As the graphics quality offered by golf simulation programs become more and more realistic, there is an increasing demand for powerful computers to smoothly run programs such as GS Pro and The Golf Club 2019.
However, many of our customers get lost in all the technical jargon and have a hard time working out what which Gaming PCs would suit their requirements. It's definitely a common problem amongst the Golf Simulator community.
In this article, we will guide you through the PC buying process so you can get the right computer for your needs without over-spec'ing (and of course overspending) on things that you don't need.
**Shameless plug: At Kaizen Golf, we have made your Gaming PC buying process really easy through our partnerships with Allied Gaming, and have hand-picked 3 models of PCs that represent really good value and will suit different customers' needs. So if you are on the market for a Gaming PC for your Golf Simulator set up, we would love for you to check them out.
Now let's talk about getting the perfect PC for your Golf Sim Set up.
But do I even need a Gaming PC?
Actually, you can have a pretty decent golf simulator set up without having to splurge on a gaming computer.
This is because most launch monitors will come with 'out of the box' applications which can be run on mobile devices such as phones and tablets, and a number of them offer course play capability, and some have fairly decent graphics too. Here are a few popular examples:
- Rapsodo MLM2Pro - the Rapsodo App offers 30,000+ courses through its out-of-the-box course play functionality. Although the course layouts are fairly accurate, the graphics can be a bit 'generic'.
- Garmin R10/R50 - similarly Garmin also has a 'no PC' golf simulation application called Home Tee Hero, which can be run with their R10 and R50 launch monitors. Whilst you will need a phone or a tablet to run it with the R10, you can run the sim software directly from the R50. Again the graphics can seem a bit cartoony.
- Square - the square offers golf simulation capability through both IOS and Android devices. Although the number of courses are a bit more limited (~10) and are not based on real life golf courses, the level of realism is visibly better compared to the native course play offered by Rapsodo and Garmin.
- SkyTrak - if you have a fairly new iPad with a M1 or M2 chip, you can play world famous golf courses with very impressive realism through the Skytrak app. We have been very impressed by how good and smooth the graphics are through our Ipad Air.
If prefer to use 3rd party software, there are actually a number of popular products that offer phone/tablet versions as well, popular examples include:
- E6 Connect - yes you can actually run E6 Connect on an Ipad, the result is pretty good but the graphics quality is slightly watered down as compared to the PC version.
- Awesome Golf - designed to be run run through a mobile device, awesome golf is one of the most popular 3rd party applications for golfers who don't want the extra expense or hassle of having a gaming PC, see an example below.
So if you have a limited budget or a PC just doesn't work for your set up, you can still get a pretty good golf simulation set up with even a phone or a tablet. You always have the option to upgrade down the track.
There are however some downsides and compromises with this option:
- You won't be able to run top end software such as GS Pro or TGC 2019, which will require a powerful PC.
- HD (1080p) resolution will be the best you can get due to the limited hardware grunt without a PC.
- Fixed aspect ratio - unlike a gaming PC, you will not be able to adjust the aspect ratio of your output, which means if the aspect ratio of your impact screen (e.g. 4:3) does not perfectly match the aspect ratio of your device, you will not be able to fill the screen.
What are the Key Specs for Gaming PCs when it comes to Sim Golf?
So you've decided that a gaming PC is the way to go for your golf sim set up, and if you haven't got a computer science degree, you will most likely be lost in a sea of technical jargon - CPU? GPU? RAM? SSD??? Huh?
Don't worry, we are here to simplify things for you, and here are the key elements to pay attention to.
In general, for Sim Golf, if you are looking to get a new Gaming PC, the most important spec to look for is the GPU, or the Graphics Card. In simple terms, it is what gives your PC the grunt to generate high/ultra high definition graphics at a good refresh rate (smoothness).
The GPU will also tend to have the biggest influence on cost in purchasing a new Gaming PC.
Different golf simulator softwares will have minimum and recommended computer requirements listed on their website, so it's definitely worth checking those before your PC purchase. Here are some examples:
- GS Pro - requires GTX 3060 as a minimum but recommend RTX 3080 for a smooth 4K experience
- TGC2019 - needs GTX 1080 for 4K play
- SkyTrak - recommends RTX3070 or AMD RX 6800 to power the software at Max graphics
Ok, these model numbers don't mean anything? Can't find these models in any of the gaming PCs you come across? That's actually quite normal, it's due to the fact that GPU manufacturers often release newer models.
One way to check if the PC has a GPU which will meet the hardware requirements for the sim software you are looking to use is by going to a website called UserBenchmark. You can simply go to the website and benchmark the performance of 2 GPUs against each other.
For example, when we compare the RTX 5070 that we use for our 4K Gaming PC vs. the RTX 3080 recommended by GS Pro, the RTX 5070 is shown as a superior graphics card and can confidently get a PC with that GPU instead of the RTX3080 which is discontinued.
Now I've shown you how to choose the right Graphics Card or GPU, here are some other specs to also consider.
- CPU/Processor - it's the part of the PC that does most of the calculations. Most new PCs will typically have enough processing power for Golf Sim use.
- RAM/Memory - typically 16G is fine, but 32G is ideal if you are looking to multi-task like live-streaming your gameplay
- Connectivity - it's worth double-checking that your gaming PC comes with all the wireless connectivity required to talk to your launch monitors such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
As mentioned above, if you are purchasing a new PC, once you lock in on the right GPU, the other specs will mostly be fine, but it's worthwhile just double checking. You can also use UserBenchmark to check on other components such as CPU and RAM.
Hopefully that was a useful crash course on understanding the Key Specs required for a Gaming PC. With this information, we can get to picking the right PC to power your Golf Simulator.
How to Pick the right Gaming PC for me?
When we are discussing PC options with our customers, these are typically the key questions we ask:
What software are you looking to use?
As mentioned, each software package will have different PC requirements. If unsure, we recommend using GS Pro as a benchmark, as it tends to be the most demanding.
What projector do you have, or are you looking to get?
If you are only going to get a HD resolution projector and don't plan on upgrading to a 4K projector in the short/medium term, then you will not get 4K graphics no matter how powerful your PC is.
So we always recommend our customers to match their PCs with their choice of projectors.
How long do you want to keep the PC?
If you are looking to use the PC for more than 5 years, we always recommend slightly over-spec'ing your gaming PC. Golf simulation engines are getting more and more hardware intensive, so have a PC that is slightly higher spec'ed than the minimum requirements will ensure that you are not forced to purchase a new PC in a few years time.
Do you want to do anything else with the PC?
Is the PC purely for Golf Sim? Or are you looking to multi-purpose your set up for other gaming/streaming needs? You will need to match your PC with the requirements of those needs as well.
If you are able to answer these questions, you should be able to determine the type of PC that is suitable for you, and reduce the risk of over-spending or under-spec'ing.
Let's go through a couple of examples:
- You only have a HD projector and will only use the PC for golf simulation - then getting a HD capable PC is more than sufficient.
- You have a 4K projector and want to use the PC for golf simulation - then budgeting allowing, getting a 4K capable PC will give you an improved experience. Consider a further upgrade if you want to get more mileage from the PC or if you want use it for other games and want to live-stream your gaming session.
At Kaizen Golf, we've done the research for you and we can make this process even easier for you. We have partnered with Australia's best Gaming PC supplier, Allied Gaming, to hand pick the following 3 models to suit your needs and budgets:
These PCs offer fantastic grunt and value and we would love for you check them out!
What about Laptops?
Unless you have a need to take your computer elsewhere, we strongly recommend the PC option over a laptop. The main reasons for this are:
- Laptops tend to be more expensive
- It will be very hard to upgrade a laptop whereas you do have the option of upgrading the GPU or sticking extra storage or memory into the existing PC.
Final Thoughts
Purchasing a Gaming PC for your golf simulator set up can be a confusing experience. You can easily spend overspend on a PC that is way too powerful for your needs or get something on a budget that crashes as soon as you load up GS Pro.
We hope that this article has helped you in understanding some of the key concepts and considerations when it comes to purchasing a Gaming PC.
If you have any further questions on choosing the right PC for you or any feedback at all, please feel free to contact us, we'd love to hear from you!