The Hardware Recommendations

CARAT Kitchen design

The CARAT Kitchen design program has been created in such a way, that it can run on as many different computer systems and configurations as possible. However, in some cases the variety of configurations can lead to limitations. Therefore, we would subsequently like to give you some important information for the purchase or replacement of a computer system.

Hardware-Offer

We can assess computer systems that are not available for testing, only based on their components. The examination of the information about a computer system sent by you takes place on the following criteria:

  • Assessment of the components used by our technique department
  • Experience with the same or similar hardware
  • Experience of other customers with the same hardware

Hence follows that an assessment whether the CARAT design program can run properly on such a computer system, can only be given global and without obligation.

Apple computers: CARAT has been especially developed for use on Windows computers and is not suitable for use on Apple computers. In these cases support from CARAT can not be given.

A short overview of the current hardware-configuration (recommendation)

Hardware Recommendation Version: 2024.09.19

  • Starting from: Intel Core i7 (from 3 GHz) or equivalent AMD systems
  • Advise for quick Raytracing: Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen Threadripper (from 6 Cores)

Product information about CARAT emotion: See also: CARAT emotion

By use of 1 monitor with Full HD resolution:

  • Starting from 8 GB PC working memory (RAM)
  • Starting from 4 GB graphics processor memory (GPU VRAM)
  • Full support of OpenGL (from Version 3.3 or higher)
  • Current driver version
  • For example NVIDIA 1060 or 2050

By use of 1 monitor with UHD (4K) resolution:

  • Starting from 16 GB PC working memory (RAM)
  • Starting from 8 GB graphics processor memory (GPU VRAM)
  • Full support of OpenGL (from Version 3.3 or higher)
  • Current driver version
  • For example NVIDIA 2070 or 3060

By use of 2 monitors with Full HD resolution:

  • Starting from 8 GB PC working memory (RAM)
  • Starting from 6 GB graphics processor memory (GPU VRAM)
  • Full support of OpenGL (from Version 3.3 or higher)
  • Current driver version
  • For example NVIDIA 1070 or 2060

By use of 2 monitors 1xUHD (4K) + 1xFull HD resolution:

  • Starting from 16 GB PC working memory (RAM)
  • 8-10 GB graphics processor memory (GPU VRAM)
  • Full support of OpenGL (from Version 3.3 or higher)
  • Current driver version
  • For example NVIDIA 2080 or 3070

By use of 2 monitors with UHD (4K) resolution:

  • Starting from 16 GB PC working memory (RAM)
  • 10-12 GB graphics processor memory (GPU VRAM)
  • Full support of OpenGL (from Version 3.3 or higher)
  • Current driver version
  • For example NVIDIA 2080 or 3070
The result depends not only on the hardware used (graphics card, monitors) but also on the CARAT design. The more decorative articles are displayed, the better the hardware required. The current programming always aims to display the best quality. If the hardware is weak, the display may stutter. Please also note that laptops are usually approx. 20-30% slower than desktop PCs.
The use of CARAT emotion Level 2 increases the power consumption of the graphics card. Notebooks should therefore only be operated with the power supply unit connected.

Product information about CARAT emotion: See also: CARAT emotion

By use of 1 monitor with Full HD resolution:

  • Starting from 8 GB PC working memory (RAM)
  • Starting from 6 GB graphics processor memory (GPU VRAM)
  • Full support of OpenGL (from Version 3.3 or higher)
  • Current driver version
  • For example NVIDIA 2070 or 3060

By use of 1 monitor with UHD (4K) resolution:

  • Starting from 16 GB PC working memory (RAM)
  • 10-12 GB graphics processor memory (GPU VRAM)
  • Full support of OpenGL (from Version 3.3 or higher)
  • Current driver version
  • For example NVIDIA 3080 or 4070

By use of 2 monitors with Full HD resolution:

  • Starting from 16 GB PC working memory (RAM)
  • Starting from 8 GB graphics processor memory (GPU VRAM)
  • Full support of OpenGL (from Version 3.3 or higher)
  • Current driver version
  • For example NVIDIA 2080 or 3070

By use of 2 monitors 1xUHD (4K) + 1xFull HD resolution:

  • Starting from 16 GB PC working memory (RAM)
  • 10-12 GB graphics processor memory (GPU VRAM)
  • Full support of OpenGL (from Version 3.3 or higher)
  • Current driver version
  • For example NVIDIA 3080 or 4070

By use of 2 monitors with UHD (4K) resolution:

  • Starting from 16 GB PC working memory (RAM)
  • 12-16 GB graphics processor memory (GPU VRAM)
  • Full support of OpenGL (from Version 3.3 or higher)
  • Current driver version
  • For example NVIDIA 3080, 4070, 4080
The result depends not only on the hardware used (graphics card, monitors) but also on the CARAT design. The more decorative articles are displayed, the better the hardware required. The current programming always aims to display the best quality. If the hardware is weak, the display may stutter. Please also note that laptops are usually approx. 20-30% slower than desktop PCs.

Please note that the most current graphic driver for the operating system listed below, must be installed to guarantee a smooth operations with CARAT.

Onboard-graphic chips or graphic cards only offer limited 3D-graphic support, and should therefore not be used, especially for the CARAT-Perspective!

Because of the diversity of today's graphics cards and the still very unclear and often confusing labelling of individual graphics card types, it is not possible for us to generally release certain series of graphics cards for the use with CARAT. This is because there are sometimes considerable differences in performance despite the fact that the type designations are almost identical. Please note that the flawless functioning of a graphics card can only be ensured when also all other components (motherboard, power supply unit, drivers) work properly.

If you have problems with the 3D displays in CARAT and CARAT emotion, we recommend that you check your User defined Windows graphics settings. Make sure that the Energy saving mode option has Not been activated for CARAT and CARAT emotion. In addition, incorrect settings in the Manufacturer's own 3D settings of your graphics card can also play a role. Make sure that the Integrated graphics option has NOT been selected as the preferred graphics processor. You can find detailed instructions on how to set up your graphics card correctly for 3D displays on the graphics card Manufacturer's help pages on the internet or contact your EDP technician.

Non suitable graphics cards:

For the use with CARAT we generally would recommend the use of graphics cards from the consumer sector. Besides the bigger and partly less expensive assortment, is in this sector a very good graphics driver support offered, because of the shorter cycles of software updates. Furthermore uses CARAT the possibilities of Pixel- and Vertex-Shader for the calculation of perspectives, with which especially the consumer cards series are relatively well equipped. We would however, advice against the use of the graphics cards listed following, because these graphics cards are usually developed for highly specialised CAD-applications and updates of the graphics driver are clearly significantly less frequent.

  • NVIDIA Quadro
  • AMD FirePro
  • All onboard-graphics chips
Ordering module 3O with our sales department and the activation of it by them is necessary for the use of CARAT virtualreality.
See also: CARAT virtualreality
The current CARAT versions support the open interface OpenVR. The following VR Glasses have been tested with CARAT version V2023.14.0.0 by our technical department. Because of the open interface OpenVR, it is possible that also other VR glasses are suitable, these are however not tested by CARAT.

See also: Information about EDP-Systems

Glasses models Price range
Pico neo 3 link Medium class
HP Reverb G2 Medium class
HTC VIVE pro Premium class
Please note the respective hardware advise and installation instructions of the manufacturer under:
https://www.picoxr.com
https://support.hp.com
www.vive.com

The installation of STEAM VR from the STEAM Store is additionally necessary:
https://store.steampowered.com/

Tip: You will also find elaborate tutorials about the use and installation VR glasses on video portals on the internet.
  • Starting from 1280 x 1024 Pixel with a 19" screen size
  • Recommended resolution: 1920 x 1080 Pixel (HD) with a 27" (inch) screen size
  • Recommendation:
    • HDD: 1 TB, access time under 10 ms
    • SSD: minimum 500 GB with release for database systems
  • For an average CARAT Design Program Installation, you should reckon with a space requirement of at least 100 GB on your hard drive.
  • Windows 11 (Pro, Enterprise)
  • Windows 10 (Pro, Enterprise)

Preconditions are current service packs as well as updates. CARAT has been developed with Microsoft products, to be operated on Microsoft server and client operating systems, and is optimised for these systems. Program functions are coordinated to and tested on Microsoft application interfaces, as well as for functionality with current Windows versions, based on the operating system.

  • Transfer rate 1000 Mbit/s

Client operating systems:

  • Windows 11 (Pro, Enterprise)

  • Windows 10 (Pro, Enterprise)

Server operating systems:

  • Windows Server 2022
  • Windows Server 2019

Info about Terminal Server and NAS/NDAS systems...

Since, the performance of graphic applications in CARAT are sharply reduced by using a Terminal server and a NAS/NDAS system can have access problems in networking, we would not recommend the use of these systems in connection with CARAT.

Information on Different Operating Systems and E-mail Clients…

CARAT has not been tested on other operating systems, for example Linux-Server, nor with alternative e-mail clients. If problems arise with such systems, at this time our support will be limited to a description of the CARAT functionality. The necessary steps for solving your problem must then be taken by your responsible system administrator.

  • Outlook 32 Bit-Desktop version
Web-clients can currently not be supported.
  • DSL connection or wired internet
  • Colour printer starting from 2400 x 1200 Dpi
  • Black and White printer starting from 600 Dpi
  • USB flash drive or similar removable medium
  • On RDX-drive, hard drive, tape drive or similar

 

Note: Please also note our special Information about EDP-systems advice, for a smooth interaction between hard- and software! See also: Information about EDP-Systems