“What laptop/computer should I get to run 12d Model?”
While 12d Model will run on just about any Windows based device, the bigger/better/faster the device can also mean the quicker 12d will perform. But what hardware should you go bigger, better, or faster?
As manufacturers are constantly updating their products, we cannot recommend any specific devices or hardware. However, we can advise on what to look for.
As a starting point, consider which ‘brand’ should you get. If you don’t want to deal with replacing/repairing hardware, then it’s usually advisable to look at the major manufacturers, such as HP, Toshiba, Dell, etc. These may not offer the best ‘Bang-for-Buck’, however, for business oriented devices they have a larger support network.
Also consider the warranty conditions. Does it include ‘onsite’ repair, or ‘back-to-base’, or both? What are the nominal time frames for repairs? What will you do while your computer is out-of-service? Some manufacturers also offer “Extended Warranty”, which may/may not be of use to you.
The Technical Stuff
12d Model is predominately a Single Core process, and a CPU with 12-Cores will have minimal benefit over CPU’s with 6-Cores. However, large 12d Projects have large amounts of data and require large amounts of Memory and Storage. So, it’s better to save on the CPU and put extra into Memory (RAM).
Here are some suggested hardware specs;
CPU: Anything above an Intel i7 would be overkill.
If budget is a constraint, then Intel i5/AMD Ryzen 5 would still be quite acceptable.
RAM: This is where Bigger = Better. Dual Channel 32Gb (2x 16Gb).
If budget allows 64Gb (2x 32Gb or 4x 16Gb) would be preferred.
Storage: 2x drives (minimum), and they should be Solid State Drives (SSD).
1) Primary (C: drive) : 500Gb (min.) M.2 SSD for O/S, Software, Drivers.
2) Data : 1Tb (or more) 2.5″ SSD for storage of files, 12d Projects, etc.
3) If possible, a 3rd 2.5″ SSD would be useful.
GPU: nVidia preferred, with support for OpenGL. A mid-spec GPU is enough for day-to-day 12d tasks.
For laptops, keep in mind the GPU consumes a lot of battery.
I/O: Take note of the USB Ports. You need ONE Type A for the 12d dongle.
O/S: Windows 10, Windows 11
Like anything, computer specs can be a contentious talking point, and I’m sure someone will contact us saying “Why would you suggest ‘Brand X’, I would never use them“. And we are ok with that, as there are other options!
The above information is provided as a guideline, and takes into account that you will be running other software concurrently, such as MS Office, CAD, etc. If you will be running other resource intensive software, such as TuFlow, multiple VM’s, or the kids Minecraft Texture Packs, then you may need to reconsider your hardware specs.