How to optimise your workstation for Vectorworks 2025

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VECTORWORKS is a CAD program for building information modelling (BIM). 3D models can be created from 2D models, the data of your building is digitally modelled and displayed as a virtual model. VECTORWORKS was developed for architects, engineers and construction artists.

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The best VECTORWORKS workstation recommendations from Uli Ludwig

Intel Core vs. Xeon: Which CPU is the best choice for architecture firms in VECTORWORKS 2025 - from design to complex BIM projects?

When selecting the optimum CPU for VECTORWORKS 2025, the question often arises: Intel Core or Intel Xeon? The answer depends largely on the size and complexity of your architecture projects. In the following, we provide you with a well-founded decision-making aid - tailored to the requirements of small, medium-sized and complex projects.

1. small architectural projects - Intel Core is ideal

For smaller architectural projects such as detached houses, small interior concepts or competition designs with limited geometry and simple visualisations, a modern 13th or 14th generation Intel Core i5 or i7 offers outstanding performance.

Advantages:

  • High single-core performance - ideal for many functions in VECTORWORKS that are not heavily parallelised.

  • Less expensive to purchase.

  • Good clock frequencies (e.g. 4.5 - 5.6 GHz boost).

  • Ideal in combination with 16-32 GB RAM.

Recommendation:

Intel Core i7-13700K or i7-14700K - excellent price-performance ratio.

2. medium VECTORWORKS projects - Intel Core i9 or Xeon entry-level class

If your projects are of medium complexity - such as multi-storey residential buildings, small commercial units or projects with more extensive BIM models - the demands on the CPU also increase.

Option A - Intel Core i9:

  • Very high clock frequency and modern architecture (performance and efficiency cores).

  • Very good single-thread performance, combined with up to 24 threads.

  • Better suited for fast work in design and implementation planning.

Option B - Intel Xeon (W series):

Stability and ECC RAM support (for error correction during longer computing processes).

Slightly lower clock frequency, but optimised for continuous load and stability.

Recommendation:

  • For performance-orientated CAD work: Intel Core i9-14900K

  • For higher reliability and professional workstations: Intel Xeon W-2565X

3. complex, large VECTORWORKS projects - Intel Xeon workstation processors

For large-scale projects - e.g. high-rise buildings, complex campus buildings, urban developments or projects with extensive BIM collaboration - there is no way around a professional workstation. This is where Intel Xeon W processors really come into their own:

Advantages:

  • Support for very large RAM (e.g. 128-512 GB RAM and ECC).

  • High number of CPU cores (up to 56 cores in high-end configurations).

  • Optimised for continuous load and parallel processes - important for rendering, data preparation, IFC exports and simulations.

Recommendation:

Intel Xeon W-2400 or W-3400 series, e.g. Xeon W7-2475X

Optionally in combination with Nvidia RTX Workstation GPU for render workflows.

Note on VECTORWORKS 2025

VECTORWORKS 2025 primarily benefits from high single-core performance, as many tasks (e.g. drawing, navigation) are not parallelised. Multi-core is only advantageous for rendering (e.g. with Redshift or Cineware) or for certain export processes. The choice should therefore always be based on the actual work processes in the office. We will be happy to advise you.

For VECTORWORKS 2025, the choice of RAM depends on the project size and the desired system stability. Here is a recommendation for DDR4 vs. DDR5 as well as ECC vs. non-ECC for different project sizes:

1. RAM recommendations according to project size

2. DDR4 vs. DDR5 - performance difference

DDR4 (e.g. 3200-3600 MHz):

  • Good performance for VECTORWORKS, cheaper, mature technology.

  • Sufficient for most architectural projects.

DDR5 (e.g. 4800-6400 MHz):

  • Higher bandwidth and efficiency, but more expensive.

  • Advantages for large BIM models and renderings.

  • Better future-proofing, but not yet essential.

3. ECC vs. non-ECC - when is error correction worthwhile?

ECC-RAM (Error-Correcting Code)

  • Prevents data corruption (important for servers/workstations).

  • Recommended for critical workflows (e.g. lengthy renderings, large BIM data).

  • Disadvantage: Higher costs, slightly slower than non-ECC.

Non-ECC RAM

  • Standard for consumer PCs, cheaper and faster.

  • Sufficient for most architecture projects as long as the system is stable.

4. Optimal configurations

Our conclusion:

  • For most users, 32-64 GB DDR4 (Non-ECC) is sufficient.

  • For large BIM projects, DDR5 + ECC (e.g. with AMD Ryzen Pro or Intel Xeon) is worthwhile.

  • Workstations such as HP Z-Series, Dell Precision or Lenovo ThinkStation support ECC and high RAM capacities.

Modern architecture software such as VECTORWORKS 2025 requires powerful hardware to enable smooth working in 2D and 3D. The graphics card in particular plays a decisive role - it influences the performance when displaying complex models, renderings and real-time visualisations.

But which NVIDIA graphics card is the right one for your architecture firm? The requirements vary depending on the size of the project:

  • Small projects (single-family homes, interior design)

  • Medium-sized projects (apartment blocks, commercial buildings)

  • Complex projects (large-scale projects, BIM, photorealistic renderings)

In this comparison, we analyse which NVIDIA GPU (from the RTX 4000 series to the workstation class) is the best choice for your requirements - taking performance, price and future-proofing into account.

Which graphics card offers the best price/performance ratio for your projects? Read on to find the best solution for your architectural office.

VECTORWORKS 2025 uses the GPU for real-time rendering, 3D modelling and complex visualisations. Choosing the right NVIDIA graphics card depends on the project size and requirements. Here is a comparison of the NVIDIA GeForce (gaming/prosumer) and RTX (workstation) series for different architecture projects.

1. Small VECTORWORKS projects (simple residential buildings, interior design)

  • Requirements: 2D plans, simple 3D models, low render load.

  • Recommended GPUs:

    • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 / RTX 4070

      • Good price-performance, sufficient for real-time visualisations in VECTORWORKS.

      • 8-12 GB VRAM for basic textures and lighting calculations.

    • NVIDIA RTX A2000 (12 GB)

      • Workstation alternative with optimised drivers for CAD software.

      • Greater stability during longer work phases.

  • Comparison:

The RTX 4070 is faster in real-time applications, the A2000 offers better stability for professional workloads.

2. Medium-sized VECTORWORKS projects (apartment blocks, commercial buildings)

  • Requirements: Detailed 3D models, medium-sized renderings, BIM data.

  • Recommended GPUs:

    • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti / RTX 4080

      • 12-16 GB VRAM for higher texture quality and more complex scenes.

      • Good performance for real-time rendering in Vectorworks.

    • NVIDIA RTX A4000 (16 GB)

      • Workstation card with more CUDA cores and better scaling for CAD applications.

      • Ideal for BIM models and medium-sized renderings.

  • Comparison:

The RTX 4080 is often faster in benchmarks, but the A4000 offers better driver support for professional software.

3. Complex VECTORWORKS projects (large projects, high-rise buildings, photorealistic renderings)

  • Requirements: Highly detailed models, large amounts of BIM data, ray tracing, GPU rendering (Redshift, Enscape).

  • Recommended GPUs:

    • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (24 GB)

      • The fastest consumer GPU with enough VRAM for demanding scenes.

      • Ideal for real-time visualisation and GPU rendering.

    • NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada (32 GB) / RTX 6000 Ada (48 GB)

      • Workstation cards with massive VRAM for extremely large projects.

      • Optimised for stable performance in Vectorworks and rendering pipelines.

  • Comparison:

The RTX 4090 offers similar raw performance to the RTX 5000 Ada, but the workstation cards have more VRAM and better error correction (ECC) for critical workloads.

Conclusion: GeForce vs RTX Workstation for Vectorworks 2025

Recommendation:

  • Budget option: GeForce RTX 4070 Ti / 4080 (good performance for small to medium projects).

  • Professional workstations: RTX A4000 / RTX 5000 Ada (better stability and more VRAM for large projects).

  • High-end rendering: RTX 4090 or RTX 6000 Ada (depending on budget and project requirements).

The workstation cards are worthwhile for architecture firms focussing on BIM and large models, while smaller offices are well served with the GeForce series at a reasonable price. If you have any questions about hardware configuration, we will be happy to help!

VECTORWORKS 2025 places high demands on storage performance, especially for large or data-intensive projects. The correct hard disk configuration is crucial for smooth working, short loading times and stable performance - both for local processing and for server-based work in the network.

General recommendations (system drive - C:)

Regardless of project size or working method:

  • SSD (Solid State Drive) - NVMe M.2 recommended

  • Capacity: at least 500 GB, ideally 1 TB or more

  • Only the operating system, VECTORWORKS and temporary project files should be located here

  • Advantage: fast boot times, responsive software, short loading times

Project-related VECTORWORKS configurations

1. small VECTORWORKS projects (e.g. detached houses, simple interiors)

Local:

  • SSD (SATA or NVMe) is sufficient - e.g. second internal SSD or external SSD via USB-C

  • Capacity: 1TB (project-related)

  • Backup to external hard drive or NAS recommended

Server-based:

  • Access via fast LAN (Gigabit or faster)

  • Project files on a central file server with SSD cache or fast RAID system

  • Suitable: RAID 5 or RAID 10 with SSD support

2. medium-sized VECTORWORKS projects (e.g. residential complexes, commercial buildings, interior fittings with depth of detail)

Local:

  • Dedicated fast SSD (NVMe recommended) for project data

  • Capacity: 1 TB - 2 TB, depending on data volume

  • Regular synchronisation with central backup/NAS

Server-based:

  • Network storage with at least RAID 10 or SSD cache

  • Connection via 2.5 Gbit/s or higher, especially for multiple users

  • Server should deliver fast IOPS values (ideally SSD-only or hybrid array)

3. complex VECTORWORKS projects (e.g. BIM models, large-scale projects, urban development, infrastructure)

Local:

  • Dedicated NVMe SSD for project data, ideally on PCIe 4.0 or higher

  • Capacity: 1-4 TB (project-related)

  • Read/write speed: ≥ 3,000 MB/s

  • Optional: separate drive for temporary and cache files (e.g. RAM disc or second NVMe SSD)

Server-based:

  • High-performance server with SSD-only storage or NVMe RAID

  • Connection via 10 Gbit network or faster (especially for multiple simultaneous accesses)

  • Projects should be cached locally (e.g. using a sync client) to avoid bottlenecks

Recommendation for data organisation:

  • Clearly separate the project directory structure: ‘Active’, “Archive”, ‘Exports’

  • Local caching for server projects reduces loading times and protects against network problems

  • Schedule regular backups - locally AND on the server side

Conclusion:

The choice of hard drive configuration should be based on the complexity and working methods of your projects. For maximum performance, a server-based SSD or NVMe-based system with high bandwidth is recommended for complex projects and network-based collaboration. For smaller projects, a fast internal SSD is sufficient, ideally in combination with an external backup.

I would be happy to support you in planning an optimal IT infrastructure for VECTORWORKS 2025.

Workstation recommendations for Vectorworks