A faster remote computer and a new CAD license are separate decisions. Start by testing Bill’s existing SOLIDWORKS 2021 entitlement on a suitable host, while keeping a current-release option available for the newest add-in workflow.
| Path | What Bill keeps | Why consider it | What must be resolved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existing PC + GO3D assistance | Current 2021 installation and files | Fastest baseline; adds guided requests, revisions and supported local commands | It provides no hardware speed increase; desktop command acceptance remains necessary |
| GO3D dedicated physical workstation | His own 2021 license, if its terms permit the move and hosted use | Stable machine identity and direct GPU access; a useful first performance comparison | Activation transfer, supported legacy OS/driver stack, business security updates and remote-access rights |
| GO3D dedicated GPU VM | His own 2021 license, subject to entitlement and hosting approval | Isolation, recoverable project storage and controlled workstation configuration | 2021-specific hypervisor/driver support, GPU passthrough or licensed vGPU, stable identity and OS lifecycle |
| Managed cloud workstation + own license | His software entitlement and workflow | Less hardware administration; capacity can be rented for a pilot | Actual Windows edition, supported CAD stack, third-party hosting rights, persistent identity and full running cost |
| Current compatible SOLIDWORKS + add-in | Copied project geometry and reusable libraries | Cleanest route to a current Windows 11 / QUICKSURFACE combination | Upgrade or new-seat quote; tested release/service pack; no assumed backward-native-file compatibility |
| 2021 CAD + separate QUICKSURFACE Pro | Existing SOLIDWORKS seat | Performs surfacing on a separate supported workstation and returns STEP/IGES | Manual surfacing handoff, alignment/deviation checks and neutral-format editability limits |
| Browser-native CAD | Transferable geometry, subject to import testing | Onshape or SOLIDWORKS xDesign can reduce desktop administration | Different workflows; no QUICKSURFACE desktop add-in; do not assume full native history/mate preservation |
| GO3D-controlled CAD processing | Original scans plus versioned neutral-format results | Rhino Compute or a FreeCAD/Open CASCADE worker can support scoped automated geometry operations | Engineering implementation, kernel/licensing obligations and rigorous validation; not a complete SOLIDWORKS replacement |
SOLIDWORKS documents moving an individual license by deactivating it on the old computer and activating it on the new one. A network license follows a different server/client process. Those technical activation steps do not, by themselves, establish that a specific customer license permits a third-party hosting service. Confirm the actual entitlement, permitted user and location before moving it. Individual licensing · Network licensing
Compatibility is the important catch: SOLIDWORKS lists Windows 11 support starting at 2022 SP2, while the current QUICKSURFACE add-in download requires Windows 11 and lists SOLIDWORKS 2019+. This does not establish a supported 2021/current-add-in stack. Evaluate an eligible Windows 10 business environment with security-update coverage for 2021, and obtain a supported legacy add-in from its vendor or use standalone Pro separately. CAD matrix · Add-in requirements · Windows 10 business ESU
SOLIDWORKS 2027 has been announced, but the published 2027 hypervisor rows currently say “To be announced.” Select the latest supported and compatible release, not simply the newest version number.
| Candidate | Fit for GO3D | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| BOXX Cloud | Managed CAD workstation hosting | Strong candidate for a CAD-focused pilot. Request the actual CPU, GPU, OS image, BYOL acceptance and full quote; vendor benchmarks are not Bill’s measured results. |
| Vagon Cloud Computer | Short, usage-based Windows workstation pilot | Explicitly uses the customer’s SOLIDWORKS license. Verify the selected image and persistent identity; its current Windows 11 workflow does not settle the 2021 compatibility issue. |
| Dizzion Frame / BYO Workload | Remote access over GO3D-owned desktops or VMs | Useful middle path: the vendor documents bringing existing physical, virtual or cloud Windows hosts into its remote-access platform. Confirm branding, contracts and per-seat economics. |
| Workspot | Managed enterprise workstation fleet | Worth a quote for a growing customer fleet; enterprise operating overhead and minimums need review before a one-seat pilot. |
| AWS WorkSpaces / WorkSpaces Applications | Potential multi-seat deployment | Windows desktop BYOL currently specifies at least 4 AlwaysOn or 20 AutoStop GPU seats per region/month. Not the default single-Bill pilot; Windows licensing is separate from SOLIDWORKS licensing. |
| Paperspace | Screened out for a new Windows account | Official documentation says Windows templates are unavailable to users who joined after July 1, 2024. Do not plan a new Windows CAD seat on the assumption these templates are offered. |
| Amazon DCV Web Client SDK | Custom GO3D browser terminal | A documented JavaScript SDK for a GO3D-designed remote client. It is a transport layer; it supplies neither the workstation nor CAD licenses. |
| RustDesk Server Pro | GO3D-branded client and self-hosted access | Vendor-documented custom client branding is useful for a quick managed-access product. Benchmark CAD interaction and confirm the commercial plan. |
| HP Anyware / PCoIP | High-quality remote engineering display | Designed for graphical workloads on dedicated or virtual GPUs. Confirm the current supported versions, commercial licensing and desired client experience. |
| Parsec business access | Low-friction remote workstation access | Evaluate its supported browser/client features and business terms. A GO3D launch page is not proof of unrestricted white-label or SDK resale rights. |
The shortlist covers the practical deployment families and primary-source candidates screened for this request; it is not a claim to enumerate every hosting company. Unverified providers are not treated as available or certified.
Turn voice or marked-up requests into structured dimensions, cuts, material/fit questions and a review plan. Check the source revision, create a working copy, prepare supported native commands, validate outputs and present the result for review.
The existing GO3D companion already implements a bounded native-command interface, with installed-desktop acceptance still pending. A production AI service, authentication and remote job delivery are additional work.
Do not silently script QUICKSURFACE. Its published terms restrict external scripting and server-style use. Keep that step operator-driven or obtain separate written automation/hosting rights. Build automated geometry operations with a kernel and license intended for server use.
QUICKSURFACE terms · Rhino Compute REST APIs · FreeCAD geometry and Python capabilities