with any other programs running, on a middling machine, without expecting lots of delays, I think --- but your delays may be excessive.

If the files have lots of errors, especially LDDT or ADT files, they can be much smaller than that, and cause big problems, because AutoCAD has to basically redraw them for each regen, PS/MS change, or plot -- and errors make it "take its time to figure out what to do", more or less.
Are you bringing in problematic drawings from outside??
Did you start using more blocks, some of which might have problems and be slowing you down?
Did the network add more software, including spy, etc, stuff?
Do you have a lot of other things running at the same time?
etc -- all the typical checklist.

Barring solving the mystery (only you can say what is different since then)
-- with that file size, I would want a much stronger computer, assuming my time is worth money.  You might also find that upgrading to the latest software (again more money) helps, since 2007 on seem to have gotten a bit less taxing on computer resources.

Maybe you can send your drawings to someone in your field who is willing to check them for factors that slow you down.  I am an Interior Designer, not good at Civil, land, etc.  Try posting in Autodesk forums, maybe.

That's all I can think of -- hope it points you somewhere good.

BOB