What Azure VM setups work well for OpenRoads Designer?

I'd choose the VM size by testing actual OpenRoads work, not by dividing the vCPU count by four. Try one, two and four users actively working at the same time, including the slowest operations your team regularly runs.

Compare responsiveness as well as CPU and GPU use. Single-thread performance, the GPU and the driver path can matter more than the total core count. Four users per VM is a reasonable starting point for a test, but it doesn't tell you whether that density holds up under load.

N-series VMs are a sensible place to look for GPU-backed Azure Virtual Desktop hosts. NV12ads V710 v5 is one size to evaluate against your current setup, though the right users-per-host number still depends on the workload.

One thing to clarify before comparing results: the NVv3 series retired on September 30, 2026. Your question says NV12s_v3, so check the exact deployed SKU and its current availability before planning around it.

I'd keep the storage comparison separate from the VM choice. Azure NetApp Files versus Azure Files Premium isn't a simple expensive-versus-cheap call. Capacity, performance and configuration all affect the comparison, so price both against your actual profile and CAD file requirements.

For a small firm, a scaling plan that starts hosts in the morning and deallocates them after the workday is a useful part of the setup. Check that the schedule covers the hours people actually need before tightening it for savings.