1. NVIDIA® Quadro® Built for Professionals™

2. Quadro for AutoCAD
For design professionals, maximizing their productivity is a function of achieving the best image Quality and highest Performance from their platform. With the wrong graphics platform, quite often a designer needs to sacrifice quality for performance. By having the right tool, a design does not need to make this sacrifice.
For CAD designers 2D designs are no longer good enough – to create cutting-edge designs, professionals are moving to next generation applications that feature 3D effects. With 3D modeling features, users can fully understand their designs, easily share their thoughts to others, and quickly make intuitive decisions.
Autodesk has recognized this and with the introduction of AutoCAD 2007, Autodesk has added 3D modeling features and new visual display styles. With these additional features, AutoCAD users can incorporate 3D models into their workflow.
However, many customers are working with Consumer Graphic Cards or Integrated Graphics cards, and are not able to take full advantage of these features and maximize their productivity, (the wrong tool)
AutoCAD design professionals have had to sacrifice their ability to interact with intuitive and realistic 3D designs, instead relying on wire frame or simplified representations of their models. As a result, design decisions are often made based on less precise information.
Designs take longer, mistakes are often made, and communication between peers suffers 2

3. NVIDIA Quadro Built for Professionals
NVIDIA Quadro graphics Maximizes AutoCAD productivity
Unprecedented Performance & Quality
Advanced Display Support
Maximize System Uptime
Required and Certified for AutoCAD
NVIDIA Quadro® is Built for Professionals
Now, with AutoCAD 2008/09, AutoCAD users can leverage the capabilities of NVIDIA Quadro® professional-class GPUs to incorporate high-quality, 3D models into their work flow, without sacrificing performance.
Quadro enables this in the following ways which we will discuss in much more detail throughout today’s presentation:
- Unprecedented Performance and Quality: The partnership of NVIDIA® and Autodesk has delivered a certified hardware-software solution that enables designers to create and interact with more complex product designs, achieving maximum productivity without sacrificing visual quality. We will highlight some examples in a minute.
- Advanced Multi-Display Support: With Quadro, AutoCAD users can leverage multiple displays with varying resolutions increasing the screen real estate to work with.
Maximum System Uptime: With Quadro we have invested many years of development effort in our Hardware, ensuring a high-quality experience.
Autodesk requires Quadro for AutoCAD: Autodesk recognizes the need for Professional Graphic Solutions such as Quadro, and goes out of its way to recommend only Professional Products (i.e. Quadro) and work with NVIDIA to certify the GPU and drivers.
The key visual is a representation of the intersection of 2D and 3D design elements. There are several variations of this key visual. Depending on size, you may see 2D standard architect elements, such as bushes, merged with the 3D abstraction of the Sail. The overall concept is intended to show the possibilities enables by Quadro.
For the launch of this campaign we focused on a design from architecture. The architectural designs comprise of the largest segment AutoCAD users. Please note, the main element is an abstract concept based on the world renown Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai (otherwise known as “the sail”). For pictures of the actual bulding please visit: 3

4. Unprecedented Performance & Quality Get the Most Out of All AutoCAD Visual Styles
3D Wireframe
3D Hidden
3D Conceptual
3D Realistic
As mentioned earlier, Autodesk has introduced more enhanced 3D features that are available in one of their four visual styles. Based on preferences, a user can choose among different visual styles to view and interact with their designs.
If you were using a consumer graphics card, you would probably predominantly view your models using the 3D wireframe visual styles. Here is an example of 3D Wireframe.
Note that 3D Wireframe is a less appealing visual style to interpret the 3D model.
Here are some examples of a model in each of the additional AutoCAD Visual styles: 3D Hidden, 3D Conceptual, and 3D realistic.
With a consumer graphics card, seldom would you choose one of the new visual styles because of the taxation or performance. Simply said it would take too long to spin, zoom, pan, etc.
With the performance advantage of a Quadro professional-class graphics, you can now take full advantage of all Visual styles with interactive Frame rates.
Let’s take a look at some examples of each Visual Style one at a time..

5. Professional Graphics
AutoCAD 3D Hidden Visual Style Quadro Delivers Up to 3X Performance Increase
Let’s look at the difference between using a Consumer card and a Quadro Professional Graphics card for one of the more desired visual styles, 3D Hidden.
On the left we have captured the rotation (using the script “GSTest” shipped with AutoCAD) of a typical model you would see from an Architect user.
In this case we are using the best Consumer Graphics CARD in the midrange price segment (GeForce 8800 GTS 640). Note speed and the Frame Rate. Is this interactive? Would you use this?
Now on the right, we are using the entry-level Quadro FX 370 for comparison. Same test, and notice the speed up! (Interactive)
This is the interactive experience that you want as a user, and our entry level product can provide you this!
[1] Based on Autodesk’s graphics benchmark shipped with AutoCAD
Consumer Graphics
Professional Graphics

6. Professional Graphics
AutoCAD Conceptual Visual Style
Quadro Provides Faster Manipulation of Models
Performance gains is not limited to just one visual style, you can expect to see performance advantages across all visual styles. Here is another example using Conceptual Visual Style.
Movie on the left highlights the Consumer Graphics (8800 GTS 640)
Movie on the right highlights the speed up in performance using a Quadro GPU (FX370)
Conceptual Visual style is often used when you want shaded models and each of the components to have an assigned color. The colors don’t have to be realistic colors. Often the colors contrast significantly to help for identification, grouping, or selection.
Again given this style, Quadro outperforms the best consumer solution.
Consumer Graphics
Professional Graphics

7. Unprecedented Performance at any Budget!
Quadro FX 3700
High-End
Consumer Graphics
$800
$600
Quadro FX 1700
Mid-Range
Consumer Graphics
Graphics Budget
$400
Entry
Consumer Graphics
Quadro FX 370
Quadro FX 570
Many of you probably think, OK I get the idea that Quadro will give me better performance, but it will probably cost me 4 times as much as my consumer card!
NVIDIA provides a range of Quadro professional-class solutions to match your budget needs.
Many are surprised to know that you can get an NVIDIA professional-class solution for as low as $149 with the Quadro FX And because it is built for professional applications its optimized to give you the performance you require.
This chart measures the performance of spinning models while in 3D Hidden Visual style, one of the more frequent visual styles that you would want to work with.
In every budget category, there is a Quadro solution that delivers better performance than a consumer graphics Card. Looking at performance/dollar investment – Quadro wins.
Only Quadro focuses on delivering you an optimized solution to maximize your applications performance.
NOTE: The metric we are plotting comes from “GSTEST” which is a script that is bundled with AutoCAD by Autodesk. It is a script that any user could launch and run on their own to verify our results. The script rotates any model around its axis twice and measures the total amount of time and the Frame Rate achieved during the rotation. This can be done for various visual styles.
NOTE: Geomean is a geometric Average across a range of 10 AutoCAD models of various sizes and complexities. Note that FPS is considered Interactive and all of the Consumer cards are showing that they are not interactive with the models. All Quadro cards are interactive, and have room to handle even larger models.
High End Consumer Graphics = GeForce 8800 Ultra @ $684
Mid Range Consumer Graphics = Radeon HD 2900 XT $450
GeForce 8800 $419
(WS) FireGL $490
Entry Consumer Graphics (High) = GeForce 8800 GTS $299
GeForce 8800 $239
(WS) FireGL $210
Entry Consumer Graphics (Low) = GeForce 8600 $120
Radeon HD 2600 XT $94
GeForce 8400 $40
Intel
$200 20 40 60 80
100
120
140
160
180
200
3D Hidden (FPS Geomean Index)
“GStest” Benchmark provided by AutoDesk for testing performance of 3D Hidden 7

8. Professional Graphics
Visually Accurate Models
Maintain Full Visual Details While Manipulating Models
An option in AutoCAD called “Adaptive Degradation” is often set to “ON” when a consumer graphics card is being used, primarily because manipulation of the models would be non-interactive without it.
NOTE: found under Tools  Options  Systems Tab  Performance Settings
When this feature is on, AutoCAD “degrades” or simplifies the display of the 3D model dynamically to match the platform performance available. In other words, as a user rotates, pans or zooms the model, a simplified representation (3D wireframe) will be displayed in order to maintain a certain frame rate that is set by the user.
This is demonstrated by the video on the left.
With the performance increases provided to you by a Quadro professional-class solution, you can now turn this feature off, and manipulate a fully shaded model with full interactivity.
The video on the right shows the interactivity with “Adaptive Degradation” OFF with the 3D Conceptual Visual Style
Points to HIGHLIGHT
- “Adaptive Degradation” is turned OFF
- No need to resort to 3D Wire Frame during zooming, panning, spinning, and orientation
- Easily determine front from back
- Quickly identify sub components
Consumer Graphics
Professional Graphics

9. Consumer Graphics with out smooth lines
Superior Image Quality Dramatically Higher Image Quality with AutoCAD Smooth Lines
Another option in AutoCAD that users can take advantage of with a Quadro professional-class solution is “smooth lines.” Designers can achieve higher image quality without sacrificing performance.
The first image is from a consumer graphics card with “Smooth Lines” turned OFF with a DX driver.
Note the artifacts and the jagged lines
NOTE: This option can be found in Tools  Options  Systems Tab  Performance Settings  Manual Tune. “Smooth Lines” under the OGL/Powerdraft driver settings should be turned to “ON”
Consumer Graphics with out smooth lines

10. Professional Graphics with smooth lines
Superior Image Quality Dramatically Higher Image Quality with AutoCAD Smooth Lines
This picture is from a Professional Graphics card with “Smooth Lines” turned ON
Note the better picture quality:
- Better quality allows for better interpretation, better selection, and better interaction leading to a boost in productivity.
Users can share higher quality images interactively with colleagues, to get their point across.
NOTE: Only enabled with NVIDIA Graphics Cards.
Professional Graphics with smooth lines

11. Consumer Graphics with out smooth lines
Superior Image Quality Dramatically Higher Image Quality with AutoCAD Smooth Lines
Another example with “Smooth Lines” off with a Consumer Graphics Card
- Note the jagged lines for the columns
Consumer Graphics with out smooth lines

12. Professional Graphics with smooth lines
Superior Image Quality Dramatically Higher Image Quality with AutoCAD Smooth Lines
Now “Smooth Lines” is turned “ON” with a Professional Graphics Card
- The jagged lines on the columns are smoother, as well as the vertical and close to horizontal lines.
- Which would you prefer?
Professional Graphics with smooth lines

13. Professional Graphics
Superior Image Quality and Performance
Dramatically Higher Image Quality with AutoCAD
Smooth Lines
Consumer graphics cards from NVIDIA do support “Smooth Lines”, but the interactive performance is such that it is unusable.
“Smooth Lines” ON with a Quadro card is faster than a similarly priced Consumer Card as shown in the video example.
Both video’s have “Smooth Lines” ON
This is a key point, and often the reason that users don’t use it, because of the hit they take when leveraging Smooth lines.
The speed on the right is even faster than the consumer card with “Smooth Lines” off.
The main points are the following:
- Ultra-fast performance with “Smooth Lines” turned on
- Create clear, sharp models in all visual styles
- You don’t have to sacrifice performance
Consumer Graphics
With smooth lines
Professional Graphics
With smooth lines

14. Boost Productivity Advanced Display Support
With Quadro you get extended display support multiple displays using the nView Display software. These features are available on both windows XP and Vista.
Spread work across multiple displays using nVIEW® desktop and application management features
- Maintain different resolutions on multiple displays
- Easily switch between display configurations
- Extend your task bar across multiple monitors.
- Assign applications to the task bar on the monitor where the application is displayed
Achieve maximum resolutions of up to 2560 X 1600 per display
Leveraging multiple monitors can easily increases productivity.

15. Maximize System Uptime
Quadro built by NVIDIA
Engineered, Built, &Tested by NVIDIA
Optimized GPU architecture and Drivers
Consumer Card comparisons:
- For Consumer cards, there is a variety of board manufacturers that produce the cards. The quality and performance of a consumer graphics cards can vary depending on manufacturer. For professional-class graphics solutions – NVIDIA builds the boards. Because the boards are created by a single manufacturer, a user can rest assured they will not see different variations in quality or performance.
Consumer card manufactures do not spent any time for testing or optimizing drivers or hardware for any Professional application, including AutoCAD. Thus there are no ISV certifications for consumer cards. NVIDIA® tests, tunes, and optimizes Quadro to meet the requirement of the most demanding professional applications, including AutoCAD. This level of attention enables Quadro boards to be certified by AutoCAD.
- The expected life span of a consumer graphics solution is about a year. Manufacturers build boards to meet this life expectancy. Quite often you will hear that a consumer graphics solution is “over clocked” to give it better performance. In time overtaxing a card, limits its lifespan. Professionals require a solution that lives longer than a year. To ensure a stable platform, NVIDIA professional solutions are not over clocked and do not exceed the boards capabilities. This is evident through our low failure rates and longer life span.
- The life cycle for consumer cards is 9-18 months. This means it will be very difficult to choose a platform for your company, and then stick with it for a number of years. Quadro solutions are available from 18-36months.
High Reliability
Extended Product Life Cycle

16. OpenGL or DirectX capable Workstation Graphics Class card
AutoCAD System Requirements: Autodesk Recommends a Professional-Class GPU
1024x768 VGA Adapter
1024x768 VGA Adapter
OpenGL or DirectX capable
Workstation Graphics Class card
(NVIDIA Quadro)
We have talked about improvements in performance with Quadro, increases in the quality of the image that you can see, the ability to fully leverage multiple monitors, and the high standards we place on delivering you Hardware.
There are a lot of benefits that we have talked about today. However, it is not just us that recommends Quadro for AutoCAD, but Autodesk as well!
Since Autodesk has added additional 3D features and Visual display functionality that take advantage of the GPU, they recognize that these features require the performance and quality that a professional class GPU provides.
They have backed up this claim by highlighting this requirement on their website.
For 2D users, Autodesk does not specify any GPU, other than a 1024 x 768 VGA adapter, as the base case. However, an AutoCAD user who plans on using the 3D features and functionality that AutoCAD provides, Autodesk specifies that the user must use an
OpenGL or DirectX capable workstation graphics class card. This means “NVIDIA Quadro”
Autodesk recognizes the value that NVIDIA’s Professional solution can provide.
In addition, Autodesk only certifies Professional class Graphics cards for AutoCAD (Quadro and FireGL) and this can be seen by clicking the link “Get information on graphics hardware certified for use with AutoCAD 2008”. 16

17. AutoCAD System Requirements Autodesk and NVIDIA only certify Quadro
NVIDIA and Autodesk take certifications seriously. We find the problems and fix them, so that you don’t end up finding the problem and experiencing down time.
Together, we run certification tests every three months on the latest drivers and boards, and increase testing around the latest product releases from Autodesk
Each year, NVIDIA and Autodesk spend over 2000 joint engineering hours certifying Quadro hardware and drivers for AutoCAD,
All of NVIDIA’s FX boards are tested and certified, from our $149 FX370 entry level card to our FX5600 at the high-end, providing a solution to match any users budget and performance requirements.
AutoCAD provides a tool called “Performance Tuner” to let you know if you have a certified GPU. Note the example highlighted in the presentation. By clicking on the link “Click to view the results”, the Performance Tuner Log will be opened and using a Consumer Graphics Card (the GeForce 8800 GTX), the following is shown:
“ YOUR MACHINE CONTAINS A 3D DEVICE THAT IS NOT CERTIFIED”
Test this on your machine to check if you have the right hardware.
Download a trial version of AutoCAD and run the performance tuner on your system. The Performance Tuner launches when you first install the application, or you can launch it by typing in “3Dconfig” in the Command window.
But what does Certification mean to you?

18. AutoCAD Certified Hardware FAQ
What does certification mean? – it ensures the hardware supports all the latest features.
Autodesk answers this question on their Frequently Asked Question page, shown on this slide
Read through each of these in turn, or let the customer read through. This is a Powerful message that is coming from Autodesk!
Note that because there are many consumer graphics cards manufacturers, it is not in their business model to engineer and support each consumer graphics cards for a professional application. Because NVIDIA builds and manufactures Quadro professional graphics cards, we do provide support for professional applications.
Basically the customer works with a consumer card at their own risk.

19. Unified Quadro Family for AutoCAD
Ultra High-End
MSRP/ESP
NVIDIA Quadro
FX 5600
$2999/2758
FX 4600  FX 5600
+ 2x Frame Buffer – ( to 1.5GB)
High-End
$2399/1417
NVIDIA Quadro
FX 4600
FX 3700  FX 4600
+ 1.5x Frame Buffer (to 768MB)
+ SDI/Genlock/Framelock
$1599/855
NVIDIA Quadro
FX 3700
Mid-Range
FX 1700  FX 3700
+ 3pin Stereo Connector
+ SLI
+ 1.3X Performance
$699/438
NVIDIA Quadro
FX 1700
So which graphics cards should you use?
All of our Quadro FX graphics cards are optimized for AutoCAD, so it really depends on your budget and size of the files that you wish to load.
Target cards that will give you great performance with 256 MB of Graphics Memory are the Quadro FX 370, and the FX For larger 3D models, the FX 1700 may be the right choice with 512 MB of graphics Memory.
And look for bundle promotions from your Autodesk reseller, or check the NVIDIA Website.
When making a choice for your AutoCAD application, insist on Quadro!
MAJOR POINT TO HIGHLIGHT:
Invest for your future. When upgrading to other Autodesk products, the Quadro Card is already tested and certified for these applications as well: (Inventor, Revit, 3DS Max, etc)
FX 570  FX 1700
+ 2x Frame Buffer ( to 512MB)
+ HD Video Connector (FX 1700 only)
+ 1.3x Performance
Entry
$199/183
NVIDIA Quadro
FX 570
FX 370  FX 570
+ Dual Dual Link DVI
+ 1.3x Performance
$149/124
NVIDIA Quadro
FX 370
FX 370
256 MB Frame Buffer
Dual Dual Link DVI
*ESP as of 2/12/08 from

20. Quadro FX Mobile Workstations NVIDIA Quadro FX 3600M, FX 1600M and FX 360M
Precision M4300, 15.4"
Precision M6300, 17"
Precision M6300, 17"
Precision M2300, 14"
Additional platforms where NVIDIA Quadro FX Mobile Workstation products are integrated as part of the solution.

21. NVIDIA Quadro Built for Professionals
NVIDIA Quadro graphics Maximizes AutoCAD productivity
Unprecedented Performance & Quality
Advanced Display Support
Maximize System Uptime
Required and Certified for AutoCAD
NVIDIA Quadro® is Built for Professionals
Now, with AutoCAD 2008/09, AutoCAD users can leverage the capabilities of NVIDIA Quadro® professional-class GPUs to incorporate high-quality, 3D models into their work flow, without sacrificing performance.
Quadro enables this in the following ways which we will discuss in much more detail throughout today’s presentation:
- Unprecedented Performance and Quality: The partnership of NVIDIA® and Autodesk has delivered a certified hardware-software solution that enables designers to create and interact with more complex product designs, achieving maximum productivity without sacrificing visual quality. We will highlight some examples in a minute.
- Advanced Multi-Display Support: With Quadro, AutoCAD users can leverage multiple displays with varying resolutions increasing the screen real estate to work with.
Maximum System Uptime: With Quadro we have invested many years of development effort in our Hardware, ensuring a high-quality experience.
- Autodesk requires Quadro for AutoCAD: Autodesk recognizes the need for Professional Graphic Solutions such as Quadro, and goes out of its way to recommend only Professional Products (i.e. Quadro) and work with NVIDIA to certify the GPU and drivers. 21

22. NVIDIA Quadro Built for Professionals
For more information on Quadro for AutoCAD, please visit
For information on Quadro, please visit
NVIDIA Quadro® is Built for Professionals
Now, with AutoCAD 2008/09, AutoCAD users can leverage the capabilities of NVIDIA Quadro® professional-class GPUs to incorporate high-quality, 3D models into their work flow, without sacrificing performance.
Quadro enables this in the following ways which we will discuss in much more detail throughout today’s presentation:
- Unprecedented Performance and Quality: The partnership of NVIDIA® and Autodesk has delivered a certified hardware-software solution that enables designers to create and interact with more complex product designs, achieving maximum productivity without sacrificing visual quality. We will highlight some examples in a minute.
- Advanced Multi-Display Support: With Quadro, AutoCAD users can leverage multiple displays with varying resolutions increasing the screen real estate to work with.
Maximum System Uptime: With Quadro we have invested many years of development effort in our Hardware, ensuring a high-quality experience.
- Autodesk requires Quadro for AutoCAD: Autodesk recognizes the need for Professional Graphic Solutions such as Quadro, and goes out of its way to recommend only Professional Products (i.e. Quadro) and work with NVIDIA to certify the GPU and drivers. 22