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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Autodesk-certified graphics hardware?
2. Why should I use Autodesk-certified graphics hardware?
3. Why is there not any 2007 certification results posted?
4. What driver should I use for AutoCAD 2007?
5. Will older versions of AutoCAD work with the graphics hardware listed on the AutoCAD-certified hardware site?
6. Where can I find out what has changed in the latest version of the AutoCAD Certified Hardware XML Database?
7. Should I download the latest version of the AutoCAD graphics hardware database?
8. What products does the AutoCAD graphics hardware certification cover?
9. How can I tell if my graphics hardware is Autodesk certified?
10. What do the icons stand for in the graphics hardware list?
11. Why is my graphics hardware not listed?
12. If my graphics hardware is listed but not Autodesk certified, can I still use it with AutoCAD?
13. What are the limitations if my graphics hardware has passed some of the graphics hardware tests but has failed others?
14. Why is graphics hardware designed for desktop or gaming applications not certified?
15. How do I check to see if AutoCAD is using hardware acceleration?
16. Can I set AutoCAD to use hardware acceleration manually if my graphics hardware is not listed?
17. How do I find my driver version?
18. My graphics hardware is listed but the driver version is different. What should I do?
19. How do I obtain the version of the graphics hardware driver that is listed in the graphics hardware list?
20. How do I update my Hardware Certification XML file and my graphics hardware driver in AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD 2010?
21. What information is needed to report a graphics hardware problem with listed graphics hardware?
22. My hardware is not listed, and when I enable hardware acceleration manually, I have problems. What should I do?
23. What graphics hardware and monitor configurations does Autodesk test with?
24. Why is there no OpenGL option in Windows Vista?
25. Why is there no OpenGL option in AutoCAD 2010?
26. What is the difference between the certification for AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD 2008?
27. What is the difference between the certification for AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD 2009?
28. What is the difference between the certification for AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD 2010?
29. Why was my card certified for AutoCAD 2007, AutoCAD 2008, or AutoCAD 2009 but now fails for AutoCAD 2010?
30. Should I use OpenGL or Direct3D in AutoCAD 2009?
31. Should I use the Direct3D or Autodesk driver in AutoCAD 2010?
32. What is the difference between the Direct3D or Autodesk driver in AutoCAD 2010?

1. What is Autodesk-certified graphics hardware?

Autodesk graphics hardware certification indicates that Autodesk has worked with the graphics hardware vendor to test the graphics hardware to ensure that it supports the real-time 3D shading, shadows, Phong, and per pixel lighting display features of products based on, AutoCAD® 2008, AutoCAD® 2009, or AutoCAD® 2010 software. It also indicates that the card supports 2D drawing in the Microsoft® Windows Vista® operating system when using hardware acceleration.

2. Why should I use Autodesk-certified graphics hardware?

Autodesk-certified graphics hardware is better suited for the 3D display features of, AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD 2009, and AutoCAD 2010. Graphics hardware that is not Autodesk-certified may not support these new features or may cause problems during use.

3. Why is there not any 2007 certification results posted?

Autodesk only supports graphics card certification for the last three released versions of AutoCAD at a time.

4. What driver should I use for AutoCAD 2007?

The newest certified driver for your card should not have any problems and will default to hardware acceleration.

5. Will older versions of AutoCAD work with the graphics hardware listed on the AutoCAD-certified hardware site?

Certified hardware is not required for versions of AutoCAD earlier than 2007. If you are using an older release of AutoCAD for 2D design, any graphics hardware that supports Windows is supported by AutoCAD. If you are using 3D features like shademode or 3D orbit, any graphics hardware listed as certified or supported should work with an older version of AutoCAD.

6. Where can I find out what has changed in the latest version of the AutoCAD Certified Hardware XML Database?

Review the readme file on the Certified Hardware XML Database Update page.

7. Should I download the latest version of the AutoCAD graphics hardware database?

You only need to download the updated database if there has been a change in the status of your graphics hardware, for example, if your graphics hardware has changed from “supported” to “certified.”

8. What products does the AutoCAD graphics hardware certification cover?

Autodesk 2008 Product Family

AutoCAD® 2008
AutoCAD® Electrical 2008
AutoCAD® Mechanical 2008
AutoCAD® Architecture 2008
AutoCAD® MEP 2008
AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2008
AutoCAD® Land Desktop 2008
AutoCAD® Map 3D 2008

Autodesk 2009 Product Family

AutoCAD® 2009
AutoCAD® Electrical 2009
AutoCAD® Mechanical 2009
AutoCAD® Architecture 2009
AutoCAD® MEP 2009
AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2009
AutoCAD® Land Desktop 2009
AutoCAD® Map 3D 2009

Autodesk 2010 Product Family

AutoCAD® 2010
AutoCAD® Electrical 2010
AutoCAD® Mechanical 2010
AutoCAD® Architecture 2010
AutoCAD® MEP 2010
AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2010
AutoCAD® Land Desktop 2010
AutoCAD® Map 3D 2010

For Autodesk® Inventor® Professional and Autodesk® Inventor™ Series 9 to 2010, refer to the Autodesk Inventor Hardware Website.

9. How can I tell if my graphics hardware is Autodesk certified?

Autodesk certification is indicated in the graphics hardware list with the icon.

10. What do the icons stand for in the graphics hardware list?

The following table describes the icons’ meanings.

Icon	Icon Description	Hardware Acceleration Status in AutoCAD
	Autodesk-certified graphics hardware. This graphics hardware is recommended by Autodesk and the graphics hardware vendor.	Hardware acceleration is enabled by default.
	Passed all graphics tests. This graphics hardware is recommended.	Hardware acceleration is enabled by default.
	Passed most graphics tests. This graphics hardware has some minor problems or features that are not supported.	Hardware acceleration is enabled for some manufacturers' cards by default and disabled for others. You can enable hardware acceleration manually for this graphics hardware.
	Failed graphics tests. This graphics hardware is not supported for 3D display features.	Hardware acceleration is disabled and cannot be enabled for this graphics hardware.
	Graphics hardware test passed.	The graphics hardware listed passed this specific graphics hardware test.
	Graphics hardware test failed.	The graphics hardware listed failed this specific graphics hardware test.

11. Why is my graphics hardware not listed?

A card doesn’t have to be listed for AutoCAD to be able to use it. The certification page simply informs users about what cards Autodesk has tested and knows work well with AutoCAD. Autodesk makes its best effort to test a variety of graphics hardware but focuses specifically on graphics hardware designed to work with 3D CAD applications. If your card is not listed, you should download and use the latest driver available from the manufacturer.

If your graphics hardware is not listed and it is designed for 3D CAD applications, log a request using the Problem Report form on the Report a Problem page.

12. If my graphics hardware is listed but not Autodesk certified, can I still use it with AutoCAD?

Yes, you can use your graphics hardware, but it may not fully support the new 3D display features of AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD 2009, or AutoCAD 2010. It will still fully support 2D design and drafting features.

13. What are the limitations if my graphics hardware has passed some of the graphics hardware tests but has failed others?

You can still use your graphics hardware for 2D design and drafting. It should also work for the 3D display features if the “supported” icon () appears for those features in the graphics hardware list.

14. Why is graphics hardware designed for desktop or gaming applications not certified?

While some gaming-based graphics hardware will work with the 3D display features in AutoCAD, they are neither optimized for optimal performance nor supported by the graphics hardware vendor for CAD use. If you encounter problems, Autodesk will not be able to obtain support from the graphics hardware vendor to fix them.

15. How do I check to see if AutoCAD is using hardware acceleration?

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In AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD 2009, or AutoCAD 2010, enter 3DCONFIG at the command line. In the Adaptive Degradation and Performance Tuning dialog box, click the Manual Tune button. In the Manual Performance Tuning dialog box (shown here), see whether Enable Hardware Acceleration is selected. The Manual Performance Tuning dialog box also indicates the 3D display features that are supported by your graphics hardware.

16. Can I set AutoCAD to use hardware acceleration manually if my graphics hardware is not listed?

Yes, if your graphics hardware can support some of the 3D display features in AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD 2009, or AutoCAD 2010 you can turn on hardware acceleration.

To turn on hardware acceleration in AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD 2009, or AutoCAD 2010 enter 3DCONFIG in the command line. In the Adaptive Degradation and Performance Tuning dialog box, click the Manual Tune button. In the Manual Performance Tuning dialog box, select Enable Hardware Acceleration.

17. How do I find my driver version?

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You can view information about your graphics hardware driver in the Performance Tuner Log. In AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD 2009, or AutoCAD 2010 enter 3DCONFIG at the command line. In the Adaptive Degradation and Performance Tuning dialog box, click the View Tune Log button.

18. My graphics hardware is listed but the driver version is different. What should I do?

For the best performance, feature support, and stability, Autodesk recommends that you use the same graphics hardware driver version that was tested with AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD 2009, or AutoCAD 2010. The newest driver does not always provide the best support.

19. How do I obtain the version of the graphics hardware driver that is listed in the graphics hardware list?

You can download the driver using the driver version link in the graphics hardware list. For laptop drivers you need to consult your laptop vendor to download the version of the driver listed on the graphics hardware list. Some laptop drivers are also located on the Autodesk Inventor Hardware website.

20. How do I update my Hardware Certification XML file and my graphics hardware driver in AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD 2010?

In AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD 2010 you can update your Hardware Certification XML file directly from the software. Enter 3DCONFIG at the command line and click Check for Updates. If a newer file is available, it will be downloaded and installed in your system. If a newer graphics hardware driver is available, a note will be displayed in the dialog box, and you can follow the link to download the latest certified graphics hardware driver for your card.

21. What information is needed to report a graphics hardware problem with listed graphics hardware?

Consult the Report a Problem page for the information that Autodesk requires to help diagnose your problem. It is also a good idea to copy the information from the Performance Tuner Log to the problem summary in your report.

In AutoCAD 2008, AutoCAD 2009, or AutoCAD® 2010, enter 3DCONFIG at the command line. In the Adaptive Degradation and Performance Tuning dialog box, click the View Tune Log button, and then copy the information and paste it into the Problem field on the Problem Report form.

22. My hardware is not listed, and when I enable hardware acceleration manually, I have problems. What should I do?

If your graphics hardware is not listed and you are having problems, log a request using the Problem Report form on the Report a Problem page. Autodesk will review your issue and contact you if more information is needed.

23. What graphics hardware and monitor configurations does Autodesk test with?

Autodesk graphics hardware certification tests are run on systems containing a single video card with a single monitor attached. Autodesk does not currently run certification tests on systems with multiple graphics hardware installed or multiple monitors.

24. Why is there no OpenGL option in Windows Vista?

OpenGL® software is currently not supported in AutoCAD 2009 when running on Windows Vista. AutoCAD 2008 uses Direct3D® software to enhance 3D performance.

25. Why is there no OpenGL option in AutoCAD 2010?

OpenGL has been removed in AutoCAD 2010, due to stability and visual fidelity issues.

26. What is the difference between the certification for AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD 2008?

AutoCAD 2008 certification introduced the following features:

Certification tests for the Direct3D driver
Tests are run on three new operating systems: 64-bit Microsoft® Windows® XP and 32-bit and 64-bit Windows Vista
Support for texture compression

27. What is the difference between the certification for AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD 2009?

AutoCAD 2009 certification introduces the following new features:

Support for per-pixel lighting
Hardware acceleration support in 2D drawings when running on Windows Vista

The Certification XML file can be updated automatically by selecting Check for Updates

28. What is the difference between the certification for AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD 2010?

AutoCAD 2010 certification includes certification for the Autodesk driver.

29. Why was my card certified for AutoCAD 2007, AutoCAD 2008, or AutoCAD 2009 but now fails for AutoCAD 2010?

Newer features and optimizations may require more of the video cards. Because of performance and stability issues, AutoCAD no longer supports cards with 128 MB of RAM or less. Support for some older graphics hardware that manufacturers no longer provide driver updates for has also been dropped.

30. Should I use OpenGL or Direct3D in AutoCAD 2009?

The first time you start AutoCAD, your graphics hardware is analyzed to determine which hardware acceleration driver will provide the best performance and stability. AutoCAD then selects this as the default hardware acceleration driver.

31. Should I use the Direct3D or Autodesk driver in AutoCAD 2010?

32. What is the difference between the Direct3D or Autodesk driver in AutoCAD 2010?

The Autodesk driver is faster in modern graphics cards, but the old Direct3D driver may perform better if you have an older graphics card. Also, the Autodesk driver will not be available in really old cards, while the Direct3D one may be. Please check the Graphics Hardware List for the result for your video card.

The Direct3D driver uses older technology (Fixed Function pipeline), and the Autodesk driver uses newer shader-based technology). Newer graphics cards are optimized for a shader-based workflow, so the Autodesk driver should give you better performance in modern graphics cards.