FAQ: Preferred Specifications
- Cagin Yakar
OpenBrIM is a cross-platform application that can run on any platform, including Mac. Any computer equipped with a Chromium-based browser, such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, can effectively utilize OpenBrIM. However, for larger and more complex models, a system with higher specifications is recommended to ensure optimal performance. Please carefully review the system requirements outlined below to understand the implications and ensure your setup meets the demands of your projects.
Performance-Heavy Tasks in OpenBrIM:
Project Compilation (Parameter Computation) & FEA Analysis:
The speed of these tasks is primarily related to the maximum turbo frequency of the CPU.
A higher turbo frequency enables faster computation and compilation.
Design & Live Load Analysis (Critical Vehicle Position Finding Algorithm):
This algorithm is heavily dependent on multi-threaded performance, making CPUs with 8 or more cores ideal.
If the base clock speed of the efficiency cores is higher, it can improve performance for this task.
Most operations still rely on performance cores, so the maximum turbo frequency of the CPU remains critical.
WebGL Rendering (Graphics Performance):
The graphics card plays an important role in rendering 3D, FEA models and other visual elements.
A better graphics card reduces freeze times during rendering operations, improving the overall user experience.
Preferred Specifications:
CPU: An 8-core CPU(or more) with a maximum turbo frequency of over 5.0 GHz is ideal for most operations in OpenBrIM.
However, for laptops, even if the turbo frequency is specified as greater than 5 GHz, thermal constraints often make it difficult to achieve and sustain that speed during intensive operations.
Energy Efficiency Considerations:
To fully utilize the CPU's maximum turbo frequency, an energy-efficient CPU is also necessary.
Starting with the 2024 Q4 Intel Lunar Lake laptop CPUs, energy efficiency has significantly improved, allowing laptops to maintain higher turbo frequencies consistently.
How to Read Intel and AMD Specification Tables for Laptop CPUs in Terms of Energy Efficiency
When evaluating the energy efficiency of laptop CPUs from Intel and AMD, it’s important to understand the practical implications of power and performance metrics listed in the spec tables.
The listed maximum turbo power, such as 115W, paired with a speed of 5.4 GHz, may be unrealistic in most laptops due to thermal constraints. Achieving these performance levels typically requires an advanced cooling system, which is uncommon in standard laptops.
Power levels in the range of 37W to 70W are much more practical for regular laptop cooling systems. At these power levels, maintaining speeds like 5.1 GHz is more achievable without overheating.
Unlike laptops, desktop CPUs often come with more robust cooling solutions, such as liquid cooling systems. This makes maintaining proper cooling far easier, allowing the CPU to operate at higher power levels without significant thermal constraints. As a result, power usage becomes less of an issue for desktop CPUs compared to laptops.
Memory: One Chrome tab is limited to using a maximum of 4GB of memory, even on 64-bit systems, due to Chrome's per-tab memory limit. As a result:
If you are working on a single project at a time, a system with 32GB of RAM is sufficient for most operations.
If you plan to run 5-6 different models simultaneously, you’ll require:
A CPU with more than 8 cores to handle the workload efficiently.
48-64GB of RAM to accommodate the increased memory demands across multiple tabs.
GPU: For optimal performance with OpenBrIM, it is recommended to use a new generation discrete GPU from NVIDIA or AMD (2022 or later), as these GPUs are well-equipped to handle the platform's requirements. If you prefer an Intel GPU, the Intel ARC series is a better choice than the Intel Iris integrated GPUs, offering significantly improved performance.
In certain scenarios, Intel ARC GPUs, as well as mid-tier AMD or NVIDIA discrete GPUs, can be more advantageous than high-end NVIDIA GPUs due to their lower power consumption and superior thermal efficiency, making them ideal for laptops prioritizing energy efficiency and temperature management.