The Spec Sheet for Every Major Golf Sim Program, and How to Read It for Your Projector

If you just want a number to shop by: for most home setups running GSPro or E6 Connect at 1080p, a current Windows 11 PC with a 6 to 8 core processor, an NVIDIA RTX 3060 or 4060 class graphics card, 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB NVMe SSD covers the published guidance. Treat that as a target rather than a guarantee, because publishers revise their lists and a title can change its recommendations between releases.

Resolution matters about as much as the processor. A 4K projector asks the graphics card to fill four times as many pixels as a 1080p one, so a PC that feels smooth at 1080p can struggle once you move up. The sections below set out each program's published specs in one table, translate them into graphics tiers by projector resolution, cover the floors for the rest of the machine, and end with a quick check for the PC you already own.

How we put this together: we compared published manufacturer specs, retailer listings and owner reports, then applied the criteria below. Links on this page may earn us a commission.

Quick answer: a safe target spec for 2026

For most home setups running GSPro or E6 Connect at 1080p, aim for these starting points:

• Windows 11 64-bit
• A current 6 to 8 core CPU, either an Intel Core i5 or i7 or an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7, from a recent generation
• An NVIDIA RTX 3060 or 4060 class GPU, or better
• 16 GB of RAM
• A 1 TB NVMe SSD

These are rough figures drawn from publisher guidance at time of writing, so confirm them on the maker's current spec page before you buy.

For 4K projectors running GSPro or FSX Play, step up to an RTX 4070 class card or higher and 32 GB of RAM. Those numbers need the same check against the publisher's current list.

Tablet-friendly software can run without a gaming PC. E6 Connect on iPad, Awesome Golf and the SkyTrak+ app work on lighter hardware, usually at lower visual settings, which is why they suit practice sessions more than detailed course play on a large projected image.

Before you buy anything, check the publisher's current spec page. These lists change with updates, and a PC that met last year's recommendation may not meet this year's.

Published specs for each simulator program

The table lists what each maker has published at time of writing. Minimum means the program launches and plays at reduced settings. Recommended means smooth play at the publisher's intended quality, usually at 1080p. Read every figure as a snapshot and confirm it on the maker's site, because the numbers move with updates. Where a maker's figure isn't in the table, the cell tells you where to look.

Software	Platforms	Minimum GPU	Recommended GPU	RAM (min / rec)	Storage note	Source note
GSPro	Windows	GTX 1660 or RTX 2060 class	RTX 3060 to 3070 class or better; RTX 3080 or 4070 class or higher for 4K	Check the list / 16 GB	Courses can each run several GB	GSPro's published guidance; check gsprogolf.com
E6 Connect	Windows, iPad (iOS)	GTX 1060 class, Intel i5 CPU	RTX 2060 class or better, Intel i7 CPU	8 GB / 16 GB	Check TruGolf's device list for iPad models	TruGolf's published guidance
The Golf Club 2019	Windows (Steam)	About GTX 660 class, Intel i5 CPU	About GTX 970 class, Intel i7 CPU	About 8 GB / check the Steam page	Light by current standards	Steam store listing
FSX Play	Windows	Check Foresight's list	RTX 3070 class or better, Intel i7 class CPU	Check the list / 16 GB	Graphics-heavy course title	Foresight's published guidance
Uneekor Refine, Refine+ and View	Windows	Check Uneekor's list	GTX 1660 / RTX 2060 class or better, Intel i5 or i7 CPU	Around 16 GB	Ethernet link to EYE XO units	Uneekor's published PC specs
SkyTrak+ app and Awesome Golf	iOS, Android, Windows (SkyTrak); Windows, iPad (Awesome Golf)	Integrated graphics often enough for range practice	Check each app's listing	Light by design; check each app	Check each app's listing	Each maker's listing
TrackMan simulator software	Windows	Check TrackMan's spec	TrackMan's own PC spec, which sits at the high end	Check TrackMan's spec	Packages usually ship with a specified PC	TrackMan's published spec

GSPro

GSPro is Windows only. Public information places it on the Unity engine, which is useful background when you read the GPU lists. The minimum is roughly a GTX 1660 or RTX 2060 class card. The recommended tier is RTX 3060 to 3070 class or better, and the publisher suggests an RTX 3080 or 4070 class card or higher for 4K. Confirm the exact list on gsprogolf.com, since the wording changes with releases.

The publisher recommends about 16 GB of RAM, and that matters more than it sounds once you add a launch monitor connector, a browser and a swing camera. Storage is the other surprise. Community courses can each be several GB, so a library of dozens of courses can take hundreds of GB. Plan your SSD around the library you expect to have in a year, not the one you have on day one. You can read more about the annual fee in software subscription costs.

GSPro connects to many launch monitors through its connector apps, but which device works depends on the model, so check the connector list for your unit before buying a PC around it.

E6 Connect

E6 Connect runs on Windows and on iPad. Which launch monitors work with it varies by model, so start with the device list before you spec a computer. On the PC side, the published minimum is an Intel i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 1060 class card. The recommended setup is an Intel i7, 16 GB of RAM and an RTX 2060 class card or better.

The iPad version needs a recent model, and TruGolf's device list is the place to confirm your tablet. If you already own a capable iPad, E6 Connect may save you a PC purchase altogether, though you'll trade some visual detail for that convenience. Our E6 Connect guide covers the setup steps in more depth.

The Golf Club 2019 (TGC 2019)

TGC 2019 is a Windows title sold through Steam. It is an older game and light by current standards, so it runs on machines that would struggle with GSPro or FSX Play. The Steam store page lists a minimum around an Intel i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 660 class card, with a recommended setup around an Intel i7 and a GTX 970 class card. Check the Steam page for the current wording.

Most buyers will also need a connector app or a license from their launch monitor maker to use it with a sensor. That cost and compatibility question matters more than the GPU for this title, so confirm both before you buy.

Foresight FSX Play and FSX Pro

FSX Play is the graphics-heavy course title in the Foresight lineup, and it sets the bar for a GPU purchase. Foresight's published guidance has listed an RTX 3070 class card or better for FSX Play, with an Intel i7 class processor and 16 GB of RAM. Check the current list on Foresight's site, because the guidance can change between versions.

Foresight has offered PCs preconfigured for its software. If you want a machine that matches the published list without assembling one, look at what Foresight offers now. Two of our reviews cover the hardware side of the ecosystem: the GC3 review and the GCQuad review.

Uneekor Refine, Refine+ and View

Uneekor publishes PC specifications for its launcher and software. Its guidance sits in a range of Intel i5 or i7 processors, around 16 GB of RAM, and a GTX 1660 or RTX 2060 class card or better. Uneekor's EYE XO units connect to the PC over ethernet, so plan a wired run to the computer's location rather than relying on Wi-Fi.

If you are comparing whole packages rather than software, our roundup of Uneekor packages walks through the bundles and what each includes.

SkyTrak+ app and Awesome Golf

The SkyTrak app runs on iOS, Android and Windows, and its requirements are light. Integrated graphics are often fine for practice on the range, which makes it one of the lowest-cost ways into simulator software. Awesome Golf runs on Windows and iPad and is designed to be light on hardware. Both are good options if you want to keep the computer budget small. Our guide to SkyTrak+ software options lays out which combinations work together.

TrackMan simulator software

TrackMan Virtual Golf and its range software run on Windows. TrackMan simulator packages typically ship with a specified PC, so the package itself tells you what to buy. Treat TrackMan's own PC spec as the reference point, because it sits at the high end of the market. If you are buying a TrackMan system, follow the PC spec in the package rather than a general-purpose build.

Which graphics card for your projector's resolution

The graphics card decision is the one most buyers actually face, and it comes down to pixels. A 1080p image is 1920 by 1080, or about 2.07 million pixels. A 1440p image is about 3.69 million pixels. A 4K UHD image is 3840 by 2160, or about 8.29 million pixels, which is four times the 1080p count. Those are the numbers the card has to fill every frame, so the tier rises with the resolution.

Projector resolution	Entry GPU tier	Comfortable GPU tier	Notes
1080p (1920 x 1080, about 2.07 million pixels)	GTX 1660 class, for lighter titles	RTX 3060 or 4060 class, comfortable in most titles	The most forgiving target for a home sim
1440p (about 3.69 million pixels)	Above the 1080p tier	RTX 4060 Ti or 4070 class	Also the tier for 1080p at a high refresh rate
4K UHD (3840 x 2160, about 8.29 million pixels)	RTX 4070 class	RTX 4070 Super or 4080 class or higher	For high settings in GSPro or FSX Play, check the publisher's list

A few practical points follow from that table. Many 4K sim projectors use pixel-shift, but the PC still renders a full 4K signal when it is set to 4K output, so the GPU load doesn't change because of the shift. If your GPU struggles, you can render at 1080p and let a 4K projector upscale the image, which cuts the load substantially. The upscaled picture won't match native 4K sharpness, but for a sim, smooth frame rates usually matter more than fine detail on the grass.

VRAM is the other number to watch. By our math, 8 GB is the practical floor for 1080p at high settings in the heavier titles, and more memory helps at 4K. A card with 8 GB can still work well at 1080p, so don't rule out a good card on VRAM alone. For projector choices that match these resolutions, see projectors by room and budget and our 4K simulator projectors guide.

CPU, memory and storage floors

The graphics card gets the headlines, but the rest of the machine sets the floor. Each of these three parts has a job in sim software, and skimping on one can make a good GPU look worse than it is.

Processor floor

Game engines lean on fast single-thread performance, so a recent 6 core chip usually beats an older 8 core chip. Pick a current Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 from the last few generations and you'll meet most recommended lists. An i7 or Ryzen 7 adds headroom for streaming or swing video capture, and it's the better buy if you plan to run the camera and the sim together. How much the extra cores help depends on the title, so check each publisher's processor line.

How much RAM

Sixteen GB is the usual recommended figure. Eight GB is a minimum that leaves little room for launch monitor connectors, a browser and the operating system, so it tends to feel cramped once you add anything else. Thirty-two GB is worth the money if you run the sim alongside a swing camera app, record footage or stream at the same time. Memory is also one of the cheapest upgrades on a desktop, so it's easy to add later if your needs grow.

SSD size and type

Use an NVMe SSD for the operating system and the sim software, because course loading is much faster than on a hard drive. Plan for 1 TB if you collect GSPro courses. A 500 GB drive is tight once Windows, the graphics drivers, the sim and a course library are installed. A second SSD or a cheap hard drive works well for archiving swing video, since that footage takes space quickly and doesn't need fast access.

Operating system and platform limits

Windows 10 and 11 64-bit are the default for PC simulator software. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, so any new build should use Windows 11.

Mac owners need to check first. GSPro, FSX Play and TGC 2019 are Windows-only, and Apple Silicon Macs cannot use Boot Camp to switch to Windows. Running sim software through a virtual machine is generally unsupported by publishers, so a Mac is a bad choice for the simulator computer unless the software you want has a Mac version. If you already own a Mac, the iPad-capable options are the better path: E6 Connect and Awesome Golf both run on iPad. Our iPad and tablet simulator guide covers those choices in more detail.

iPad support is broad. E6 Connect, Awesome Golf and launch monitor apps such as SkyTrak and Rapsodo have iOS versions, though the exact title and device list varies, so check each app's store page. Android has some launch monitor apps but fewer full course titles, so it is the weakest of the three platforms for a complete course experience.

Linux and game consoles have no mainstream golf simulator support for launch monitors. If a console or a Linux desktop is already in your living room, plan on adding a Windows PC, an iPad or the maker's own app rather than trying to make the console work.

Ports and connections the spec sheets skip

Spec sheets focus on the processor and graphics card, but the physical hookups are where most day-one problems start. Work through this list before you call the build finished.

• Video out. Use HDMI 2.0 or newer for 4K at 60 Hz. A ceiling projector mounted more than about 25 to 30 feet from the PC will often need an active or fiber optic HDMI cable, because standard copper runs lose signal over that distance.
• Launch monitor link. Confirm how your device connects. The link differs by model: USB, Wi-Fi, ethernet or Bluetooth. Garmin Approach R10 and Rapsodo MLM2PRO use Bluetooth to a phone or tablet app. SkyTrak+ supports Wi-Fi direct and network modes. Uneekor EYE XO units use ethernet. Foresight units use USB or Wi-Fi. Check each model before you assume.
• Spare USB ports. Leave room for a swing camera, a keyboard and mouse, and a wireless controller.
• Wired ethernet. A cable from the router to the PC helps with online play and downloads. If the sim drops out during a round, the connection may be the cause, so start with whether golf simulators need internet and then work through fixing Wi-Fi drops.
• Second display output. If you want a desk monitor alongside the projector, make sure the graphics card has enough outputs for both screens before you buy.

Test your current PC in five minutes

Before you buy anything, check the machine you already own. Most people can answer the question in about five minutes without installing anything new.

1. Find your GPU and CPU. Open Windows Settings, go to System and then About for the processor, and open Task Manager and the Performance tab for the graphics card.
2. Compare the GPU model with the table row for your software and your projector resolution. If it sits at or above the comfortable tier for your resolution, the card is probably fine.
3. Check your RAM in Task Manager and the free space on your SSD in File Explorer. If you are under 16 GB of RAM or short on SSD space, that is the first thing to fix.
4. Confirm you are on Windows 11 64-bit and that your graphics drivers are current, from NVIDIA or AMD.
5. If the software offers a trial or a free range mode, run it at your projector's resolution and watch the frame rate in the in-game or GPU overlay. Steady frame rates on busy course views are what you are looking for.

If the sim only stutters on busy course views, lower shadows and grass detail before you spend money on hardware. Those two settings do the most work on the frame rate. If the lag you see is between your swing and the ball showing up on screen rather than in the graphics, that is a different problem, and reducing shot delay covers the common causes.

Upgrade order for an older PC

If the check turns up a gap, spend money in this order. The sequence reflects where each upgrade gives the biggest improvement for the least disruption.

1. Graphics card. This is the biggest single gain. Before you buy, check the power supply wattage and connectors, and measure the case length, because a large card won't fit every chassis.
2. RAM to 16 GB or 32 GB. This is cheap if the motherboard has free slots, and it's often the fix for stutter that looks like a GPU problem.
3. NVMe SSD. It speeds up loading and frees space for courses. It needs an M.2 slot on the motherboard or an adapter card.
4. CPU. A new processor often means a new motherboard and memory as well. At that point, compare the total cost with a new prebuilt machine, since the bundle may be the better value.

Laptops are the exception. Most laptops only allow RAM and storage upgrades, and the graphics card is fixed at the factory. If you are working with a laptop, the upgrade path is shorter, and our laptop guide for golf simulators explains which models give you the most room to grow.

Example spec targets for three setups

These three worked examples show how the tiers come together in practice. They are starting points rather than a shopping list, and the exact model numbers change faster than these ranges.

Practice and range focus, 1080p projector. Choose a SkyTrak+ or Garmin R10 with E6 Connect or Awesome Golf. A Ryzen 5 or Core i5 processor, an RTX 3050 to 3060 class card, 16 GB of RAM and a 500 GB to 1 TB SSD covers this use. Range work doesn't ask much of the graphics card, so the savings here can go toward a better projector or a sturdier enclosure.

Course play in GSPro at 1080p, with a growing library. Choose a current generation Core i5 or i7, or a Ryzen 5 or 7. Pair it with an RTX 4060 Ti or 4070 class card, 16 to 32 GB of RAM and a 1 to 2 TB NVMe SSD. The bigger drive is the one to think about, because the course library grows over time and nothing in the ranges above prevents you from running out of space.

4K projector with GSPro or FSX Play, plus swing camera recording. This is the most demanding case. Go for a Core i7 or Ryzen 7, an RTX 4070 Super or 4080 class card or higher, 32 GB of RAM and a 2 TB NVMe SSD. The camera recording adds load and storage use on top of the sim, so the extra memory and drive space are not optional extras here.

Do not treat any of these as exact prices. Price bands move with the GPU market, so check current pricing from a retailer before you commit. For complete PC recommendations, see the simulator computer guide, and for a laptop built for the sim, our ROS golf simulator laptop review is a useful reference.

See complete simulator PC picks ↗

Desktop, mini PC or laptop for this job

A desktop is the best performance per dollar. It runs cooler and quieter than a laptop under load, and you can upgrade the graphics card and memory later. The trade-off is space: a desktop needs a spot near the projector or a long HDMI run, so plan where it will sit. If you need a stand or shelf for the tower, our computer stand guide covers the options.

A mini PC is compact, which suits a small room or a bay where every centimeter counts. Most mini PCs lack a strong discrete graphics card, though, so they suit lighter titles and range practice better than 4K course play. Check the specific model's GPU before you buy, since the category ranges widely.

A gaming laptop is the portable choice. An RTX GPU in a laptop is fine at 1080p, and it lets you move the sim between rooms. The downsides are heat, noise and throttling. Laptops run hot and loud under load, and they slow down when running on battery, so keep them plugged in during a session. Our laptop guide and the full computer guide list model picks in each category.

Compare simulator laptops ↗

Spec questions from simulator buyers

These are the follow-up questions buyers ask most often after reading the spec tables. Each answer is short, and the links point to the deeper guides.

Does GSPro run on a Mac?

GSPro is Windows-only, so it does not run natively on a Mac. Apple Silicon Macs cannot use Boot Camp, and publishers generally don't support running sim software through virtualization, so check their current notes before trying it. The realistic options are a Windows PC for the simulator, or software with iPad support such as E6 Connect or Awesome Golf.

How much drive space does a large course library take?

Course sizes vary, and many GSPro community courses are a few GB each, so check the individual listing before downloading. A few dozen courses can add up to hundreds of GB. A 1 TB NVMe drive is a comfortable start for most buyers, and 2 TB suits a large collection. If you are also recording swing video, add that to the total.

Is an RTX 4060 enough for a 4K simulator projector?

An RTX 4060 can output a 4K signal, but heavy titles at high settings will struggle at native 4K. Two workarounds are rendering at 1080p or 1440p and letting the projector upscale, or lowering the in-game settings. For native 4K at high settings, publishers point to higher GPU tiers, so check their current lists.

Can one PC run the simulator and stream or record swings at the same time?

Yes, but give it headroom. 32 GB of RAM, a CPU with 8 cores, and a GPU with a hardware encoder such as NVIDIA NVENC all help when swing camera software and the simulator run together. Camera software adds its own load on top of the sim, so check how the combination performs on your hardware before you rely on it. Our swing camera setup guide covers how to set up the camera side.

Will a PlayStation or Xbox work with a launch monitor?

No mainstream launch monitor connects to console golf games for simulator play, as far as the makers' current materials show, so check each maker's compatibility list. For a simulator, use a Windows PC, an iPad or the maker's own app.