PC and Mac Recommended System Requirements

PC

• 32 GB of RAM

• 512 GB SSD

  • Desktops:

    • Intel i9 / AMD Ryzen 5000

    • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 / AMD Radeon RX6800

  • Laptops:

    • Minimum 15" screen

    • Intel i7 / AMD Ryzen 7

    • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 / AMD Radeon RX 6800M

Mac

• 32 GB of RAM

• 512 GB SSD

  • Desktops:

    • Mac Pro

  • Laptops:

    • MacBook Pro 16"

    • Metal GPUFamily: Apple M1 or newer

    • 8 GB video memory

If your computer does not meet the requirements noted above, feel free to reach out to me directly and we can see what/if you may need to either add to it or upgrade your computer.

To learn how to figure out what your computer specs are see the breakdown by Chief Architect linked here.

Why Computer Specifications Matter

It’s important to make sure that your computer can handle the software prior to getting too far down ‘the rabbit hole’. When looking at the specifications to the left you’ll see that Desktops and Laptops have different characteristics, but what do they mean?

The following is an excerpt from a blog post I put together a while back:

Memory/RAM: Generally noted as gigabytes (GB) there are specific qualifications needed based on the software you plan to use. As noted in the What Is RAM (Random Access Memory)? article was written by Tim Fisher for Lifewire.com,

“Random Access Memory, or RAM (pronounced as ramm), is the physical hardware inside a computer that temporarily stores data, serving as the computer's "working" memory.”

In other words, there is a minimum amount generally required based on the workload and the number of items (software) you have open at a given time. You know, when you have to start closing all those various windows and software you have open at one time because your computer is slowing down and you’re getting notifications that you’re running out of memory? Yup, that's your RAM. As with most things (minus carbs, in-laws during the holidays, and COVID) the more the merrier. With that in mind, your ability to add more, if needed, will depend on your computer type and starting specs. It’s generally easier and more available to be able to upgrade the RAM capacity in a Desktop than a laptop. So if you’re not sure how much you’ll need in the future, but are super set on having the versatility of a laptop, make sure to ask what the max amount of sticks/upgradability is for your RAM in your laptop PRIOR to purchasing. I recommend starting with the recommended minimum of 32GB if you plan to really process some serious programs at one time, with an ultimate super add-on of 64 GB.

Graphics Cards/GPU: This is part of the machine (from my informal understanding) that makes your computer a ‘Gaming Computer’. Also known as a video card, this little ‘chip’ is what helps your computer process all the graphics and 3D visuals. This is what helps you move, pan, and process your visuals in the various rendering software. The graphics card is also, in many cases, the deal breaker for what software you can use on your computer (if you put the Mac vs. PC argument aside and only look at this single piece of the equation).

PC: NVIDIA GeForce RTX or AMD Radeon RX

Mac : Metal GPUFamily: Apple M1 or newer

Processor/CPU : Okay, so I’m going to be brutally honest with this one. When I spec’d out my computer I pretty much figured out what the latest and greatest processor was at the time, watched WAAAY too many Youtube reviews for it installed in various machines and ordered the computer I thought fit my needs the best. And truth be told, it’s a good computer, but my eyes still go a little crossed trying to read the various definitions for what a Processor/CPU ACTUALLY is. So bear with me. From what I gather, and can summarize per this page from whatis.techtarget.com. “A processor (CPU) is the logic circuitry that responds to, and processes, the basic instructions that drive a computer (whatis.techtarget.com).” In other words, if you’ve had a chance to check out Westworld on HBO, the processor the ‘brain’ that Dolores, Maeve, and all the other robots are made with and is their ‘soul’. In much the same way you can have a 6 cylinder engine, computer processors can have multiple cores.

“In the early days of computing a CPU would only have a single core. This meant that the CPU was limited to just a single set of tasks. This is one of the reasons that computing was often a relatively slow and time consuming, but world changing affair. After pushing the single-core CPU to its limits, manufacturers started looking for new ways to improve performance. This drive for performance improvements led to the creation of multi-core processors. These days it's likely that you will hear terms thrown around like dual, quad, or even octo-core.

A dual-core processor for example is really just two separate CPUs on a single chip. By increasing the amount of cores, CPUs were able to handle multiple processes simultaneously. This had the desired effect of increasing performance and reducing processing time. Dual-core soon gave way to quad-core processors with four CPUs, and even octo-core processors with eight. Add in hyper-threading and your computer can perform tasks as if they had up to 16 cores.” (What Is A CPU and What Does It Do?, written by James Frew)

In other words, the more cores for 3D modeling and high-power computing for your Interior Design projects, the better.

Hard Drive\Solid State Drive: If the processor is the brain, then the hard drive is the stomach; and just like any human’s system after a heavy meal (think Thanksgiving), without adequate room, there’s a strong possibility of total sluggishness, inability to ‘hold onto’ the contents, and/or take in any additional data without crashing. I can tell you, from personal experience, do NOT skimp on this.