Chief Architect Minimum System Requirements


Reference Number: KB-02761
Last Modified: March 14, 2024

The information in this article applies to:

Chief Architect Premier or Chief Architect Interiors



QUESTION

I have to replace my computer that I run Chief Architect on. What are the system requirements for running the software? 


ANSWER

While it may be possible to operate Chief Architect on a computer that does not meet these minimum system requirements, Chief Architect, Inc. will not support any configuration that is not listed below.


For tips on buying a new computer for use with Chief Architect software, please see this Blog post.



Chief Architect X15
Version 25 released in 2023

Windows computers with ARM processors are not supported. It is recommended that laptops have a minimum 16" screen.


Minimum:

  • Video Card:
    • 4 GB of dedicated video memory or Intel integrated graphics on 6th generation or newer Intel processors (i3/i5/i7)
    • DirectX 12 supporting Shader Model 6 for a Windows-based PC
    • Metal GPUFamily: Apple M1 or newer, or Intel/AMD GPU with support for Metal GPUFamily macOS 2 or newer
    • For GPU real-time ray tracing, a Windows computer with an NVIDIA RTX or an AMD Radeon RX series graphics card is required.
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • Internet access required for installation, license authentication, deactivation and video & library catalog access. Internet access for license authentication is required once every 14 days.
  • 8 GB of RAM
  • Windows 10 / 11 64-bit or;
  • macOS Monterey / Ventura / Sonoma

Recommended:

  • 32 GB of RAM
  • 1 TB SSD
  • PC
    • Intel i9 / AMD Ryzen 9
    • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 / AMD Radeon RX 7900
    • Laptops: Minimum 16" screen
  • Mac
    • Metal GPUFamily: Apple M3 or newer
    • Desktops: Mac Pro
    • Laptops: MacBook Pro 16"



Chief Architect X14
Version 24 released in 2022

For all X14 Versions

Windows computers with ARM processors are not supported. It is recommended that laptops have a minimum 15" screen.


Minimum:

  • Video Card:
    • 2 GB of dedicated video memory or Intel integrated graphics on 6th generation or newer Intel processors (i3/i5/i7)
    • DirectX 12 supporting Shader Model 6 for a Windows-based PC
    • Metal GPUFamily: Apple 7 M1 or newer, or Intel/AMD GPU with support for Metal GPUFamily macOS 2 or newer
    • For GPU real-time ray tracing, a Windows computer with an NVIDIA RTX or an AMD Radeon RX 6000 series graphics card is required.
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • Internet access required for installation, license authentication, deactivation and video & library catalog access. Internet access for license authentication is required once every 14 days.
  • 8 GB of RAM
  • 64-bit Windows 10 / 11
  • macOS Big Sur / Monterey / Ventura

Recommended:

  • 32 GB of RAM
  • 512 GB SSD
  • PC
    • Desktops:
      • Intel i9 / AMD Ryzen 5000
      • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 / AMD Radeon RX 6800
    • Laptops:
      • Minimum 15" screen
      • Intel i7
      • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 / AMD Radeon RX 6800M
  • Mac
    • Desktops:
      • Mac Pro
    • Laptops:
      • MacBook Pro 16"
      • Metal GPUFamily: Apple M1 or newer
      • 8 GB video memory



Chief Architect X13
Version 23 released in 2021

For all X13 Versions

Windows computers with ARM processors are not supported. It is recommended that laptops have a minimum 15" screen.


Minimum:

  • Video Card:
    • 2 GB of dedicated video memory or Intel integrated graphics on 6th generation or newer Intel processors (i3/i5/i7)
    • DirectX 12 supporting Shader Model 6 for a Windows-based PC
    • Metal GPUFamily: Apple 7 (M1) or macOS 2 (Intel) for macOS systems
    • For GPU real-time ray tracing, a Windows 10 computer with an NVIDIA RTX or an AMD Radeon RX 6000 series graphics card is required.
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • Internet access
    • Required for installation, license authentication, deactivation and video & library catalog access. Internet access for license authentication is required once every 14 days.
  • 8 GB of RAM
  • 64-bit Windows 10 / 11
  • macOS Catalina / Big Sur / Monteray

Recommended:

  • 32 GB of RAM
  • 512 GB SSD
  • PC
    • Desktops:
      • Intel i9 / AMD Ryzen 5000
      • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 / AMD Radeon RX 6800
    • Laptops:
      • Minimum 15" screen
      • Intel i7
      • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 / AMD Radeon RX 6800M
  • Mac
    • Desktops:
      • Mac Pro
    • Laptops:
      • MacBook Pro 16"
      • Intel i9
      • 8 GB video memory



Chief Architect X12
Version 22 released in 2020

For all X12 Versions

Computers with ARM or Mac M1 processors are not supported. It is recommended that laptops have a minimum 15" screen.


Minimum:

  • Video Card:
    • 1 GB of dedicated video memory or Intel integrated graphics on 5th generation or newer Intel processors (i3/i5/i7)
    • OpenGL 3.3 or higher for a Windows-based PC
    • OpenGL 4.1 or higher for a Mac
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • Internet access
  • 4 GB of RAM
  • 64-bit Windows 7 / 8 / 10 or;
  • macOS 10.14 / 10.15 / 11 (Mojave / Catalina / Big Sur)

Recommended:

  • 32 GB of RAM
  • 512 GB SSD
  • PC
    • Desktops:
      • Intel i7 / AMD Ryzen 5000
      • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
    • Laptops:
      • Minimum 15" screen
      • Intel i7
      • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
  • Mac
    • Desktops:
      • Mac Pro
    • Laptops:
      • MacBook Pro 16"
      • 8 GB video memory



Chief Architect X11
Version 21 released in 2019

For all X11 Versions

Computers with ARM or Mac M1 processors are not supported. It is recommended that laptops have a minimum 15" screen.


Minimum:

  • Multi-Core Processor (CPU)
  • Video Card:
    • 1 GB of dedicated video memory or Intel integrated graphics on 3rd generation or newer Intel processors
    • OpenGL 3.3 or higher for a Windows-based PC
    • OpenGL 4.1 or higher for a Mac
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • Internet access
  • 4 GB memory (RAM)
  • 64-bit Windows 7 / 8 / 10 or;
  • macOS 10.13 / 10.14 / 10.15 (High Sierra / Mojave / Catalina)

Recommended:

  • 16 GB memory (RAM)
  • 50 GB of available hard disk space
  • 4 GB or 8 GB gaming video card



Chief Architect X10
Version 20 released in 2018

For all X10 versions

Minimum:

  • Multi-Core Processor (CPU)
  • Video Card:
    • 1 GB of dedicated video memory or Intel integrated graphics on 3rd generation or newer Intel processors
    • OpenGL 3.3 or higher for a Windows-based PC
    • OpenGL 4.1 or higher for a Mac
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • Internet access
  • 4 GB memory (RAM)
  • 64-bit Windows 7 / 8 / 10 or;
  • macOS 10.12 / 10.13 / 10.14 (Sierra / High Sierra / Mojave)

Recommended

  • 16 GB memory (RAM)
  • 50 GB of available hard disk space
  • 4 GB or 8 GB gaming video card



Chief Architect X9
Version 19, released in 2017

For all X9 versions

Minimum:

  • Multi-Core Processor (CPU)
  • Video Card: 
    • At least 512MB of dedicated video memory or Intel integrated graphics on 3rd generation or newer Intel processors
    • OpenGL 3.3 or higher for a Windows-based PC
    • OpenGL 4.1 or higher for a Mac
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • Internet access
  • 4 GB of memory (RAM)
  • Windows 64-bit 7 / 8 / 10 or;
  • Mac OSX Sierra 10.11 / 10.12 (El Capitan / Sierra)

Recommended:

  • 16 GB memory (RAM)
  • 50 GB of available hard disk space
  • 4 GB or 8 GB gaming video card



Chief Architect X8
Version 18, released in 2016

For all X8 versions

  • Multi-Core Processor (CPU)
  • Video Card: 
    • OpenGL 2.1 or higher
    • Dedicated video card with at least 512 MB Memory (e.g., NVidia or ATI)
      or
    • Integrated graphics (e.g. Intel HD Graphics)
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • Internet access
  • Recommended: 8 GB of Memory (64-bit), 50 GB of available hard disk space, 2 GB or 4 GB gaming video card

For 64-bit Chief Architect X8

  • 64-bit Windows 7 / 8 / 10
  • Mac OSX 10.10 / 10.11 (Yosemite / El Capitan)
  • 4 GB of RAM

For 32-bit Chief Architect X8

  • 32-bit Windows 7 / 8
  • 2 GB of RAM



Chief Architect X7
Version 17, released in 2015

For all X7 versions

  • 2.4 GHz processor or Multi-Core Processor
  • Video Card: Dedicated Video Card with 512 MB memory, or Integrated graphics
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • Recommended: 8 GB of Memory (64-bit), 50 GB of available hard disk space, 2 GB or 4 GB gaming video card

For 64-bit Chief Architect X7

  • 64-bit Windows 7 / 8 / 10
  • Mac OSX 10.9 / 10.10 / 10.11 (Mavericks / Yosemite / El Capitan)  
  • 4 GB of RAM

For 32-bit Chief Architect X7

  • 32-bit Windows 7 / 8
  • 2 GB of RAM



Chief Architect X6
Version 16, released in 2014

For all X6 versions

  • 2.4 GHz processor or Multi-Core Processor
  • Video Card: Dedicated Video Card with 512 MB memory, or Integrated graphics
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space

For 64-bit Chief Architect X6

  • 64-bit Windows Vista / 7 / 8
  • Mac OSX 10.8 / 10.9 (Mountain Lion / Mavericks)  
  • 4 GB of RAM

For 32-bit Chief Architect X6

  • 32-bit Windows Vista / 7 / 8
  • 2 GB of RAM



Chief Architect X5
Version 15, released in 2012

For all X5 versions

  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • 256 MB of dedicated on-board video memory supporting OpenGL 2.1 or higher
  • Monitor resolution: 1024 x 768
  • High speed Internet for registration, video access, content downloads
  • DVD drive (if software purchased on DVD)

For 64-bit Chief Architect Premier or Interiors X5

  • 64-bit Windows Vista / 7 / 8
  • Multi-core processor
  • 4 GB of RAM

For 32-bit Chief Architect Premier, Lite or Interiors X5

  • 32- or 64-bit Windows Vista / 7 / 8; 32-bit Windows XP
  • 2.4 GHz processor
  • 2 GB of RAM



Chief Architect X4
Version 14, released in 2011

For all X4 versions

  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • 256 MB of dedicated on-board video memory supporting OpenGL 2.1 or higher
  • High speed Internet for registration, video access, and content downloads
  • DVD drive (if software purchased on DVD)

For 64-bit Chief Architect Premier X4

  • 64-bit Windows Vista / 7
  • Multi-core processor
  • 4 GB of RAM

For 32-bit Chief Architect Premier, Lite or Interiors X4

  • 32- or 64-bit Windows Vista / 7; 32-bit Windows XP
  • 2.4 GHz processor
  • 2 GB of RAM



Chief Architect X3
Version 13, released in 2010

  • Windows XP / Vista /7
  • 2.4 GHz processor
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • 2 GB of RAM
  • 256 MB of dedicated video memory supporting OpenGL 2.0 or higher
  • High speed Internet for registration, video access, content downloads
  • DVD drive (if software purchased on DVD)



Chief Architect X2
Version 12, released in 2009

  • Windows XP / Vista / 7
  • 2.4 GHz processor
  • 5 GB of available hard disk space
  • 2 GB of RAM
  • 256 MB of dedicated video memory supporting OpenGL 2 or greater
  • High speed Internet for registration and video access
  • DVD drive (if software purchased on DVD)



Chief Architect X1
Version 11, released in 2007

  • Windows XP / Vista
  • 2 GHz processor
  • 3 GB of available hard disk space
  • 1 GB of RAM
  • 256 MB of dedicated video memory supporting OpenGL hardware acceleration
  • DVD drive



Chief Architect version 10
Released in 2005

  • Windows XP
  • 2 GHz processor
  • 3 GB of available hard disk space
  • 1 GB of RAM
  • 256 MB of dedicated video memory
  • Video card that supports OpenGL hardware acceleration
  • CD-ROM drive



Chief Architect version 9.5
Released in 2003

  • Windows 98 SE / ME / NT / 2000 / XP
  • 400 MHz processor
  • 1 GB of available hard disk space for a full installation (400 MB to install without all available program content)
  • 64 MB of RAM
  • CD-ROM drive
  • 2-button mouse supported by Windows
  • Color monitor which supports 16 bit color in a screen resolution of 800x600 or greater
  • Video card which supports OpenGL



Chief Architect version 8
Released in 2002

  • Windows 95 / 98 / ME / NT /2000 / XP
  • 266 MHz processor
  • 400MB of available hard disk space
  • 64 MB of RAM, or greater
  • CD-ROM Drive
  • 2-button mouse supported by Windows
  • Color VGA, Super VGA, or higher resolution monitor supporting a minimum of 256 colors



Chief Architect version 7
Released in 2000

  • Windows 95 / NT 4.0 / 98 / 2000
  • 300 MB of available hard disk space
  • 32 MB of RAM
  • CD-ROM Drive
  • 2-button mouse supported by Windows
  • Color VGA, Super VGA, or higher resolution monitor. Super VGA supporting 256 colors