Is It Possible to Use Solidworks on Linux with Full Performance?

Your best bet may honestly be to maintain two separate machines: one for Solidworks on Windows and one for everything else on Linux. Sometimes sharing resources like storage can create issues with performance, but you can use software to share inputs like your mouse and keyboard. It’s not ideal, but it could help you get the benefits of both systems without too much hassle.

I can relate—I’ve set up a Windows 11 VM with GPU passthrough for my work too. It was quite the journey, but now it runs without issues. I’ve dedicated a secondary GPU for the VM, while my main GPU handles my daily tasks. If you choose this route, just be prepared for some initial setup complexity. But once it’s done, you can enjoy working on demanding CAD projects without compromising performance.

There's a chance you could run Solidworks using WINE, which has less overhead than a full VM. However, compatibility can often be hit or miss. I found a GitHub project designed to help install Solidworks in WINE, but keep in mind that it doesn’t support all features you may rely on, especially add-ins or macros. It might be worth a shot if you want to experiment without committing to a complex VM setup.

Honestly, sticking with Windows seems like the most practical option for now. You can get a lean version of Windows that removes a lot of bloatware, which might help with performance. Setting up GPU passthrough can be a headache, especially if stability is a concern with your specific workflow and the software support you need. You mentioned looking into running Linux in Windows—have you explored that option at all?

Making Linux work in your situation is definitely tough. If Solidworks is a must and there aren't any solid alternatives for your project scale, Windows might still be your best bet. That said, the performance hit from VMs isn’t as bad as you might think. You can set up a dedicated GPU for a Windows VM through passthrough, which lets you assign the entire GPU to the VM while Linux runs on integrated graphics. This might give you a good balance while still letting you run backups easily. Keep in mind though, it might not be as reliable as a direct Windows install, and there’s always a risk of things going wrong with the additional complexities of virtualization.