System requirements: Minimum and recommended computer specifications

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High-end Build Components

 
Information: 
For applications where low processing times and large datasets require the use of high-end workstations, there are high-end components that have proven to work better than others in most cases. An ideal high-end workstation provides balanced resources to avoid bottlenecks that slow the system down overall. Below are some of the components which have performed well with Pix4D.

CPU

  • Core i7 8700K (Good)
  • Ryzen 9 5950x (Better)
  • AMD Threadripper 3970X 32-core (Best)

GPU

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER (Good)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Better)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 ti (Best)
 
Important: 
To ensure the most stable performance keep the GPU driver up to date with the latest Studio Driver from Nvidia. Use the link below to search for the correct driver version. Note: Do not use the Game Ready Driver as this can cause stability issues. 
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Information: 
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28 comments

  • Pedro Miguelsanz

    Dear support team.

    A couple of years ago when we purchased a PIX4D Mapper License, we were told that this software wouldn't work on virtual machines to which we'd access through remote connections. We were told that the computer had to be physical and this is what we did. But now that time has passed, we would like to know if newer PIX4D updates have still the same condition or it has changed. We are still using 3.1.22 because we have lots of projects and missions to process and we don't dare to update it in case something doesn't work the same or similar.

    We are thinking about buying a new computer but first we want to be sure about this condition.

    I have already checked the computer recommendations. you have in this web page.

    Thanks in advance.

    Best regards.

  • Avatar
    Beata (Pix4D)

    Dear Pedro,

    Thank you for contacting us regarding installing Pix4Dmapper on a virtual machine.

    So that I can consult you better from a technical perspective as well as our EULA conditions, could you let me know the reasons for using a virtual machine? Also, what would be the location of the virtual machine, a server/cloud environment or local desktop computer?

    Kind regards.

  • Pedro Miguelsanz

     

    Dear sir.

     

    Thank you very much for your answer.

     

     

    The reason why we would like to build a virtual machine and install it in a computer center, is because we don’t have enough space in the room where we regularly work. Additionally, in this way Pix4d mapper would be accessible for different people from the company through a windows remote desktop connection.

     Our idea is to construct a computer from the scratch with the recommended specifications and install it in this computer center which is full of free space located just 6 meters in front of us. But  now, sometimes when we try to get access the computer we already have through the remote desktop connection and activate the measurement GCP tool or generation of report, it gives a message telling that working through remote connection is not possible. Below you can see the message PIX4D shows every time we do this.

    Thanks and best regards.

     

     

  • Yoho Chang

    Dear staff,
    In my photogrammetry class we had similar problem. After we have upgraded to the latest Pix4Dmapper on our 16 lab computers, no one computer can pass step 3 (21/23 of 3D map) when we processed 12 digital aerial phohos (84 Mpixel each). The computers fulfilled Windows 10 64 bit, 4G RAM, more than 10GB harddisk free space and any video card. It was ok last year in my class doing the same exercise. I also try Agisoft Photoscan, it is ok to process the same photos. According to previous articles, step 3 uses no GPU resource, I have tried lower the dsm resolution (from1 pixel to 3 pixels) and use only part of cpu (7/8) and RAM(7/8 GB). I always have the same results of crash Pix4Dmapper. It is however ok if we use better computers. So the minimum requirement may be ok for previous versions of Pix4Dmapper program, It is however no true for the latest Pix4Dmapper program. I have more than a dozen of computers fulfilled the minimum requirement and they all crashed in my yesterday photogrammetry lab course. Even the computer I used with 8core cpu and 8 GB RAM had crash 3 times.

    Any comment?

    Yoho

  • Avatar
    Beata (Pix4D)

    Hi Petro,

    Thank you for your reply. 

    The error you are facing is expected as the remote desktop connection does not keep the OpenGL version. A solution for you would be to use the Teamviewer. Learn more about this tool in A Remote Access /Virtual machine (server connection) is used

  • Pedro Miguelsanz

    Thank you very much Beata.

    We will take this into account.

    Best regards.

  • Avatar
    Beata (Pix4D)

    Hi Yoho,

    Your comment is very interesting. Can we investigate it together?

    • Are you able to send us the log file? To let us investigate this issue appropriately please submit a request to Pix4D Support. If possible please attach also the log file from last year.
    • Are you using the large-frame add-on as you're processing photos 84MPI each?
    • With the previous version did you used the same dataset (large frame projects)?

    Thank you in advance

    Edited by Beata (Pix4D)
  • Yoho Chang

    Hi Beata,

    My student have upload the files to Pix4D Cloud (https://cloud.pix4d.com/pro/project/393089/map) but he did not upload the camera position file. I am positive that we did the same exercise every year, however I am not sure I can find the previous pix4d files. Each time I upgrade the program, my previous processed folder had been forced to change its name and I may delete the old version files. I am however to process data beforehand using one of my oldest computer fulfilled the minimum requirement to make sure that the lab exercise running smoothly. It was ok last year, so l did not check it again this year untill every one crashed their computer in the lab class. I run the exercise again using the oldest computer, it stoped and crashed on 3D map step 21/23. When I re-open the Pix4Dmapper and file, the processing log  provided nothing about the previous events. Could you tell me is their any place I can find the log file you mentioned?

  • Avatar
    Beata (Pix4D)

    Hi Yoho,

    Thanks for sending us an additional description. If I may ask you, please submit a request to Support Team  and send us the following files:

    ▸ The quality report (.pdf format): ...\project_name\1_initial\report\project_name_report.pdf
    ▸ The project log file (text file): ...\project_name\project_name.log
    ▸ The project file (.p4d): ...\project_name.p4d

    Additionally, please send us the machine specs:
    1. Click the Windows Start icon and type System Information. Select the application in the list above.
    2. In the application, click File > Save... and export the content.
    3. Attach the file your_file.nfo to the reply.

    You can also link this article with our conversation as a reference.

    My last questions:

    • Is the last version only causing you problems or the same was happening with the previous versions?
    • Which version did you update to the current one you have?

    Best

  • Ankit Patil

    Hello Team Pix4d,

    We are making customize Workstation, we are choosing a processor for our workstation, is AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X-16 cores and 32 Threads or 2950X- 16 Cores and 32 Threads will be good for a very large project??

  • Avatar
    Beata (Pix4D)

    Hi Ankit,

    When configuring a computer, the most important is to have a balanced configuration so the bottleneck doesn't occur. However, the question of the recommended hardware is very complex so to give more insights into the topic I suggest our two articles 
    How to decide which hardware to buy
    Hardware and Pix4D

     they are written in a very accessible way so you should get a lot from it.

    If you will have some questions afterward, don't hesitate to post a question again.

    Best!

    Edited by Beata (Pix4D)
  • Ankit Patil

    Thank you Beata, this is very helpful for us.

  • Steven McGinty

    Hi

    Can you please confirm that Pix4d will work on my MacBook Pro 2018? 

    Regards - Steve 

    Edited by Steven McGinty
  • Avatar
    Beata (Pix4D)

    Hi Steven,

    Please see our important communication here: Beta macOS version of Pix4Dmapper 3.0

    Regards

  • Khalid AMEDIAZ

    Hello everyone
    We acquired a License key for this awesome software
    Thank you very much for the awesome information you have applied for,
    my question is: does the Pix4d software process the videos
    if yes is that what I can integrate the data of (GPS + IMU) in the video and how to display them at the time of the video, I need this trick to know the orientation of the drone camera at the moment video recording
    I will be thankfull

    thank you very much in advance and I'm waiting for your help.

  • Anthony Wandell

    In regards to the GPU, what is Pix4D preffered option?  Nvidia Quadro as first preference or GeForce GTX ?

  • Holden (Pix4D)

    Hi Anthony. The GPU performance can vary but the information in the Puget Systems article HERE may help answer some basic questions. 

  • Stefan Felde

    Hello Pix4d-Team,

    will it work with a new generation of GPU´s like Geforce RTX 2080/Geforce RTX 2080Ti? Or is it better to use GTX family? 

    Best regards,

    Stefan

     

  • Holden (Pix4D)

    Hey Stefan. We have seen data that suggests there is a positive performance impact with the RTX2080 and 2080 ti

  • Oscar Ortega Lorenzo

    Hello:


    I'm working on a MacBook Pro (Catalina) and a BlackMagic eGPU AMD Radeon Pro 580 and always in 11/13, it lengthens a lot to the point of having to force output since it never ends (Multiespectral project)

    Any solution before buy the app. Thanks a lot. 

    Edited by Oscar Ortega Lorenzo
  • Holden (Pix4D)

    Hey Oscar. The Mac version is an unsupported BETA that doesn't have the latest updates and features so its difficult to know what is causing the performance issue. Also the AMD GPU does not have CUDA so there is no help there. In general, I would recommend using the Windows version for now. 

  • Oscar Ortega Lorenzo

    Thanks !!!!

  • Luiz Fernando Vaz Teixeira

    Dear Support Team,

     

    I would like to know if there is any version of Pix4DMapper that runs with OS X Yosemite 10.10.5 ?

     

    Thanks.

  • Holden (Pix4D)

    Hi Luiz.

    THe MacOS version of Pix4D mapper is an unsupported BETA so we don't test on specific Mac OS versions. Our new Product Pix4Dmatic is supported on newer versions of MacOS. Take a look to see if it will do what you need. 

    https://www.pix4d.com/product/pix4dmatic-large-scale-photogrammetry-software

  • Mike Fulton

    Hey support team,

    Relatively new to using mapper.  I was noticing while processing that only the CPU and on board GPU were really being utilized.  The computer I am using has and NVIDIA quadro RTX 4000.  I see the GPU on this only being utilized about 11% during part of step one.  Is there a setting anywhere for the priority of GPU's utilized.  Under resources, the NVIDIA is selected as a GPU resource. 

    Thanks

  • Holden (Pix4D)

    Hi Mike. The GPU is only partially used in certain sections of step 1. It's normal to not see 100% utilization in certain segments of step 1 processing. If it is getting used then there is nothing that needs to be done to increase utilization. 

  • Oliver Usher

    Hi

    I'm using an Intel i7 - 64gig RAM - Mac Mini. Would eGPU plugged into a thunderbolt 3 socket help with my processing times?

    Cheers

    Ollie

  • Avatar
    Beata (Pix4D)

    Hi Ollie, 

    To my knowledge, it will not be possible. macOS natively supports only AMD cards while Pix4Dmapper can utilise only NVIDIA Cuda to speed up the processing. Having Mac with eGPU will not work as it will not be compatible with NVIDIA. 

    Cheers

     

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