If you are in the process of upgrading to Windows 7 (64-bit) and are still using Civil 3D 2009 you might notice files take longer to save.  In this example we are saving a 65mb file (very large file).  To save the file to the C: drive with Civil 3D 2009 on Windows XP it takes 45 seconds.  Whereas, with Civil 3D 2009 loaded on Windows 7 the same file takes 1.5 minutes to save.  So essentially, the file takes twice as long to save.  I have no idea why it takes longer to save, it just does.  Also note, C3D 2009 is not officially supported on Win7.

However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Civil 3D 2011 (64-bit), with ISAVEPERCENT set to 50% – after the 1st two saves – only takes 15 seconds to save the file.  So essentially it takes 1/3 of the time it took C3D 2009 to save on XP; an increase in proficiency.

After the jump see some more save-time results.  Including over the LAN and WAN (w\ Riverbeds).

System Specs:
HP EliteBook 8730w
Processor = 2.66GHz – Dual Core
Memory = 8Gb of Ram
Network = 1Gbps card

 

TEST #1 (C: drive):

Saves were made on the C: drive (local).  The same file was used for all the below tests (65mb file, exceptionally large file).  No changes were made to the file between these saves and ISAVEPERCENT was set to 50% in AutoCAD.

C3D 2009
Save-times of 65mb CAD file to C: drive
1^st save = (1:33)
2^nd save = (1:22)
3^rd save = (1:30)
4^th save = (1:25)
Average = (1:27)

C3D 2011
Save-times of 65mb CAD file to C: drive
1^st save = (1:13) – outlier (ISAVEPERCENT cache)
2^nd save = (1:15) – outlier (ISAVEPERCENT cache)
3^rd save = (0:11)
4^rd save = (0:15)
5^rd save = (0:14)
6^th save = (0:15)
Average = (0:13) – saves are a consistent 15 seconds.  A 1:30 minute improvement over C3D 2009 (600%).

TEST #2 (LAN):

Saves were made to the local network (LAN).  The same file was used for all the below tests (65mb file, exceptionally large file).  No changes were made to the file between these saves and ISAVEPERCENT was set to 50% in AutoCAD.

C3D 2009
Save-times of 65mb CAD file over LAN:
1^st save = (1:40)
2^nd save = (1:28)
3^rd save = (1:34)
4^th save = (1:31)
Average = (1:33)

C3D 2011
Save-times of 65mb CAD file over LAN:
1^st save = (1:29) – outlier (ISAVEPERCENT cache)
2^nd save = (1:33) – outlier (ISAVEPERCENT cache)
3^rd save = (0:26)
4^th save = (0:35)
5^rd save = (0:30)
6^rd save = (0:31)
Average = (0:30) – consistent 30 second saves.  A 1:00 minute improvement over C3D 2009.

TEST #3 (WAN w\ Riverbeds):

Saves were made over Riverbed products (across WAN).  The same file was used for all the below tests (65mb file, exceptionally large file).  No changes were made to the file between these saves and ISAVEPERCENT was set to 50% in AutoCAD.

C3D 2009 – (WAN patch applied)
Save-times of 65mb CAD file over the WAN:
1^st save = (7:47) – outlier (Riverbed sync.)
2^nd save = (5:03)
3^rd save = (3:13)
4^rd save = (3:19)
Average = (3:51)

C3D 2011
Save-times of 65mb CAD file over the WAN:
1^st save = (8:05) – outlier (Riverbed sync.)
2^nd save = (2:04)
3^rd save = (1:45)
4^th save = (2:35)
5^th save = (1:52)
6^th save = (2:17)
Average = (2:06) – an approx. 1:10 improvement from C3D 2009 to C3D 2011.

 

If anyone else has some test times, post’um.  I would love to compare notes.
mspatz

(P.S. This is why I’m a big believer in Vault if you want to share files across the WAN.  Would you rather wait 15 seconds when you save every 10-minutes, or would you rather wait 2 minutes.  Two minutes, every 10-minutes, is a very long time when you are staring at the screen.)