Small Project Design

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  • 1.  Running Revit on Microsoft Surface

    Posted 11-18-2016 06:03 PM

    I've been using Revit for 10 years now...and quite successfully on small projects.  I would love to take a project mobile by getting a Surface with Revit installed.  Then I can take the entire model to a client, allowing us to collaboratively explore the model through 2d views, 3d perspectives, etc....all generated on the fly with Surface.  My question...does anyone have experience with running Revit on Surface?  Does Surface have enough power/processing strength to manipulate a Revit model?  Similarly, I'm interested in creating new 3d projections, sections, etc. "on the fly" in front of the client.  None of this works if Surface is bogged down by Revit and it can't perform.  Surprise, Microsoft says it has plenty of power, but any "on the ground" experience and input is welcome!

     

    Steve Robinson AIA

    Axios Architecture LLC | 2218 Lebaron Drive | Atlanta, Georgia | 30345 | 404/636-0611

    srobinson@axiosarchitecture.com

     



  • 2.  RE: Running Revit on Microsoft Surface

    Posted 11-22-2016 10:56 AM

    It is good to see in this month's issue of Architecture Magazine the new architecture school at Kent State University. The Photos of the studio class show every desk out fitted with a drawing board, covered in our typical  green protective vinyl, and each board has a parallel edge attached. That tells me some one is still teaching hand drawing!!! I saw one desk with a computer. I am 67 and I still draw by hand. I too have a subscription to Revit and Autocad that I keep up every year and when I need to work on a project I draw up the project by hand and have a student draw it in CAD. I too work on small homes and apartment buildings.



    ------Original Message------

    I've been using Revit for 10 years now...and quite successfully on small projects.  I would love to take a project mobile by getting a Surface with Revit installed.  Then I can take the entire model to a client, allowing us to collaboratively explore the model through 2d views, 3d perspectives, etc....all generated on the fly with Surface.  My question...does anyone have experience with running Revit on Surface?  Does Surface have enough power/processing strength to manipulate a Revit model?  Similarly, I'm interested in creating new 3d projections, sections, etc. "on the fly" in front of the client.  None of this works if Surface is bogged down by Revit and it can't perform.  Surprise, Microsoft says it has plenty of power, but any "on the ground" experience and input is welcome!

     

    Steve Robinson AIA

    Axios Architecture LLC | 2218 Lebaron Drive | Atlanta, Georgia | 30345 | 404/636-0611

    srobinson@axiosarchitecture.com

     



  • 3.  RE: Running Revit on Microsoft Surface

    Posted 11-28-2016 01:18 PM

    I recall my Microsoft store visit a few years ago (2013) and I remember they had a surface table loaded with both Revit and AutoCAD. At that time it was about to be released. It was on display only. I would check with the Microsoft store at your local shopping center and discuss with an sales person. I was thinking of getting one myself, but ended up getting a Dell notebook instead. I like having a keyboard. 

    ------------------------------
    Daniel Guich, LEED AP, CDT
    San Francisco, CA

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Running Revit on Microsoft Surface

    Posted 11-29-2016 05:56 PM
    I purchased the high spec Surface 4 for my firm and it was the biggest mistake I've made, besides purchasing the AutoDesk 2017 package of course. The graphics card is not compatible with the new AutoCad requirements so my monitor jumps up and down when I draft longer than a few minutes. Revit struggles with my "bigger" projects (I'm a sole proprietor...my "bigger" projects are a 3k sf custom SFR and a 4,500 sf school with two classrooms). It might work if this wasn't the only computer and you just wanted to do occasional work on the road or for a client but it really doesn't work well as a replacement for a desktop/production laptop.
    Of even greater concern is that no upgrades can be performed on the machine.


    Sent from my iPhone

    ------Original Message------

    I recall my Microsoft store visit a few years ago (2013) and I remember they had a surface table loaded with both Revit and AutoCAD. At that time it was about to be released. It was on display only. I would check with the Microsoft store at your local shopping center and discuss with an sales person. I was thinking of getting one myself, but ended up getting a Dell notebook instead. I like having a keyboard. 

    ------------------------------
    Daniel Guich, LEED AP, CDT
    San Francisco, CA
    ------------------------------


  • 5.  RE: Running Revit on Microsoft Surface

    Posted 11-30-2016 05:50 PM

    There is no substitute for a high spec desktop workstation with dual monitors if you want to run Autodesk programs such as Revit and AutoCAD.

    Your productivity will be greatly diminished on mickey mouse hardware and display.

    If you cannot afford the hardware, you cannot afford the software.

     

    Sent from Mail for Windows 10

     



    ------Original Message------

    I purchased the high spec Surface 4 for my firm and it was the biggest mistake I've made, besides purchasing the AutoDesk 2017 package of course. The graphics card is not compatible with the new AutoCad requirements so my monitor jumps up and down when I draft longer than a few minutes. Revit struggles with my "bigger" projects (I'm a sole proprietor...my "bigger" projects are a 3k sf custom SFR and a 4,500 sf school with two classrooms). It might work if this wasn't the only computer and you just wanted to do occasional work on the road or for a client but it really doesn't work well as a replacement for a desktop/production laptop.
    Of even greater concern is that no upgrades can be performed on the machine.


    Sent from my iPhone



  • 6.  RE: Running Revit on Microsoft Surface

    Posted 11-30-2016 06:28 PM
    With AutoCAD out for Mac, I finally ditched the pc.  I got a lease to own deal on a Mac Pro, all tricked out and it handles everything like a boss.  6 core 3.5 GHz and 64GB RAM.  Sweet!

    The multiple 'virtual' desktops on the Mac let you swipe the trackpad to switch from one screen to the next, so I dropped from 4 monitors on my windows machine to 2 on the mac.  I use one for whatever my current task is (drawing, writing, etc) and the second screen for reference - emails, specs, cut sheets, etc.


    Brian Viehland, RA, AIA, NCARB 
    brian@designonthesquare.com 
    DESIGN LOS ANGELESph: 818.797-5526
    ON THE NEW YORK609.878-0202
    SQUARE PHIALDELPHIAf: 866.538-7043
    2100 Montrose Ave #526  Montrose, CA 91021




    ------Original Message------

    I purchased the high spec Surface 4 for my firm and it was the biggest mistake I've made, besides purchasing the AutoDesk 2017 package of course. The graphics card is not compatible with the new AutoCad requirements so my monitor jumps up and down when I draft longer than a few minutes. Revit struggles with my "bigger" projects (I'm a sole proprietor...my "bigger" projects are a 3k sf custom SFR and a 4,500 sf school with two classrooms). It might work if this wasn't the only computer and you just wanted to do occasional work on the road or for a client but it really doesn't work well as a replacement for a desktop/production laptop.
    Of even greater concern is that no upgrades can be performed on the machine.


    Sent from my iPhone



  • 7.  RE: Running Revit on Microsoft Surface

    Posted 12-01-2016 05:32 PM

    I don't have any experience with Microsoft Surface, but I will say that my three-person office has been running Revit for seven years on computers I purchased over the counter at Staples and Best Buy, with no modifications beyond maxing out RAM. The graphics cards aren't listed on Autodesk's website, they only have Intel i5 processors, and they do just fine. One thing you can do is, under the "R" menu, go to the bottom and go to Options. Under the graphics tab, uncheck the box for "use hardware acceleration". That will help with your on-screen graphics.

    We work on smallish projects, with files up to about 45mb and we've never had a problem with any of our sub-$600 machines. I also use Revit on a laptop with similar specs. Paying $3,500 or more for a tricked-out monster is total overkill for our work.

    Ian.

    ------------------------------
    Ian Toner
    Principal
    Toner Architects
    Philadelphia PA

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Running Revit on Microsoft Surface

    Posted 12-01-2016 08:04 AM

    I have been using a surface pro3 for the past year and a half – AutoCAD (most recent subscription version) and chief architect for modeling, with no problems whatsoever. I've also used it with Photoshop, Illustrator, and QuickBooks without any difficulty. When I'm in the office I do connect it to a 24" monitor and wireless keyboard and mouse, but will occasionally work at home with the cover style keyboard, but still using a mouse.

     

    I carry so much to and from the office that the compact size and minimal weight was very important to me over a laptop.

     

    Christina Amey Architect LLC
    761 Asbury Avenue, Second Floor, Ocean City, NJ 08226 ~ T 609.920.0225
    3101 Dune Drive, Suite 108, Avalon, NJ 08202 ~ T 609.920.6530
    F 609.920.9257
    Christina@AmeyArchitect.com
    www.AmeyArchitect.com

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    ------Original Message------

    I purchased the high spec Surface 4 for my firm and it was the biggest mistake I've made, besides purchasing the AutoDesk 2017 package of course. The graphics card is not compatible with the new AutoCad requirements so my monitor jumps up and down when I draft longer than a few minutes. Revit struggles with my "bigger" projects (I'm a sole proprietor...my "bigger" projects are a 3k sf custom SFR and a 4,500 sf school with two classrooms). It might work if this wasn't the only computer and you just wanted to do occasional work on the road or for a client but it really doesn't work well as a replacement for a desktop/production laptop.
    Of even greater concern is that no upgrades can be performed on the machine.


    Sent from my iPhone



  • 9.  RE: Running Revit on Microsoft Surface

    Posted 12-01-2016 05:34 PM

    I too have been using a Surface Pro 3 for about a year and a half with AutoCad LT, Sketchup Pro and Sketchup Layout, with file sizes up to 130 MB.  It does slow down some with Layout, but I've had no problems with AutoCad or Sketchup Pro.  Sorry I can comment on Revit.

    ------------------------------
    David Edrington AIA
    David Edrington, Architect
    Eugene OR

    Original Message