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SolidWorks x64 Edition up and running on Mac Pro

I have the 64-bit version of Solidworks running on my Mac Pro and it's a screamer!

I used Solidworks 2007 x64 Edition on Windows XP x64 Professional on my Mac Pro for a solid 3 hours today at work. I had no problems other than a slow SATA hard-drive issue that is well known and remains unfixed on my machine. However, once Windows has loaded the registry with the program guts it runs like a top, just don't expect it to load up a program for the first time blazingly fast and you'll be fine.

Be that as it may, even with all the hardware issues I still have, SolidWorks is AWESOME on the Mac Pro, even better than any other Intel boxes I've used previously. To be fair, I don't have any experience with SW 2007 x64 on real XP x64 box.

(I posted this on another thread earlier, but at the time I didn't know what I was doing. I felt this information would be of better use under this category.)

For those who want to do this and run the x64 version of XP here's the drivers and the drill:

My Windows software is sourced from a free download of x64 120 day trial version from Windows.

Interestingly enough, I called Microsoft and asked what happens after 120 days, the answer was...."I don't know"...
weird.


Anyway, for those who don't know how to get the format of the download file to be correct for Boot Camp to recognize it as a Windows CD, here's the procedure.

This is all done on the Mac Pro.

1. Download XPx64 from: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/facts/trial.mspx

2. Open Disk Utility

2. Double click downloaded file: WS03SP1 RTM_1830_PX6EN.iso (this will allow you to see it in Disk Utility)

3. In Disk Utility select the WS0...EN.iso file mentioned previously and click the "convert" button.

4. When the "Save as" box pops up set the location to wherever you want ( I named the file the same name w/o the .iso extension and put it on my desktop) and set the Image Format to "DVD/CD master", Encryption to "none"

5. After saving the file, it will show up with a new extension *.cdr. Double click this file in the Disk Utility drive list.

6. After Finder finishes launching the file, go back to Disk Utility and select your new *.cdr file and click the Partition button to the right.

7. Once in the partition window, select Options and set the partition scheme to "Master Boot Record", hit OK.

8. After getting back in the partition window, select Volume Scheme and set to "1 partition", The size should be around 558.62 MB (don't worry about the format set to mac OS extended and the other greyed functions)

9. Select the Burn icon, insert your CD-R, set your post burning options, and have a Coke and a smile. Verify the file format is ISO 9660 file system by selecting the "get info" on the CD under "Finder".

**TIP #1 - make sure you've printed out the e-mail from Microsoft outlining the setup instructions and including the CD-Key. Don't be like me and get 98% through the Windows setup where it asks you for CD-Key and have to power off the computer and get it out of OS X.**

**TIP #2 - Since you are using an Apple keyboard Windows doesn't seem to be able to use it on the blue screen portion of the install. My remedy (after assuming the install locked up 6 times in a row) is to go find a cheap-o usb keyboard and mouse lying around (probably standard Microsoft stuff in your closet) and plug it in to be back of your Mac Pro tower. You do not need to go through the Mac OS hardware setup thing that pops up.

10. After printing out your MS instruction e-mail and plugging in your keyboard and mouse (see above), launch Boot Camp (don't even try to use the driver CD it makes, it's useless for XP x64) and install XP x64.

11. Have a beer and a smile, you will need the alcohol in your blood from here on out.

**TIP #3 - go buy 2 or 3 magazines and get a comfortable chair.**

12. Install Windows, follow the Boot Camp Beta instructions carefully until you get to the part where you install the driver CD. It won't work.

13. Follow these links to get the x64 drivers:

Audio: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dlhd-2.aspx?lineid=2004052&famid=2004052&ser ies=2004061&Software=True&title=HD%20Audio%20CODECs

Nvidia Graphics driver for the 7300GT (remember, this is for Win XP x64 edition so it's not the same as the regularly posted 32 bit version):
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp64_91.47.html

LAN drivers (Be sure to get the x64 version):
Download PROEM64T.exe from the Intel website

13. Update Windows.

**NOTE: I am still having the same driver issues as others that have installed XP x64 on a Mac Pro, for example the Apple keyboard and mouse function, but the Ctl AltDel and Eject CD disk remain non functional.**

14. Install SolidWorks 2007 x64 from the included DVD in your software update box that came in the mail last week.

15. GO TO BED...IT'S 4:30 am!!!

Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7) Microsoft XP x64 Professional

Please correct me on any driver postings if they are in error or missing. These are the ones I used and they are working for me. I do not claim to be a guru (this is only my 7th day of using Macintosh in my entire life), I'm just a CAD guy that has a MacNut for a boss. It was either adapt or die, so I'm hapilly adapted.

Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7) Microsoft XP x64 Professional

Posted on Sep 7, 2006 9:06 PM

Reply
48 replies

Sep 10, 2006 7:29 PM in response to MacSolidWorks

I am shocked!

Only 61 people have viewed this post and no replies.

People I am on a MISSION! We must sweep the abomination of Microsoft CAD monopolization from the electronic landscape.

Did you know that Apple, the very people designing your computers and the software you so dearly love are using...

ProEngineer on MICROSOFT WINDOWS boxes because there is no CAD software worth a dang on Mac.

THIS HAS GOT TO STOP! LIGHT THE TORCHES, PAINT THE SIGNS, WE MUST MARCH IN THE STREETS TO GET A SOLIDWORKS PORT TO THE MAC!

Vive la Mac...Vive la SolidWorks!

Let the revolution begin!

Sep 10, 2006 10:55 PM in response to MacSolidWorks

Being a hardcore Unigraphics user I found your post to be quite helpful in setting up the 64bit version of WinXP, Thanks! BTW I have the 64bit version Unigraphics NX2 up and running, along with SolidWorks 2007!

Some questions:
Did you have to get the HD audio bus driver from MS, when installing the Realtec audio driver it asks for a MS HD audio driver.

What items show up a broke in you device manager

~CT

Sep 11, 2006 7:21 PM in response to Chris Thompson

Glad to see another hard-core CAD guy out there in MacLand.

I'll have to get back to you on an answer for this question. I am presently finishing the slipstream fix for the chipset and SATA driver on my XP 64 disk.

I did notice the new "hot fix" mentioned on the Realtek website, but chose to download the file from Realtek instead. Upon download I noticed a bump up in the revision number, must be the same thing. I'm trying to keep in mind that the BOX is a Mac with Mac hardware and needs Mac drivers, and the OS is microsoft and needs to communicate with that hardware. I'm sticking with the manufacturers drivers, maybe they'll work for a broader range of hardware instead of just for the purpose built Microsoft boxes.

To answer your question, no I did not get this warning message on my first x64 install, everything worked fine. However with this new slipstream fix to get the drives faster, I may encounter the same problem.

I'll let you know.

-MSW

Sep 11, 2006 10:20 PM in response to Chris Thompson

Alright CT, here's the deal.

You'll need to update windows first, they have the HD USB audio device driver update on Windows Update. After this, install the RealTek driver you downloaded earlier. Don't worry about windows saying it found a device but can't find the driver for it, that'll be fixed when you run the Realtek install program.

As far as the broken stuff in Device Manager, it's the usual stuff everyone has (be sure to go to "view", "show hidden devices" to see all the stuff) :

-USB human interface device
-Other device
-unknown device x3 (you will note there is also one unknown device on the Mac os)
-Intel(R) 5000 Series Chipset PCI Express x4 (Port 3 thru Port7)

As far as performance goes, BIG IMPROVEMENT! I did the slipstream fix using the 64bit drivers (obviously) and found out the hard way that you do infact have to use Boot Camp and delete and recreate the partition for a reinstall.
(tried to install on top of existing installation twice...failed twice. Suck!)

I used the picture guide located at:
http://st118.startlogic.com/~macproxp/index.html

I don't understand all the super-geek evaluation stuff when using the recommended evaluation SiSoftware Sandra, but it looks like the drive is listed as a:

ST3250824AS (P)ATA

I thought this driver was supposed to turn it into a SATA drive. Maybe it did and I'm just an idiot. So, I downloaded HD tune (give me a chart anyday over a bunch of gobbledy-gook numbers & letters) and installed it.

Here are the numbers after making about 40 copies of a 59.8 MB file on the desktop to the desktop (to try and tax the processor/hd):

HD Tune: ST3250824AS P Benchmark

Transfer Rate Minimum : 0.6 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Maximum : 66.9 MB/sec
Transfer Rate Average : 20.2 MB/sec
Access Time : 13.0 ms
Burst Rate : 152.4 MB/sec
CPU Usage : 1.5%

This is no where close to 3GB/sec, but a helluva lot faster than 35KB/sec like before, pretty dang fast nonetheless.

Hopefull someone smarter that me can figure out if I'm at the fastest I can go or not.

-MSW

Sep 11, 2006 10:55 PM in response to MacSolidWorks

On the issue of whether I'm at full speed I found a link to a guy that claims to have his SATA drive under XP working at full speed. You can read his post (William Frank Sep. 6, 2006) here: http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/macpro/topic4363.html

For brevity I will post the important part:

William Frank
Finally got my SATA at full speed under Windows XP on my new MacPro. Used the technique mentioned here last week, now at
http://www.macprojournal.com/xp.html and tips from the Macrumors forums.
The OEM 500 Gig Hitachi SATA300
(using HDTach 3.01) tests at an average read of 51.3 MB/sec, and a burst rate of 213.7 MB/sec. System Boots up in half the time of any other PC I've seen, and MS Word 2003 loads in about 4 seconds

My numbers are as follows (using HDTach 3.01 as he did):

250 GB drive
AVERAGE READ: 57.6 MB/s
BURST SPEED: 210.1 MB/s
RANDOM ACCESS: 12.9ms
CPU UTILIZATION: 1%(+/- 2%)

If this guy is right, then it's "Yo, DJ spin that disk", I'm cookin at full speed!

Now to overcome the really hard problem...a driver for my mouse.

-MSW



Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7) Microsoft XP x64 Professional

Sep 12, 2006 8:21 AM in response to MacSolidWorks

That's the trick for me really....

I need a new Mac to replace my aging 1.8 G5 but I also need a 64 Bit PC with a lot of RAM in it (at least 8GB) to run the 64 Bit version of 3dsmax when it is released in October.

The mac Pro is a lot cheaper than an equivalent Dell but if it only sees 2GB of RAM then for me it is next to useless.

Are you sure you don't need another couple of Gigs? 😉

Lots Windows XP Pro G5s, Dells, Boxxtech....

Sep 12, 2006 11:21 AM in response to EricTheRed71

Boy that's a pretty intensive program if you need that much RAM. Sheesh!

I wouldn't give up on the Mac Pro as a viable replacement yet, the support for Windows will get MUCH better with the next release of OS X. All the boot camp features and then some will be integrated into the OS from all the pre-release info from Apple. In addition, Vista is coming out and will contain the 32-bit version and 64-bit version on the same disk.

This is all to say that massive resources are being poured into getting M$ to work on Mac as natively as possible. I know the RAM support is an issue, Apple knows this too and I'm quite sure they are resolving the issue as we speak. ****, their entire advertising campaign is based around the Mac/PC concept, and if that's not enough evidence for you naysayers, how about Apple dumping Motorolla and switching to Intel?

I don't know what you're running now, but the performance out of my Mac Pro with XP x64 is astoundingly fast. I am shocked at not only the speed, but believe it or not, the stability. I HAVE HAD NO OS CRASHES SINCE INSTALLING XP x64. Granted I haven't been using it for very long, but as Windows normally goes, I should have had some kind of problem by now.

My advice (I know you didn't ask) is to wait for Leapord to come out, read the posts on the performance of Windows dual boot on the new OS, and see if the RAM issue has been fixed. Don't throw good money after bad, buy the Mac Pro if they can fix the issue.

-MSW



Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7) Microsoft XP x64 Professional

Sep 12, 2006 12:10 PM in response to EricTheRed71

To shed more light on the RAM support for XP x64, this is from Microsoft's Website:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/overview.mspx

Comparing 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows
The major difference between 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows is memory support. With more memory, you can run more programs at the same time, and run more memory-intensive programs like multimedia, gaming, and database programs. And your computer's performance will be faster overall.

Currently, 32-bit editions of Windows are capable of supporting up to 4 gigabytes (GB) of system memory, with up to 2 GB of dedicated memory per process. Windows Professional XP Edition x64 currently supports up to 128 GB of RAM, with the potential to support up to 16 terabytes of virtual memory as hardware capabilities and memory sizes improve.

Another difference between 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows is the increased number of registers available on 64-bit processors. This enables faster performance for applications that perform intensive floating-point calculations.


It is unknown to me if more memory can be supported with x64 on the Mac Pro as I only have 2GB as stated previously. We need somebody with a boat load of RAM to do the procedure outlined in my original post and tell us.

Those with large amounts of RAM...won't you please help. Think of the children.

Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7) Microsoft XP x64 Professional

Sep 12, 2006 12:24 PM in response to MacSolidWorks

MSW, thanks for your replies!

I really do need a lot of RAM due to the high complexity of the data I am working with - sometimes the CAD data of a complete car. I'm just running up against a memory dead end at the moment and x64 or a 64 bit Vista will make a massive difference to me.
I'm really hoping that the issues with the Mac Pro get sorted out because for the money it looks like a monster. I am pretty confident about it, even just a few weeks ago there was the SATA problem and no-one was even running x64 so progress is being made & quickly.

So.... anyone with more than 2GB showing under Windows, please let us know how!

Sep 12, 2006 6:20 PM in response to MacSolidWorks

MSW,

Thanks for all the posts, big help. I have to agree with the MacPro/SolidWorks 64bit version, way fast! I was actually able to open up one of our large assemblies that we could not open before in SW 32bit. We use to be a SolidWorks house the Switched to UG because of large model issues...oh well...

Anyway thanks again, I'm going to try the slipstream thing and see what happens.

~CT

SolidWorks x64 Edition up and running on Mac Pro

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