With 2019 just around the corner, Revit 2019 will start to gain traction. Along with every new version of Revit, Autodesk publishes a set of requirements and in this post we’ll cover the Revit 2019 system requirements in detail.
Operating System
It’s no surprise that the Revit 2019 system requirements include a 64 bit Windows operating system. This requirement hasn’t changed in several years and the supported versions are as follows:
- Microsoft® Windows® 7 SP1 64-bit: Enterprise, Ultimate, Professional, or Home Premium
- Microsoft® Windows® 8.1 64-bit: Enterprise, Pro, or Windows 8.1
- Microsoft® Windows® 10 64-bit: Enterprise, or Pro
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
A central processing unit (CPU) is the component in a computer that carries out the instructions of a program by performing the basic arithmetic, logical, control and input/output (I/O) operations. Said differently, the CPU is the brains of the operation.
The Revit 2019 system requirements specify that the application will use multiple cores for many tasks, using up to 16 cores for near-photorealistic rendering operations. I think it also goes without saying that the highest affordable CPU speed rating will always be recommended.
Entry Level
-Single- or Multi-Core Intel®
-Pentium®, Xeon®, or i-Series processor or AMD® equivalent with SSE2 technology.
Balanced
-Multi-Core Intel Xeon, or i-Series processor or AMD equivalent with SSE2 technology.
Performance
Multi-Core Intel Xeon, or i-Series processor or AMD equivalent with SSE2 technology.
Random-Access Memory (RAM)
Random-access memory (RAM) is the component that handles a special type of data storage. Rather than storing long-term data like the files on your hard drive, this type of memory temporarily stores data and code that is currently in use.
With that being said, more RAM does not necessarily make your computer run faster. Typically, more RAM allows your to do more things at the same time, but in the context of the Revit 2019 system requirements, more RAM will ease some of the pain while working on larger Revit models. It is worth noting that the numbers below are based on Autodesk’s internal testing and customer reports.
Entry-Level
4 GB RAM
(Sufficient for a 100 MB Revit model.)
Balanced
8 GB RAM
(Sufficient for a 300 MB Revit model.)
Performance
16 GB RAM
(Sufficient for a 700 MB Revit model.)
Video Display Resolution
Resolution defines the number of pixels that your computer outputs to your monitor. When working in graphically intense applications, the lower resolution will typically perform better.
The Revit 2019 systems requirements are no different, being as working in the Revit is heavily involved in displaying 2D and 3D graphics. So make a note for yourself – if your computer seems sluggish when hooked up to your shiny new 4k display, try turning the resolution down and see if it helps smooth your pan, zoom, and orbit functions.
Per the Revit 2019 system requirements, Revit supports several display resolutions up to 4k/UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels). The table below outlines the minimum resolutions for each level of hardware.
Entry-Level
1280 x 1024 with true color.
Balanced
1680 x 1050 with true color.
Performance
1920 x 1200 with true color.
Video Adapters
Video adapters are like their own motherboards in themselves. They contain the same components that we mentioned earlier, except their RAM and graphics processing units (GPU, not CPU) are dedicated for processing and outputting graphics.
Below are the minimum requirements for video adapters per the Revit 2019 system requirements. It is worth noting that while these are the minimum requirements, Autodesk’s online tool can help you select certified and recommended graphics hardware.
Entry-Level
Basic:Display adapter capable of 24-bit color
Advanced: DirectX® 11 capable graphics card with Shader Model 3
Balanced
DirectX 11 capable graphics card with Shader Model 5
Performance
DirectX 11 capable graphics card with Shader Model 5
Hard Disk Requirements
Unlike RAM, your hard disk stores files for the long term.
Revit occupies quite a bit of space once installed, especially if you’re installing the built-in material and family libraries. At minimum, you need 5 GB of free space on your hard drive. Note that the standard Autodesk Revit family libraries alone total over 2 GB.
The Revit 2019 system requirements do not specify a minimum hard disk speed, but if you’re working with point clouds you’ll want something faster than your average hard disk (typically 5,400 or 7,200 RPM). The Revit 2019 system requirements specify that a 10,000 RPM hard disk or solid state drive (SSD) are ideal for dealing with point cloud data in Revit 2019.
Conclusion
Overall, the Revit 2019 system requirements are fairly reasonable and, as usual, it really comes down to budget. For just around $1,000 USD you can find several powerful desktops on the market that meet the performance specs above, however if portability is a requirement and you need a laptop, you’ll probably be shopping within the realm of the balanced requirements.