Hardware Certification FAQ

Autodesk Support

Mar 6, 2018

Find certified and recommended graphics hardware and drivers at Certified Graphics Hardware.

  1. What is “Certified” hardware?
  2. What is “Recommended” hardware?
  3. Why should I use Recommended or Certified hardware?
  4. Why can’t I find posted certification results for older Autodesk products?
  5. If I use Recommended or Certified hardware with an older Autodesk product, what driver should I use?
  6. Why is my hardware not listed?
  7. If my hardware is listed but not Certified or Recommended, can I still use it with my Autodesk product?
  8. Why is hardware designed for desktop or gaming applications not Certified or Recommended?
  9. My hardware is listed but the driver version is different. What should I do?
  10. What hardware and monitor configurations does Autodesk use for testing?
  11. Why was my hardware certified for an older version of an Autodesk product, but now fails or is not certified in the latest version?
  12. I am using a non-certified driver and have hardware acceleration disabled. Why could I still be having issues?
  13. How do I check for my driver information?
  14. When using the Find Hardware Page, what is the “type” and how does it affect my search?
  15. Should I install one driver over another?
  16. What information is needed to report a hardware problem?
  1. What is “Certified” hardware?

    “Certified” hardware meets Autodesk’s minimum hardware requirements for the applicable Autodesk software product as listed on the system requirements page for the applicable product and version on our website. At least one configuration (e.g., GPU + driver, or CPU + GPU + RAM + HD + BIOS) has passed tests designed to verify that the hardware supports the product’s features. 

  2. What is “Recommended” hardware?

    “Recommended” hardware meets Autodesk’s recommended system requirements for the applicable Autodesk product. At least one configuration has passed tests designed to verify that the hardware supports the product’s features.

  3. Why should I use Recommended or Certified hardware?

    Hardware that is not Recommended or Certified may not adequately support advanced product features; in some cases, it may cause problems during use.

  4. Why can’t I find posted certification results for older Autodesk products?

    Most certification testing is limited to the most recent releases of Autodesk products that require advanced hardware features.

  5. If I use Recommended or Certified hardware with an older Autodesk product, what driver should I use?

    You can use a driver certified for a newer release of the Autodesk product if there is no certified driver available for the (older) release of the Autodesk product that you have installed on your machine.

  6. Why is my hardware not listed?

    The Hardware List page contains only the hardware products that Autodesk has tested for use with certain Autodesk applications. Autodesk tests a variety of hardware, but focuses primarily on hardware the manufacturer has indicated is workstation-grade and designed to work with 3D CAD applications. If your hardware is not listed, you should use the latest drivers available from the manufacturer.

  7. If my hardware is listed but not Certified or Recommended, can I still use it with my Autodesk product?

    Yes, you can use your hardware, but it may not fully support the all the features within the applications.

  8. Why is hardware designed for desktop or gaming applications not Certified or Recommended?

    Some desktop or gaming-level hardware may work with the 3D display features in certain Autodesk software, but these products are not supported by Autodesk or the hardware vendor for use with 3D applications.

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

    Autodesk recommends that you use the same driver version that was tested with your hardware. The newest driver does not always provide the best support.

  10. What hardware and monitor configurations does Autodesk use for testing?

    Unless otherwise noted, Autodesk 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 cards installed or multiple monitors.

  11. Why was my hardware certified for an older version of an Autodesk product, but now fails or is not certified in the latest version?

    Newer Autodesk products may contain features and optimizations that require more from the hardware. Older hardware, even if previously certified for use with an Autodesk product, may not meet the necessary criteria to be Certified or Recommended for the current version of that product.

  12. I am using a non-certified driver and have hardware acceleration disabled. Why could I still be having issues?

    Some of the new user interface elements in Autodesk products (like the ribbon and the application menu) use the Microsoft .NET Framework. .NET utilizes Direct3D and video card hardware to visualize the user interface. This visualization is done even when hardware acceleration is disabled. We recommend you use a certified driver for the best experience.

  13. How do I check for my driver information?

    If you don’t know what graphics hardware device and driver is installed on your Windows computer, use the following process:

    • Click Start > Run.
    • Type DXDIAG in the Open field, and click OK.
    • Select the Display tab to view all the information about the currently installed hardware device and driver.
     
  14. When using the Find Hardware Page, what is the “type” and how does it affect my search?
     
    • Workstation—Graphics hardware designated by the manufacturer as workstation-grade, typically meaning it is designed to work with 3D CAD applications
    • Consumer—Graphics hardware designated by the manufacturer for desktop or gaming level use, typically meaning it is not designed or recommended for use with 3D CAD applications
    • Mobile—Integrated hardware normally found in laptops
     
  15. Should I install one driver over another?

    It is ideal to uninstall all your drivers so that you are using the default Windows VGA driver before installing a new driver.

  16. What information is needed to report a hardware problem?

    You can report problems using the System Requirements & Certified Hardware Contact Support page.


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