Best Golf Simulator PC: An In-Depth Analysis

I’ve seen a lot of people stressing over “What PC do I need to run a simulation software?”

Well, this is a legit question because all the processing power you need to turn the technology packed in a golf launch monitor into visual data is provided by a PC.

But don’t you worry, because after doing extensive research on this topic, I’m here to answer your concerns regarding the subject matter.

Let’s dive into it.

Laptop or Desktop: Which One’s Better? 

Typically, a desktop PC is preferred, where more graphic processing power is required, but with so many companies offering high-end gaming laptops, we might take a chance. 

Desktop PCs

Desktop PCs offer all the necessary hardware required to run a golf simulator, and you might as well like it because of its several advantages.

First of all, it consumes more power than a laptop, and more power means more efficiency, but it is relatively economical compared with a laptop that comes with the same specs in terms of price. 

Suppose you have to upgrade your desktop PC in the future, you can easily change its parts like the RAM, hard drive, and GPU, which is a big perk over laptops. 

A person with a bit of technical aptitude can personally handle these things and won’t need to consult a technician.

The only con of using a desktop PC is that it’s not portable. You can move the CPU, but other accessories like the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and all the wiring can’t be moved conveniently from place to place like a laptop.

Laptop PCs 

On the other hand, laptop PCs are super convenient because of their ultimate mobility and enough power to handle golf launch monitors. 

Modern-day high-end gaming laptops almost compete with desktop PCs in terms of performance, but they’ll probably cost you more. 

Also, you don’t have the liberty to upgrade them per your requirements, which means you’ll have to buy a new laptop for an upgrade. 

Overall Analysis

If you’re using a professional golf launch monitor that is permanently mounted and you intend to dedicate a PC to it, then a desktop PC would do great because it has all the perks that you can enjoy compared with laptop PCs, and the only con doesn’t even matter because you’re not going to move it anyway.

However, if your launch monitor is portable and you plan to carry it to the range and then back to your home, a laptop would be the ultimate solution for you.

Since laptops can’t be modified like desktop PCs, you’ll have to look carefully while purchasing one for you. 

Recommended PC Specifications for Golf Simulators 

Whether you’re going to purchase a desktop PC or a laptop, you must look at its hardware specs first.

Different simulators and simulation software require different specifications to run, and if your system doesn’t meet them, you may get in trouble.

We’ll break some of the important specs into sections to explore them in detail.

RAM

RAM is one of the most important components which play a key role in determining your PC’s performance. 

To put it simply, the greater the ram, the faster the performance.

Most simulation softwares require a minimum of 4GB RAM to run, but it’s recommended to use at least 8GB of RAM for an uninterrupted gameplay experience.

Graphics Card

The Graphics card is meant to handle the visuals. It takes information from the processor and works with software to place the pixels on the display.

So if you’re using a good-quality graphics card, you’ll be experiencing better graphics and effects.

The minimum graphics card requirement for most golf simulators is 2GB of Nvidia or AMD render graphics. For high-end performance, you may need to go for 4GB–6GB of GPU depending on your simulator’s requirement.

Processor (CPU) 

The processor provides all the power you need to run an application or software. If your processor is powerful and up-to-date, the overall performance of the system will be faster and smoother.

An Intel Core i5 is the minimum requirement for most golf simulators, but a Core i7 is recommended for better performance.

Resolution

To experience a better graphical output, a fast CPU and GPU aren’t enough. You also need a display that supports the resolution you want to play.

A minimum 1080p display is most suitable for golf simulators, but there are some simulators with 4K support that would require a 4K display.

Now if your system meets these key requirements of a golf simulator, you’re good to go. 

PC Requirements of Most Popular Golf Simulator Softwares

For a better understanding of the above-discussed specs, we’ll analyze the PC requirements of the top 3 most popular golf simulator software, but let’s look at them first.

1. TGC 2019 System Requirements

The system requirements for TGC 2019 are listed as follows:

Minimum Requirements

• OS: Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 8 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit
• Processor: Intel Core i5-760 @ 2.80GHz or equivalent
• Memory: 4GB RAM
• Graphics: NVidia GTX 670 or equivalent
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband internet connection
• Hard Drive: 30GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX 11 compatible

Recommended Requirements

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit
• Processor: Intel Core i7 @ 3.20GHz or equivalent
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVidia GTX 1060 (or better) or 4K NVidia GTX 1080 (or better)
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband internet connection
• Hard Drive: 30GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX 11 compatible

Source: SkyTrak

2. E6 Connect System Requirements

The basic system requirements for E6 Connect are listed as follows:

• Intel i5 processor
• 8GB RAM
• Nvidia 1070 graphics card or equivalent (dedicated GPU with DirectX 11 support)
• 25GB of hard drive space
• Windows 10 64-bit (required)
• Internet connection (required)

Source: e6golf

3. GSPro System Requirements

GSPro requires a Windows PC with at least:

• 4GB free space
• Core i7 processor
• GTX 1070 or RX 580 GPU minimum
• Stable internet connection
• Ethernet port and/or BT depending on the launch monitor

Source: GSPro

Analysis

After going through all the system requirements of these simulator softwares, you may have gotten an idea of the system that you need for your golf simulator.

Since these softwares require almost similar specs, a desktop or a laptop with 8GB of RAM, a Core i7 processor, and a 4GB GTX 1070 GPU would brilliantly handle all of the above-discussed simulation software. 

Now that we know the requirements, let’s explore some of the best desktop PCs and laptops available in the market.

Best Golf Simulator Desktop PCs Available in the Market

Time to hunt the product? Here are the top 3 desktop choices available in the market today.

Best Overall: Thermaltake Glacier 360 Liquid-Cooled PC

Thermaltake has earned our best overall rank due to a lot of reasons. 

Firstly, it comes with a super fast Ryzen 5 processor and an RTX 3060 GPU, the latest graphics card from Nvidia, to enrich your gaming experience.

Secondly, it has a liquid cooling system that doesn’t allow the system to heat, and you can overclock your processors to obtain its maximum power, but the coolant needs to be replaced every 12 months, which puts a little extra hassle on your part.

Third, it costs a handsome amount of money, but if you explore the market, desktop PCs with similar specs are relatively expensive, so going for Glacier 360 would be a wise choice. 

Key Specifications

• AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU Watercooled, AMD B550 Chipset ATX motherboard
• 16GB ToughRam DDR4 RGB
• 1TB NVMe M.2
• Windows 10 Home
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
• Closed-loop liquid cooling with 240mm radiator and 3 ARGB fan

Best AMD Desktop PC: SkyTech Blaze II

For computer enthusiasts, AMD is a big deal because of its popularity in gaming communities. 

Now if you’re one of those people, you may want to go for SkyTech Blaze II because of its ultimate capability to run golf simulators.

The desktop comes in a stylish look with an efficient cooling system to keep you on the go for a long time.

Key Specifications

• Ryzen 5 2600 6-Core 3.4GHz (3.9 GHz Max Boost) CPU processor
• 500G SSD – up to 30x faster than the traditional HDD 
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 TI 6GB GDDR6 video card
• 8GB Gaming Memory DDR4 3000 
• Windows 10 Home 64-bit
• Powered by 80 Plus-certified 500-watt power supply 

As nothing is perfect, so is the SkyTech Blaze II. Not talking about the machine… I’m talking about the price. 

For its price point, you can jump to a higher level of specs than what you’re getting, but if you’re fond of AMD, then this is what you get.

Budget Pick: Acer Nitro 50

Acer Nitro 50 comes with top-notch specifications at a reasonable price tag that can easily handle golf simulators.

With a sleek and minimalist design and an efficient cooling system, Nitro 50 may be the desktop that most golfers would count on. 

The only reason not to buy it is that it comes with a GTX 1650 Ti and an air cooling system, whereas you can go for an RTX 3060 with a liquid cooling system by only adding $100 to the budget, which is way better in terms of performance.

Still, if you wanna stick to this price, compromises are to be made! 

Key Specifications

• 11th Gen Intel Core i5-11400F 6-Core processor
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
• 8GB DDR4
• 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD

Best Golf Simulator Laptop PCs Available in the Market

Made up your mind for a laptop? Here are the top 3 gaming laptops available in the market.

Best Overall: MSI Stealth 15M

MSI has a reputation for premium-quality gaming laptops that provide value for money, and MSI Stealth 15M is one of the best gaming laptops that you can ask for.

Packed in a sleek design, the laptop offers GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, which is almost 53% more efficient than the GTX 1660 Ti, the one required for running golf simulators.

Now imagine the quality of gameplay that you’re going to experience on this machine.

In terms of sound quality, MSI Stealth doesn’t impress much. It’s not the worst, but it could’ve been better. 

As for the price, it’s not too expensive if you compare its specs with other laptops with the same price tag.

Key Specifications

• Display: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080 
• Processor: 3.3 GHz core_i7 11th Gen
• RAM: 16 GB DDR4
• Hard Drive: 512 GB SSD
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB ‎Dedicated
• Wireless-type ‎Bluetooth

Runner-Up: Acer Predator Helios 300

When we talk about laptops, the major problem is that their cooling system is not efficient enough to keep them running for hours, which affects their performance due to heat-up. 

But the Acer Predator Helios comes with a powerful cooling system that keeps it running for hours without affecting its performance. 

Moreover, its hardware is powerful enough to tackle almost every golf simulator smoothly.

As it’s a laptop, it runs on a battery that doesn’t last more than two to three hours due to high power consumption. So if you want to buy this machine, you’ll have to live with that. 

Key Specifications

• Latest 7th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor 2.8GHz–3.8GHz
• Latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
• 15.6″ full HD (1920 x 1080) wide-screen IPS display
• 16GB DDR4 DRAM Memory and 256GB SSD
• Extra empty expandable hard drive slot for 2.5″ hard drives
• Windows 10 Home 64-bit
• Up to 7 hours of battery life

Amazon’s Choice: Acer Nitro 5

Acer Nitro 5 has become Amazon’s Choice because of its powerful hardware that runs almost every high-end game and its cheaper price which offers value for money.

Compared with high-end gaming laptops which are highly priced, this laptop comes with basic specs to offer you a smooth golf simulation experience. 

However, it also brings a few shortcomings to the deal, including average battery life and dim LCD with low nits brightness. But if you are not looking for too much and just want to run your golf simulator uninterruptedly, this might be your laptop pick.

Key Specifications

• Intel Core i5-10300H
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU
• 15.6″ FHD 144Hz IPS Display
• 8GB DDR4 with 256GB NVMe SSD

FAQs

Can you use a Mac for a golf simulator?

To run a golf simulator on iOS, you need an iPad or iPhone. For a Macbook, you’d need Boot Camp to run Windows so you can use it for golf simulators. The only issue with Boot Camp is that the battery runs very quickly.

Can you use AMD processors and graphics cards with golf simulator equipment?

You can run golf simulator equipment with AMD processors, but AMD graphics cards are not recommended. An Nvidia GPU is always preferred to run golf simulator equipment. 

Can you use an iPad, tablet, or smartphone for a golf simulator?

Using a tablet or laptop is a good option for golfers who prioritize portability. Simulator software with iOS support can be run on an iPad or iPhone, but you’d need a desktop PC to run some high-end golf simulation software. 

Can you play online with a golf simulator?

You can play online with a golf simulator, but this entirely depends on your simulator software. 

Some software like TGC 2019 supports online play where you can enjoy your golf game with the golf community. 

Final Thoughts

Concluding the whole discussion, I’d say that you can run a golf simulator on both a desktop and a laptop, but it depends on your preferences.

If you want to dedicate your system to your simulator setup, you should opt for a desktop PC as it performs way better than a laptop.

For golfers who prefer portability, a laptop is the ultimate solution, but it will surely cost a little more than a desktop PC.

Matter of fact is you don’t need good processing and graphical power to run a simulator software. Whatever you’re going to use, make sure that your system meets the minimum requirements for a golf simulator.

If you’re going for a desktop PC, I’d personally suggest SkyTech Blaze II because it meets all the minimum requirements for a golf simulator. 

For a laptop guy, MSI Stealth 15 is the best pick because it’s packed with all the latest technology that would even help you in the future to run premium golf simulators.

This is my take on it. I hope you got all your answers.

Catch you in the next one!