System Requirements for AutoCAD 2022

Ever since its initial release in 1982, Autodesk AutoCAD has been extensively used in a variety of industries. Engineers, architects, project managers, graphic designers, and many more professionals use it every day for their work. Over the years, AutoCAD became more and more complex, with new and better features that optimize workflows across the board. With AutoCAD 2022 is released, it is time to upgrade and access the plethora of new opportunities that the platform provides.

However, as AutoCAD became better, it also became more demanding when it comes to system requirements. In order to run the program and use it optimally, you need to ensure that your workstation meets the minimum requirements. Of course, if you really want to make the most of it, you should upgrade your workstation to not only meet but exceed AutoCAD’s demands.

In this article, we will take a look at the AutoCAD requirements for both Windows and Mac computers. We will also provide you with the additional requirements for AutoCAD’s Specialized Tools, along with a closer look at Map 3D.

What Are the Requirements to Run AutoCAD 2022?

While AutoCAD is not the heaviest modeling software out there, it still requires quite a bit of computing power to operate successfully. When it comes to technical specifications, you need to be aware of your workstation’s processor, graphics card, RAM, operating system, and a few other factors. Also, keep in mind AutoCAD requirements are different between Windows and Mac machines. If you are going to use AutoCAD’s Specialized Tools, you should keep in mind that they come with their own set of additional requirements.

Do You Need a Powerful PC for AutoCAD 2022?

Technology has been developing at an outstanding pace in the last decade and today’s computers are much more powerful. Even average or lower-grade machines pack an impressive set of specifications. While AutoCAD does not require an exceptionally powerful computer in order to run, your workstation needs to be slightly above average in order to make the most of the platform.

AutoCAD Requirements for Windows

AutoCAD has been supporting Windows since 1992 when AutoCAD Release 12 came out. Soon after that, all old operating systems were dropped, and the platform remained exclusive to Windows for quite some time. As a general rule, all new AutoCAD versions support the current version of Windows and some of the older ones. However, it is recommended that you always go for the most recent Windows release.

Here are the AutoCAD requirements for Windows-powered machines:

Operating System

• Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit

Processor

• Basic: 2.5–2.9 GHz processor
• Recommended: 3+ GHz processor
• AutoCAD also supports multiple processors

Memory

• Basic: 8GB
• Recommended: 16GB

Display Resolution

• Standard Displays: 1920 x 1080 with True Color
• High Resolution & 4K Displays: AutoCAD supports resolutions up to 3840 x 2160 on Windows 10 (64-bit)

Display Card

• Basic: 1GB GPU with 29 GB/s Bandwidth, DirectX 11 compliant
• Recommended: 4GB GPU with 106 GB/s Bandwidth, DirectX 12 compliant

Disk Space

• 10GB

Network

• TCP/IP protocol must be installed on the license server and all active workstations that will run the application
• Both Microsoft or Novell TCP/IP protocol stacks are acceptable
• Netware or Windows primary login is acceptable on workstations
• The license server can also run on the following OS, apart from the supported ones mentioned above: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019 editions

Pointing Device

• MS-Mouse compliant

.NET Framework

• .NET Framework version 4.8 or later

AutoCAD Requirements for Mac

AutoCAD used to be compatible with the older Macintosh computers. However, Autodesk stopped supporting them in 1994. As we already mentioned, AutoCAD was exclusive to Windows for quite some time, until it was made available for Mac again in 2010.

The Mac version has a variety of unique features, including special file formats. Utilizing Apple’s Trackpad is also an exclusive process for Mac.

Let’s take a look at the AutoCAD system requirements for Mac computers:

Operating System

• Apple macOS Mojave v10.14
• Apple macOS Big Sur v11
• Apple macOS Catalina v10.15

Processor

• Basic: Apple MacBook Pro 5.1, MacBook 5.1, Apple Mac Pro 4.1, iMac 8.1, MacBook Air, Mac mini 3.1
• Recommended: Apple Mac models with Metal Graphics Engine support

CPU Type

• 64-bit Intel CPU
• Recommended: Intel Core i7 or higher

Memory

• Basic: 4GB
• Recommended: 8GB

Display Resolution

• Basic: 1280 x 800 display
• High Resolution: 2880 x 1800 with Retina Display

Display Card

• Mac-native graphic card

Disk Space

• 4GB

Pointing Device

• Microsoft-compliant mouse
• Apple-compliant Mouse
• Apple-compliant Trackpad

Disk Format

• APFS
• APFS (Encrypted)
• Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
• Mac OS Extended (Encrypted)

What Are the Additional AutoCAD Requirements for Large Datasets, Point Clouds, and 3D Modeling?

Some AutoCAD features require a bit more when it comes to technical specifications in order to run correctly. 3D modeling, large datasets, and point clouds are prime examples of functionalities that have their own set of requirements.

Memory

• At least 8GB RAM

Disk Space

• At least 6GB free hard disk available, apart from the installation requirements

Display Card

• 4K (3840 x 2160) or greater True Color video display adapter
• 4G VRAM or greater
• Pixel Shader 3.0 or greater
• DirectX-capable workstation-class video card

AutoCAD Requirements for Specialized Toolsets (Windows Only)

AutoCAD has become increasingly complex over the years and provides features for a wide variety of industries — from electrical and architecture to mechanical and raster design. In order to make work easier for professionals that specialize in such industries, AutoCAD supports Specialized Toolsets. They allow you to automate repetitive and mundane tasks, optimize your workflows, and complete your designs in the fastest, most effective way.

AutoCAD’s Specialized Toolsets include numerous libraries with more than 750,000 useful objects.

However, some of those toolsets require more when it comes to computing power, along with some additional requirements. On top of that, you will also have to reserve some extra disk space, as they are not exactly small when it comes to size. In the paragraphs below, you will see the additional AutoCAD requirements for Specialized Toolsets.

AutoCAD Map 3D

• Disk Space: 20GB
• Memory: 16GB
• Requirements for Database & FDO must be met

AutoCAD Electrical

• Disk Space: 20GB
• Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 Redistributable (x64) (16.0.5044.1000) or later

AutoCAD Architecture

• Disk Space: 20GB
• Memory: 16GB

AutoCAD MEP

• Disk Space: 21GB
• Memory: 16GB

AutoCAD Plant 3D

• Disk Space: 12GB

AutoCAD Mechanical

• Disk Space: 12GB

AutoCAD Raster Design

• Disk Space: 1GB

Additional AutoCAD Requirements for Map 3D (Windows Only)

Map 3D is AutoCAD’s model-based GIS mapping software. It allows seamless integration of both GIS and CAD data to help with planning, managing, and executing projects. With Map 3D, you can view and edit geospatial data by using FDO (Feature Data Objects) technology. It also allows you to efficiently manage infrastructure systems with the Enterprise Industry Models feature.

The AutoCAD requirements for running Map 3D vary depending on the FDO provider you are using for the current project. Below, you can see the different requirements for the most common FDO providers. Keep in mind that Map 3D is designed only for Windows — Mac users do not have access to this quite useful feature.

Microsoft SQL Server

Certification:

• 2019 Edition — Standard and Enterprise
• 2017 Edition — Standard and Enterprise
• 2016 Edition — Standard and Enterprise

Industry Models also support the above versions of Microsoft SQL Server.

Oracle 18c

Certification:

• Oracle 18.3, Standard and Enterprise Edition 2
• Oracle Express

Industry Models also support the above versions of Oracle.

Oracle 12c Release 2

Certification:

• Oracle 12.2.0.1.0 — Standard Edition 2 and Enterprise Edition

Industry Models also support the above versions of Oracle.

Oracle 19c

Certification:

• Oracle 19.3 — Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition 2

Industry Models also support the above versions of Oracle.

Raster

Certification:

• MrSID
• DEM
• ASCII
• JPG2K
• TIFF
• ESRI Grid
• DTED
• ESRI
• ECW
• PNG
• JPEG

Autodesk SDF

• Version 3.0 or above

ESRI ArcGIS

Certification:

• ArcGIS 10.8.1
• ArcGIS 10.7.1
• ArcGIS 10.6.1

ESRI licensed components have to be installed on the client system.

MySQL

• Version 8.0 or above

ODBC

Here are the ODBC drivers that are shipped with the corresponding operating system:

• Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb, *.accdb): Microsoft Access database engine 2016 (English) 16.00.4999.1000
• Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls, *xlsx, *.xlsm, *.xlsb): Microsoft Access database engine 2016 (English) 16.00.4999.1000
• MySQL ODBC 8.0 Driver: 8.00.22.00
• SQL Server: 10.00.18362.01
• Oracle in OraClient19Home1: 19.00.00.00

OGC WMS

• WMS Version 1.3.0

OGC WMTS

• WMS Version 1.0.0

OGC WFS

• WFS Version 2.0.0

SQLite

• Version 3.27.2

PostgreSQL

• PostgreSQL 12.2 + PostGIS 3.0