Cloud technologies are becoming an integral part of an engineer’s everyday lives. Cloud storage, services and CAD programs not only simplify our daily tasks, they also promote creativity. Over the past three years, the xApps applications I actively use have demonstrated just how remarkable this transformation is, offering an incredible experience on both my computer and tablet. But today, I want to focus on xDesign specifically.
Many engineers must wonder how xDesign’s cloud-based systems would perform when pushed to the limit. In this article, you will discover the performance differences between the R2024 and R2025 versions, while gaining insights into the advancements of cloud technology.
I conducted xDesign performance tests on both commercial and academic tenants. Since the resources allocated to the system vary, based on the type of tenant, I wanted to observe the performance differences between them. Additionally, I ran the same tests on an Android tablet to demonstrate its performance on mobile. During the testing process, I performed all the steps according to the R2024 version, then repeated the same tests using the R2025 version and measured the performance improvements between the two.
Before the Test
Before starting the test, I made several important adjustments to my browser and xDesign settings. I also ran an Internet Speed Test, System Status Test and Network Performance Test to ensure my system was compatible with the platform.
Browser Settings
To ensure my web browser was ready for the compatibility tests, I made a few reconfigurations. Please also note that throughout the test, I used Google Chrome.
1. Clearing cookies
For a smoother experience, it’s beneficial to regularly clear your browser cookies. In this test, I began by clearing my browser cookies.
2. Enabling GPU usage
To allow your browser to use the GPU, you can follow the steps shown in the GIF. To activate the feature, make sure to select the Relaunch button as shown. The effect of GPU usage on xDesign can be observed in the System Status section.
How to use graphic acceleration on the browser. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
Platform Compatibility
1. Internet speed results
Cloud-based applications commonly require a stable and reliable internet connection. High speeds alone are not sufficient; low latency also provides a significant advantage when using these services.
My internet speed test. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
According to test results, my internet speed is at a good level.
2. Network Performance
You can access the “About 3DEXPERIENCE Platform” command by clicking on the question mark icon on the platform screen. This feature allows us to verify if our internet connection falls within the range recommended by the platform.
How to find the “About 3DEXPERIENCE Platform” section. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
By selecting the Support menu in the popup window, you can view the latency and download rate of your internet connection. The results displaying in green signify that the system is performing well.
My network performance is compatible. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
However, if your internet speed is slow, you might encounter a screen like the one shown below.
What a failed network performance test looks like. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
3. System Status
The System Status feature within xDesign allows you to check if your system meets the requirements to use this application effectively. You can access the System Status command via the Standard menu in the Action Bar, as shown in the image.
How to check your System Status on xDesign. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
My System Status with my GPU Active. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
Based on the results, our system status is in good condition.
If we hadn’t applied the GPU usage setting in the browser, we would have encountered a screen similar to the one shown below.
System Status when the browser can’t access the GPU. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
xDesign Settings
1. Creating a new dashboard
I created a new dashboard and added the xDesign widget using the platform’s drag and drop feature. I will conduct all tests from this screen.
How to creating a new dashboard. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
2. View Modes
I disabled the Display Materials option in the View Modes settings. You can access the View Modes command via the View menu in the Action Bar, as shown in the image.
How to access View Modes settings. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
For this change to take effect, it must be applied and saved on the relevant model. Doing this prevents the system from allocating resources to display colors and textures on the materials.
My View Modes settings. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
Project data characteristics
My tests were run on a locomotive project I created with the help of 17 team members.
- Total number of parts: 839
- Number of unique parts: 451
My locomotive project in xDesign. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
Testing procedures
The tests I conducted can be seen below:
- Assembly opening performance.
- Adding a new component performance.
- Assembly mate performance.
- Lineer pattern performance.
- Performance delays in moving, rotating or zooming.
- Solve performance.
- Save performance.
To ensure a clearer assessment, I measured only the waiting times and subtracted the duration of operation steps (such as mouse movements, selections and entering values) from the total time to find the net duration. I then calculated the percentage performance difference between the two versions.
Testing in commercial tenant
1. Assembly opening performance
When opening a component in xDesign, there is loading time involved. During this period, you will encounter a three-step loading process: Initializing, Connecting and Opening. The first two steps load significantly faster compared to the last step.
I measured the assembly opening performance of an 839-part assembly and found that the time to open decreased by 25.93% in R2025 compared to R2024.
I usually keep the Display Material feature turned off due to my usage habits. But to answer the question of how enabling or disabling this feature affects performance, I conducted a test with the feature turned on. According to the test results, keeping this feature turned off improves waiting times by 29.82%.
2. Adding a new component performance
The component I added is a wagon consisting of 160 parts. I added the wagon to the assembly by typing the file name of the wagon into the search field and using the platforn’s drag and drop feature.
How I searched for and added the wagon. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
The performance of adding the wagon to the assembly was fast before, and the R2025 version maintains the same level of performance as the R2024 version.
3. Assembly mate performance
We will define coincident and concentric assembly relationships between the wagon and the train. You can access the Mate command through the Assembly menu in the Action Bar, as shown in this visual.
How to find the Mate command. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
I measured that the waiting time for creating the assembly relationship improved by 35.48% in the R2025 version compared to the R2024 version.
4. Linear component pattern performance
Linear patterning is one of the most popular methods used in testing CAD programs. We will create eight duplicates of the wagon component at intervals of 63 cm. The Linear Component Pattern command can be accessed through the Assembly menu in the Action Bar, as shown in this visual.
How to find the Linear Component Pattern command. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
The wagon component consists of 160 parts. After duplication, the total number of wagon parts will be equal to 8 * 160 = 1,280 parts. The original train had 839 parts, so after duplication, the current total part count of our assembly will be 2,119.
My locomotive project has 2,119 parts. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
I measured that the duplication process using the Linear Component Pattern command showed a 21.74% performance improvement in R2025 compared to R2024.
5. Performance delays in moving, rotating or zooming
After duplication, we check if there are any performance issues by quickly zooming in and out of the train and rotating it. We test whether there is any lag or delay during these operations.
I did not detect any hang-ups or delays in my test results.
6. Solve performance
We will check the assembly’s solve time by clicking on the Solve command. You can access this command through the Standard menu in the Action Bar, as shown in this visual.
How to locate the Solve command. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
I measured that the assembly solve time performance improved by 33.33% in R2025 compared to R2024.
7. Save performance
Finally, we save the assembly. You can access the Save command through the Standard menu in the Action Bar, as shown in this visual.
How to find the Save command. (Image: Champion Xperience.)
The save performance was fast before, and the R2025 version maintains the same level of performance as the R2024 version.
Performance Improvement in R2025 Compared to R2024
| xDesign Test | Performance Improvement (R2025 vs R2024) |
| Assembly Opening | 25.93% |
| Adding a New Component | Stable performance |
| Assembly Mate | 35.48% |
| Lineer Component Pattern | 21.74% |
| Moving, Rotating, or Zooming delays | No delays |
| Solve | 33.33% |
| Save | Stable performance |
Performance differences between tenants and devices
In the R2024 version, I analyzed the general performance differences between tenants and devices (Workstation and Tablet) by averaging the test results conducted on Commercial and Education tenants. According to the test results:
- The Commercial tenant demonstrates a 22.36% faster performance compared to the Education tenant, highlighting the effective allocation of resources to optimize performance. It should be noted that Dassault Systèmes is continuously investing in enhancing the performance of Educational tenants to ensure they benefit from the same high standards of service and efficiency.
- The test results conducted on an Android tablet within the Education tenant showed an 11.64% difference in performance compared to tests conducted on a workstation within the same tenant. This difference can be attributed to the fact that the software solution partially relies on hardware resources, and workstations generally offer more powerful processing capabilities compared to tablets. However, the portability and ease of use of the Android tablet provide valuable advantages that complement this difference, making it an ideal choice for flexible and convenient use.
These test results provide valuable insights for comparing user experiences across different platforms and evaluating the advantages of each platform.
Conclusion
I was introduced to the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform three years ago. Since then, I have been using xDesign, xShape and other xApps applications on both computers and tablets with great satisfaction. When I first started using xDesign, I designed a 110-part RC car. While it offered an impressive technological experience at the time, today it delivers smooth and stable performance even in assemblies with more than 2,000 parts. This progress clearly demonstrates how quickly the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is continuously improving the user experience. To drive this progress, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is updated about four times a year and upgraded once a year, delivering continuous improvements and innovations to users year-round.
The tests presented here were conducted on April 16 (R2024) and December 1 (R2025), 2024.