design software, since it generally involves a need for rapid refreshing of the display. In addition,
the software interface to the printer, Pronterface, updates a display of the printing process by
default that takes up quite a bit of video performance, and can actually slow down printing and
reduce print quality if on a computer with slow video, if not put into a mode (“Mini Mode”) where
that drawing is suppressed.
CPU
The slicing programs e.g. Kisslicer will use all available processor cores to speed up the slicing
process. An old single-core machine like a Pentium 4, or a Centrino, will be much slower than a
multicore chip like an Intel i7, which has eight effective cores. This is not too much of an issue
for small parts, and is merely a question of the time you’d have to wait for the slicing process to
complete.
A generally useful price point is an i5.
RAM
The design programs and especially the slicing programs can use large amounts of memory to
hold all of the 3D information when they process the files. Like the number of cores, this can be
exchanged for time, but sometimes, and it is again much more of an issue with the larger parts,
the amount of time required can rise dramatically, if the computer is bogged down moving
information back and forth between hard drive and RAM because there is not enough RAM to
work on it all at once.
Aim for at least 6 GB if you are looking at a new computer.
Operating System
Windows 10 is preferred
but it is possible to use Windows 7, or Windows 8 (requires a few
extra steps during installation). We only recommend considering 64-bit versions.
Apple Mac, Linux: Will work but no install package yet. Each software package must be
separately installed.
NOTE:
PolyPrinter is no longer formally supporting installations on 32-bit operating systems.
System Specifications
Bare Minimum:
Intel Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, Intel integrated video. Windows 10 64-bit.
Effects: Will need to use “Mini Mode” in Pronterface while printing. Kisslicer may issue
warnings about RAM, and will be slow to slice files.
64-bit operating system
Useable:
Intel i3 or i5, 6 GB+ RAM. There is a lot of variation in the video performance in this
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