• AutoCAD Install and Setup: Start with a fresh install. Do not migrate or copy AutoCAD files from previous versions.
• PC Performance Options: Set system performance options to “Best Performance” or at least disable as many options as you can to improve PC performance.
• AutoCAD Hardware Acceleration: Make sure that hardware acceleration is turned on in AutoCAD options.
• Manage Your Templates: Be sure that you are not running anything besides AutoCAD when editing your templates.
• Limit Running PC Applications: Things that can limit PC performance: Streaming audio, streaming video, weather applications, and running desktop applications like sidebar.

AutoCAD Install and Setup:

When installing AutoCAD, be sure to use the default setup and profiles. Transferring CUI files or other setup files from a previous version of AutoCAD can limit the new install and/or carry over issues from that other version. Also, be sure to use the default profile. Make a new profile from one of the default profiles from installation and make your changes from that. Importing profiles from previous installs may point to paths that are no longer valid. Also, it is suggested by AutoDesk to go through your options with each new version to review changes.

PC Performance Options:

The default Windows setup is set to “Best Appearance”. Disabling the visual options for things like menu animations will help to improve PC performance at times when your computer is working its hardest to process drawings. It will also help to free up memory during those AutoCAD operations where it is needed most.

To edit these options in Windows 7, right click on “Computer” and choose properties. In the new window, click on “Advanced System Settings” on the left then click on “Settings” button under performance (Advanced tab). This will bring up the performance options dialog. You should see that everything is checked, turn off as many as you can to increase performance. If you can live without visual styles all together and want the fastest possible performance, then click “Best Performance” to uncheck everything:

AutoCAD Hardware Acceleration:

Several users have found that AutoCAD’s hardware acceleration is turned off. To check this and turn it on, go to Options > System > Performance Settings > Manual Tune:

Managing your templates:

The QuickPen CAD products are meant to be run on drawings that have QuickPen entities. If you are managing template drawings, do not use the QuickPen product to do so as this will tag the drawing with QuickPen properties which requires either the full program or the viewer to properly view/edit the file.

Instead, utilize the standard “AutoCAD” profile. AutoCAD and its vertical products should install an “AutoCAD” profile by default. Most AutoCAD users will create their own profile. Using the QuickPen program shortcuts will use the current profile set in AutoCAD and load QuickPen on top of it. From within the short cut target path, you can tell the shortcut which profile you want to use by adding some simple text.

For example, go to the end of the target path and add /P “PROFILENAME” where profilename is the name of the saved profile you want to call. Below is an example where I am calling a profile called “AutoCAD”.

AutoCAD Profiles in Options:

Modified shortcut to call standard profile “AutoCAD”:

Modified QuickPen shortcut to call custom profile “PD3D”:

*NOTE: even using an Architectural or MEP profile will tag your template with unwanted properties/entities. Using the AutoCAD profile with no other AutoCAD add on is the best way to keep your templates clean.  You can further ensure that unwanted programs and enablers/viewers are not running by disabling demand load for ARX applications for this specific profile:

*NOTE: This option should be enabled again for standard drawing.

Limit Running PC Applications:

Having certain applications running in the taskbar or even on the desktop will use memory that is needed at the time of drawing processing. Some examples of these programs would be streaming audio or video, weather bug and sidebar applications. Additionally, the user may not be aware that certain applications install themselves as running apps in the taskbar. Check your taskbar for any applications that you may be able to turn off. Most of these programs offer taskbar settings that can be disabled.

*Download this document in PDF form from HERE