This support article describes the recommended computer specifications to run Swing Catalyst (Golf & Baseball) and Motion Catalyst.
If your computer has lower specifications than the recommended specifications below you may experience poor playback or problems capturing live video.
Related Topics
Recommended specifications for multiple cameras
We only recommend gaming laptops with these minimum requirements:
- Intel 7 processor, generation 9 or newer
- 16 GB RAM
- Nvidia 3050
- Original high quality USB cables (not extension cables or USB hubs)
- Max two USB cameras connected
Depending on other hardware connected or third party software running, performance will vary. Ie, Google Chrome occupies a lot of RAM and we recommend to close it before running Swing Catalyst on a laptop.
Hardware recommendations
CPU
- A CPU capable of 3.8 to ~ 4GHz clock speeds (and up), are recommended for optimal performance.
- Consider the amount of CPU cores, if you are only going to be using Swing Catalyst (Golf / Baseball). If you're using multiple applications and multiple cameras with multiple force plates more cores help.
- AVX support: CPU's that don't support AVX are not supported. This means CPU's older than ~2011, and some Xenon CPU's.
Intel CPU's
- Intel 13th Generation:
- Intel Core i7-13700KF
- Intel Core i9-13900K
- Intel Core i9-13900KF
- Intel Core i7-13700K
- Intel Core i5-13600K
- Intel Core i5-13600KF
- Intel 12th Generation:
- Intel Core i5-12600
- Intel Core i5-12600K
- Intel Core i7-12700K
- Intel Core i9-12900K
- Intel 11th Generation:
- Intel Core i5-11400
- Intel Core i9-11900
- Intel Core i5-11600K
- Intel 10th Generation:
- Intel Core i5-10600KF
- Intel Core i7-10700
- Intel Core i9-10900
- Intel Core i9-10900K
AMD Ryzen
- Ryzen 5 3600XT
- Ryzen 7 5800X
- Ryzen 5 5600X
- Ryzen 9 5900X
- Ryzen 9 5950X
- Ryzen 9 7950X
- Ryzen 7 5700X
Memory (RAM)
- Swing Catalyst (Golf / Baseball: 16GB - 32GB)*
- Motion Catalyst: 32GB - 64GB (depending on amount of cameras).
* Depends on the amount of cameras connected to the system.
Storage
- SSD NVME drive for the main operating system.
- Separate 2TB (or larger) 7200 RPM HDD or SSD for database storage.
- 2TB might not be enough for setups with multiple HD cameras.
Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX or RTX series:
- 3060, 3070, 3080, 4060, 4070 4080) (recommended utilizing Nvidia Encoder).
For best performance, we recommend NVIDIA Graphics over AMD.
To utilize hardware encoding (available in Swing Catalyst 9.3), which means faster recording times, we recommend NVIDIA GeForce RTX cards with the Turing architecture, over AMD or integrated graphics whenever possible.
Monitor/screen
- Monitor capable of 1080p (Full HD) or better resolution. Multiple monitors may be preferable depending on the setup.
- If you are to use a multi-monitor setup, please check that the graphics card has an adequate amount of output that will suit your needs.
Recommended specifications for laptops
CPU
For 1 camera setups or less CPU intensive setups, see CPU list above and choose the Intel i5 series or AMD Ryzen 5 series.
Note: The CPU needs to support the AVX instruction set.
Laptop CPU's:
Note: We don't recommend laptops for 4 camera setups.
Intel:
- Core i5-11300H
- Core i7-1185G7
- Core i7-11370H
- Core i7-11390H
- Core i7-11800H,
- Core i9-12900H
AMD:
- Ryzen 5 5600H
- Ryzen 7 5800H
- Ryzen 7 Pro 5850U
- Ryzen 9 5900HX
Memory
- 16 GB (32 GB or more for Motion Catalyst)
Graphics
Recommended: Dedicated graphics card, NVIDIA GTX or RTX series (minimum 1GB of dedicated video memory).
To utilize the Nvidia video encoder we strongly recommend a Nvidia graphics card to speed up video encoding times.
- Nvidia 3050, 3060, 3070, 3080.
Alternative
On-board graphics for portable systems where no dedicated GPU is available:
-
- Intel Iris / Iris Xe
Monitor / screen
- Monitor capable of 1080p (Full HD) or higher.
Further requirements
Using USB 3.0 cameras
USB 3.0 cameras can be tricky, and using multiple cameras on a laptop can present some challenges, therefore it's important you check compatibility with our recommendations before purchasing.
Major differences are seen across models and manufacturers and due to this we cannot simply recommend one make or model. Some models will have stability issues and drop frames with even one camera and others will work fine.
Furthermore we do not recommend multiple cameras to be used on laptops as dropped frames is often a problem.
Note: USB 3.0 cameras & desktop computers:
To use USB 3.0 cameras in desktop computers we strongly recommend a dedicated USB 3.0 PCI Express controller card provided by the camera manufacturer. Without a dedicated card stability issues and dropped frames may occur.
Please see our USB3 recommendations for more info: http://support.swingcatalyst.com/hc/en-us/articles/204239738-Recommended-USB-3-0-Components
Warning
Some issues have been seen with AMD 300-Series chipsets (AMD Ryzen 1700 / 2700 series ) with USB 1.1 devices. Specifically with the Balance Plate, where you only get 75 samples per second instead of ~145 samples per second. We recommend using a USB 2.0 hub which will allow the Balance Plate to stream at full sample rate.
There are no known issues as far as using the AMD 300 series chipsets with USB 3.0 devices, we however do recommend using a USB 3.0 controller add-on card.
Networking requirements for GigE Cameras
If GigE cameras are to be used, one or more network ports/cards are required.
Note: Laptops are generally not recommended.
We recommend the following network cards (with installed Intel drivers), and are recommended by most camera manufacturers:
- Intel Pro/1000 GT (requires a free PCI slot)
- Intel Pro/1000 CT (requires a free 1x PCIe slot)
- Intel Gigabit Server Adapter (with dual ports) (requires a free 4x PCIe slot)
- ADLink dual or quad port PoE cards.
It's important to use a recommended Ethernet adapter to ensure the best compatibility and stability.
We also recommend that a single dedicated network port be used for each camera whenever possible as this is the most stable solution. In most cases we do not recommend GigE cameras to be used on laptops due to incompatibilities with the network cards.
Please note: Some laptops come with Fast Ethernet network cards, which means the maximum speed is only 100Mbps instead of 1000Mbps.
Example:
- Lenovo laptops like the Lenovo Ideapad 110-15ISK comes with 100Mbps Fast Ethernet, and cannot be used for GigE cameras.
Depending on the required bandwidth by the camera, one or two cameras can be used on each network port (please see your camera manufacturers bandwidth requirements).
Cameras that work in a two cameras on a single network port
The following cameras have been tested & work two cameras on a single network port:
- AVT Manta G-033,
- AVT Manta G-034,
- AVT Manta G-046
- AVT Prosilica GC650
- Point Grey BlackFly 03S3C
Cameras that require a dedicated network port
- AVT Mako G-030C
- AVT Prosilica GE680
- IDS UI-5140*
- Blackfly S GigE
- Lynx GigE
*Most IDS UI-50xx, UI-51xx, UI-52xx require a dedicated network port.
GigE cameras and network cards with known issues:
- IDS GigE cameras with Realtek Network cards.
- Etherkiller network cards
For more network-specific details see:
https://support.swingcatalyst.com/hc/en-us/articles/205460708-Gigabit-Ethernet-GigE-Vision-camera-network-recommendations