Cadalyst Labs Benchmark Test (2008)

The Cadalyst Systems Benchmark 2008 (C2008) is designed to test and compare the performance of systems running AutoCAD. The benchmark compares the test times of your current system with a set of base times and computes an index number. An index score of 135, for example, means your test system is 135 times faster than the base system for the functions tested. The Total Index score is calculated based on sub-index scores for four areas of performance: 3D Graphics, 2D Graphics, Disk, and CPU. Please review the Readme file in the accompanying download for full details and instructions.

Remember, as is true for all benchmark tests, the C2008 is merely a guide for measuring system performance. The test is designed for use with basic AutoCAD only, not market-specific versions such as Architecture, Mechanical, etc.

C2008 is the latest update of the Cadalyst Systems Benchmark, originally released in 1996. All versions have been developed by Art Liddle, a former editor of Cadalyst magazine and now a physics teacher at Springfield High School in Springfield, Oregon.

Cadalyst thanks NVIDIA for providing the graphics cards used to develop the C2008 benchmark, including the NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600, Quadro FX 3700, Quadro FX 3500, and Quadro FX 550.


C2008 v5.1 -- for AutoCAD 2008 and Later (July 2008)
Cadalyst has updated the C2008 benchmark to reflect the new 3D capabilities of AutoCAD. The C2008 v5.0 benchmark ran the 3D models through four types of rendering: 3D Wireframe, Hidden, Flat, and Gouraud. In C2008 v5.1, we match the four visual styles used with the 3DRotate command: 3D Wireframe, Hidden, Conceptual, and Realistic. Because of this change, C2008 v5.1 does not work with versions prior to AutoCAD 2008.

Click this link to download the test files for C2008 v5.1:

C2008_v5.1.ZIP(8.4 MB)

Copy all the test files to a test directory, such as C2008_test. If necessary, uncompress the files. You'll need approximately 40 MB of disk space for all test files.

The included README file includes a full description of the benchmark and related files as well as instructions for use. Be sure to review this document carefully and view all included screen shots for full details on running the tests.


C2008 v5.0 -- for AutoCAD 2000-2008 (January 2008)
The original Cadalyst Systems Benchmark 2008 is designed to work with AutoCAD 2008, as well as older versions back to 2000. One caveat: During operations involving multiple editing functions, which occur frequently during the 2D portions of the C2008 benchmark, versions of AutoCAD since 2006 do not update the screen as frequently as do earlier versions. This artificially inflates the 2D scores. To fairly compare test scores among different workstations, each must run the same version of AutoCAD.

Click this link to download the test files for C2008 v5.0:

C2008_v5.0.ZIP(8.3 MB)

Copy all the test files to a test directory, such as C2008_test. If necessary, uncompress the files. You'll need approximately 40 MB of disk space for all test files.

The included README file includes a full description of the benchmark and related files as well as instructions for use. Be sure to review this document carefully and view all included screen shots for full details on running the tests.

©Copyright 1996–2008 Art Liddle and Cadalyst magazine. You may freely use the C2008 benchmark and/or modify it for personal use only. This benchmark test (including all files) may not be copied, modified or distributed commercially without the written consent of the copyright holders. Test results may not be published in any form without the written consent of the copyright holders.

Please contact us with any problems, questions, or comments.

Note: The Cadalyst Systems Benchmark C2006 is still available for reference.