I recently left a job and no longer have access to the computer I used for SolidWorks, including for personal projects. I'd like to build a system that can remain useful for the next five or six years, but I'm not very experienced with PC hardware. My current idea is to buy the CPU and motherboard new, then look for the graphics card, memory, storage, power supply, and case on the local used market. The proposed parts list is a Ryzen 7 9700X, B650 motherboard, 64GB of DDR5, an RTX 4070 or 4070 Super, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and a 650–750W power supply. Does this make sense for SolidWorks, and where would you compromise to stay near $1,000?
3 Answers
The parts list is well over the budget once everything is added up, especially with 64GB of DDR5 and an RTX 4070-class card. Used parts can help a lot, but I’d set realistic prices for every component before committing. A previous parts list generated by an AI tool looked like a $1,500 build but actually came out closer to $2,400, so treat those lists as a starting point rather than a final shopping plan.
A used RTX 4070 could be worth considering if you find one at a good price, but don’t stretch the budget just to match that exact GPU. Some newer cards, such as the Radeon 9070 XT, may offer strong performance, but they are probably too expensive for this build and may not be the best choice if SolidWorks certification and driver support matter to you. Check the software’s supported hardware list before buying.
For SolidWorks, prioritize strong single-core CPU performance and a reliable, compatible graphics card over chasing the highest gaming specifications. If the budget is firm, consider a previous-generation platform and possibly DDR4 instead of DDR5. You may be able to get 32GB initially and add more later, depending on the size of your assemblies and other workloads.
I’m still learning the differences between DDR4 and DDR5. If I go with DDR4 and an older platform, are there particular CPU generations or models you’d recommend looking for?
That’s exactly why I wanted feedback from people who have actually built systems for this kind of work. I’m prepared to hunt for used parts and possibly reuse or salvage anything suitable.