Hardware requirements
The computer
for StereoCloud3D.
We recommend a Windows 11 64-bit workstation with 64 GB of memory, an NVIDIA RTX graphics card with 8–16 GB, an internal NVMe SSD and two monitors. StereoCloud3D also runs on smaller computers: the profiles below help you choose by the work you do.
Three profiles
| Component | Minimum | Recommended | Heavy processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | Viewing, small projects, drawing without stereo | Daily restitution, stereo, site projects | Mobile mapping, long railway and power-line surveys |
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 11 64-bit | Windows 11 Pro 64-bit |
| Processor | 8 cores | 12–16 cores, high clock speed | 16 cores or more, high clock speed |
| Memory | 16 GB | 64 GB | 128 GB |
| Graphics | Discrete card, OpenGL 3.3 | NVIDIA RTX, 8–16 GB | NVIDIA RTX, 16 GB or more |
| Project disk | Internal SSD, 500 GB free | Internal NVMe SSD, 2 TB | Dedicated NVMe SSD, 4 TB |
| Monitors | One, 1920×1080 | Two, 1920×1080 or more | Two or three, 2560×1440 or more |
| Internet | Needed for the license | Stable connection | Stable connection |
- Windows 64-bit on an Intel or AMD processor. Windows 10 no longer receives security updates since October 2025: for a new computer choose Windows 11.
- Graphics: without OpenGL 3.3 the program does not start. Graphics built into the processor open projects, but slow down navigation on large clouds and are not suitable for stereo.
- Two monitors: the first holds the interface and the plan, the second the stereo view or a second view.
What matters most
For StereoCloud3D a fast SSD and a processor with a high clock speed come first; the graphics card drives navigation and stereo.
- Disk. On import the cloud becomes a tiled index stored next to the project and read continuously while you navigate. Keep projects on an internal SSD. A converted project takes about half the size of the source LAS files: allow 1.5 times the source data, plus orthophotos.
- Processor. Import and automatic classification run on the processor and benefit most from fast cores. A more powerful graphics card does not speed them up.
- Memory. Import and classification use little memory (see the table). The extra memory serves large open projects, orthophotos and specialised analyses on long mobile surveys such as railways and tunnels: 64–128 GB for that work.
- Graphics card. Drawing the cloud uses about 2 GB of video memory; 8 GB is enough, 16 GB leaves room for stereo.
Measured times
Measured by MENCI Engineering in October 2026 on a 16-core workstation with 128 GB and an NVMe SSD, full automatic classification.
| Survey | Points | LAS files | Import | Classification | Peak memory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban mobile mapping | 17.6 million | 572 MB | 12 s | 14 s | 0.7 GB |
| Aerial, power lines | 20.5 million | 586 MB | 13 s | 19 s | 1.1 GB |
| Railway mobile mapping, 5 files | 98 million | 3.1 GB | 68 s | 95 s | 5.9 GB |
| Aerial, urban | 111 million | – | – | 47 s | 1.1 GB |
| Railway | 199 million | 5.6 GB | 2 min 16 s | 1 min 24 s | 2.3 GB |
Stereo, optional
StereoCloud3D works on ordinary monitors; stereo adds depth perception. It is shown on the second monitor, next to the one with the interface.
| Solution | What you need | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| 3D polarised monitor with passive glasses | A 3D monitor with side-by-side or top-bottom input, connected as the second extended screen; light passive glasses; any graphics card with two video outputs | Recommended: the most widely used solution among our customers |
| Two monitors with a beam-splitter mirror | A station with two panels and a mirror, plus the interface monitor. Requires a professional graphics card with quad-buffer stereo from the monitor maker's list of supported cards (AMD Radeon PRO, or NVIDIA professional: Quadro, RTX A, RTX Ada, RTX PRO Blackwell; gaming cards are not on the list), passive stereo on two outputs enabled in the graphics driver, three video outputs | Supported: full resolution for each eye |
| Active shutter glasses | NVIDIA professional card, infrared emitter, glasses and a 120 Hz monitor | Only if you already own the equipment: no longer in production |
With a 3D polarised monitor any card that drives two monitors will do; the beam-splitter mirror needs the professional card described above. Source for the supported cards: Schneider Digital, 3D PluraView – Supported Graphics Cards (edition 03-2026); check the current edition before buying. Before buying stereo hardware, contact us: we tell you whether the model you have in mind is already in use by other customers.
Devices and installation
- Trackball beside the mouse, strongly recommended: the mouse moves the plan, the trackball ball moves the height. Kensington Expert Mouse or Expert Trackball recommended; Logitech ERGO M575 and M570 / Trackman Marble also supported.
- Internet. The license is verified online at activation and while you work. On request a license can be enabled for offline use; computers that never go online can use a license file.
- Company networks. If a proxy inspects encrypted traffic, the program cannot activate: exclude the MENCI Engineering license servers from inspection.
- Antivirus. Real-time scanning slows cloud import down a lot. The installer offers the Windows Defender exclusions; project folders and other antivirus products must be set up by hand.
- External and network disks are fine for archive and delivery, not for work: keep active projects on an internal SSD.
- Graphics driver. Keep it up to date. If you still use active shutter glasses, ask us before changing the driver version.
Not sure? Write to info@menci.com with the type of survey, the number of points and the hardware you already have: we recommend the right configuration. Full details in the user guide.