3D rendering with GeForce Quadro FX370

Quadro are some of the best cards you can get. Also, there is more too it than just file size. Complexity of the solids, how they are constructed, etc.

Also, if they have't done much 3d, they may not be using rendering settings optimally.

Also keep in mind if you just bought the card and built a system, you're using 5 year old software on new hardware/drivers which may give you poorer performance.

If they are still running 2006, they likely aren't committed to higher end use of their systems anyway IMO.

I don't have 2006 but you should be able to go into the Tools menu then choose options then go into the system area and under 3D Graphics choose properties.

Then in the acceleration dropdown choose Hardware.

You video card should have included an autohad-compatible driver (HDI) and you can add the driver in this area by selecting the file.

The video card should have instructions on where the file is. Otherwise get it from the nvidia website.

You shouldn't need the AutoCAD Performance driver to switch to hardware accelleration.  The AutoCAD Performance driver was just an extra bonus driver if you will that nVidia released. Best to my recollection, the article you posted is currect, it wouldn't install on an AutoCAD based vertical. There's no technical reason for it, the AutoCAD vertical application (like ADT) is using AutoCAD as it's engine.   It's just that nVidia isn't checking for the different registry locations and file folders of the verticals and they've likely not bothered with the testing of it.

Installing the Windows drivers typically won't show an additional driver in the dropdown in AutoCAD. For that to happen, an AutoCAD specific Heidi based ADI driver would need to be installed and it's prety rare now in the Windows world that a graphics card manufacturer makes application specific drivers any more. They use to be the norm in the old DOS days but no longer.  Most of this is handled by Windows drivers which can be written to maximize CAD graphics performance.

Another thing to check is to make sure AutoCAD is using OpenGL and not Direct3D. 2006 was written to OpenGL not Direct3D. From what I saw in your replies, you are unable to configure it to hardware accelleration...this may be why.

Back to my earlier comments about new hardware with old software....Because Microsoft is not supporting OpenGL any more, Autodesk is moving it's newer software to use Direct3D not OpenGL. The graphics chip manufacturers like nVidia know this and as such, may not be supporting OpenGL as fully as they once were in their newer cards and drivers which could limit performance...if the card/driver is optimized for Direct3D and your software is optimized for OpenGL.

Type "Options" at the command line to bring up the "Options" dialog if the tools menu isn't there. The "System" tab is where as best I recall you'll find display settings and possibly options to change Direct3D to OpenGL. Just don't recall 2006 that well and the graphics UI has changed in newer versions. 3dCONFIG is the command you'd use in a modern AutoCAD.

Are you certain the model is 15mb? It could be "referencing" additional files.

It would also depend on several other factors...if materials/textures are applied, the complexity of the solids (cubes or complex freeform surfaces, etc).

I know you need to do what your cutomer requests of you but I seriously question their comitment to performance and 3d if they aren't commited to using updated software.  I've litterally spent hours installing things that should take 5 minutes on old systems for customers like this that want everything without making the proper investment.

I'd also find out what their end goal is.  Are they just trying to spin the model to reposition it to work on it? Or are they trying to do animations or walk throughs?  If the latter is the case, ADT/AutoiCAD isn't what they should be using...while it can do some of that..it's not esigned for it. They might be better to look at 3d Studio Viz/Max or even Navis which have graphics engines designed for that type of work.

Most firms I know doing serious presentation work, walk throughts or fly throughs for collision detection aren't doing it in AutoCAD.

Ok, I think options is in the tool menu. OR you can type OPTIONS in the command line down the bottom to open it up.