DesignBuilder is a professional graphics application and requires a high standard of computer hardware for successful use.  This page contains information on the minimum system requirements and also the recommended specification. The main areas you should pay attention to if you are buying or upgrading your computer system to run DesignBuilder are: 

• Graphics adapter - a good 100% OpenGL compatible graphics adapter is required to run DesignBuilder. The mid-range and better NVIDIA cards seem to be the most reliable.  Some graphics adapters integrated with the motherboard we have tested are unable to run DesignBuilder. See also note below on Windows Vista.
• Memory - DesignBuilder will use all the memory you can throw at it - at least 2 GB is recommended for serious modelling or more if you are running under Windows Vista which itself uses 1 GB.
• CPU speed - get as fast as you can afford.
• Cores - having more than one processor core does not necessarily speed up simulations in DesignBuilder version 1 but it does allow you to continue using your computer while simulations are running. Dual core processors also make the software more responsive in use. 

Minimum Requirements
Vista, XP or Windows 2000 running on
1000 MHz processor
800x600 pixel screen 
2 GB RAM
200 MB free disk space
Pointing device 100%
OpenGL compatible
3D graphics adapter with hardware acceleration running in 32-bit color mode
 
The above specification will allow you to successfully model small buildings using DesignBuilder but we recommend a more powerful computer for best results especially when working with larger building models.

Recommended
Windows XP SP2

2.4 GHz dual core processor or faster.
Dual Core processors are recommended as they allow you to continue using your computer while simulations are carried out.
4 GB (or more) RAM.  
5 GB free disk space
Pointing device
100% OpenGL compatible 3D graphics adapter with hardware acceleration running in 32-bit color mode
1280x1024 pixels or larger screens for efficiency during the modelling process and for displaying high-quality visualisation images and walk-throughs of DesignBuilder models and CFD results. DesignBuilder works well with wide screens.

Windows Vista
DesignBuilder works under Windows Vista, but you must ensure that you follow the advice on the support knowledgebase to switch off desktop composition and set XP-compatibility mode. If you plan to purchase a computer with Windows Vista installed we recommend choosing an NVIDIA graphics adapter as these, in our experience, have more reliable drivers where new operating systems are released.