Recommending PC hardware specifications is a moving target, since technology rapidly changes. Given the power of PC's is always on the rise and prices are generally getting lower all of the time, it makes sense to purchase the most computer that your budget will allow. Buying for tomorrow instead of today will delay the need to purchase a computer in the future.

The following hardware is currently recommended by Genline for use with Impact Version 5.0.
 

There are three key components to get the best out of your investment; processor, memory and graphics card. For Display/POS design with graphics and for those who intend to make full use of Impact's comprehensive 3D suite will require a more powerful machine than that of normal use and therefore should look at the 'recommended' spec as a minimum.

• Processor – Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz/AMD Athlon 64 6000+ or better

• Memory - Min 2GB DDR2 667MHz / Recommend 4GB 800MHz

• Graphics Card – Min 256MB ATI or nVidia / Recommend 512MB

Also:

• Windows^® XP SP 2 /Windows Vista (only for Impact v5)/Windows 2000
• 17"-19" Flat Panel Monitor
• 250GB SATA Hard Disk
• DVD-R/CD-RW
• Network Card

Note: If your Impact dongle is a parallel device, you need to ensure the new computer has a parallel port. These are not standard on new computers. If you will be connecting to devices such as plotters or lasers via serial port, you will need to make sure the computer has a serial ports. A separate I/O card containing both serial and parallel ports can be added to the computer for a minimal cost.

• The 16:9 widescreen format monitors are recommended for Impact CAD as the wide format is better suited to the screen layout, and will allow best utilization of the Impact tools.
   
• Monitor should have a minimum resolution of 1280 x 1024

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), or sometimes called a battery backup is a device which maintains a continuous supply of electric power to connected equipment by supplying power from a separate source when utility power is not available. These devices

Tape backup remains the best choice for computer backup, and for two very good reasons: capacity and cost. The more inconvenient a security backup regime is to implement, the less likely users are to bother. With the size of the average hard disk now several gigabytes, tape is generally the only media that allows a complete hard disk to be backed-up without needing to swap media during the process. Furthermore, removable storage media is comparatively expensive, with overall costs up to ten times that of tape.

CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R - With CD-Recorders being commonplace in most new computers, they provide a inexpensive, convenient and reliable method to backup data. Their obvious downside is capacity and speed.

OPERATING SYSTEM

Microsoft Windows^® XP Professional, Service Pack 2 is recommended for use with Impact CAD v4 and earlier versions.
 

Impact v4 and earlier versions are not compatible with Windows Vista.

SAMPLEMAKERS

Samplemakers provide a method to generate prototype designs, complete with cut-outs, creases, perfs, etc. These prototypes can be cut out of many different materials depending on the samplemaker's capabilities. These materials include carton board, corrugated, foam board, rubber, foam, etc. Genline represents the following samplemakers:

• Zund Samplemakers

• Graphtec Samplemakers