The box that decides how the course plays
Which launch monitors need a Windows PC, the specs the software makers publish, and the cables that make it all work.
Nobody photographs the computer. It sits in a cabinet while the screen gets the glory, and it decides whether Pebble Beach loads in seconds or stutters halfway through your backswing.
Below: which launch monitors need a PC at all, what each software maker asks for, which graphics card fits your screen, and how the cables run.
Do you need a computer for a golf simulator? The short answer
Only if your software needs one. GSPro, E6 (2026), Foresight Premier, ProTee Labs and TGC 2019 run on a Windows PC only. A Garmin R50 plays on its own screen, and phone apps cover the R10, MLM2PRO and Mevo Gen2.
No PC at all
Home Tee Hero runs on its 10-inch touchscreen; an HDMI output feeds the projector directly.
Phone or tablet
Their own apps run on a phone or tablet, some on a computer too; E6 Connect also runs on an iPad. GSPro adds a Windows PC for the R10, MLM2PRO and Mevo Gen2.
Windows PC only
None of these five runs on a Mac, iPad or Android today. Uneekor VIEW is Windows too, except the EYE MINI on an iPad.
Fastest route: find your launch monitor in the table below, then your software's line in the requirements table; the decision path at the end names a model.
Which launch monitors need a PC, and which run on a phone or their own screen?
The launch monitor sets the floor. Its own software tells you whether a PC is optional; the course software you want tells you whether it is required.
| Launch monitor | Runs without a PC? | Its own app runs on | GSPro, E6 or Premier course play | Link to the PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, built-in 10-inch touchscreen and HDMI out | The unit itself (Home Tee Hero) | GSPro and E6 Connect on a Windows PC | Wi-Fi | |
| Yes, on a phone or tablet (no screen on the unit) | Garmin Golf app, iOS or Android | GSPro on a Windows PC | Bluetooth | |
| Yes, on a phone or tablet | MLM2PRO app, iOS 14+ or Android 10+ | GSPro on a Windows PC with Rapsodo Premium | Bluetooth to the PC; courses download over the PC's internet | |
| Yes, on a phone, tablet, Mac or PC | SkyTrak app: Windows 10 or 11, Mac and iPad with an M1 or newer chip, Android with 12GB RAM | SkyTrak's own plans on those devices; GSPro does not list SkyTrak | Wi-Fi network mode through your router, direct mode, or USB-C on a Windows PC | |
| Yes, on a phone or tablet | FS Golf, iOS 17+, Android 12+ or Windows | E6 Connect on iOS or PC; GSPro on a Windows PC | Wi-Fi | |
| Yes for range data, 5.3-inch OLED on the unit | Full Swing app, iOS or Android | GSPro on a Windows PC; E6 Connect on iPhone or iPad | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 | |
| Yes for shot data, built-in touchscreen | The unit itself | Foresight Premier on a gaming PC; GSPro needs Gold plus a license | Ethernet (recommended) or USB-C | |
| Yes for shot data, built-in touchscreen | The unit itself, plus the Foresight app | Foresight Premier on a Windows PC; GSPro lists the GC3 (with FSX Play or FSX 2020), not the GC3S | USB-C, Wi-Fi or Ethernet | |
| Partly, 11 of 19 metrics on its own display; VIEW Air on an iPad | Uneekor VIEW on Windows, VIEW Air on iPad | GSPro or E6 on a Windows PC with the Pro package | CAT6 Ethernet, or Wi-Fi to the iPad | |
| No, Windows PC required | Uneekor VIEW on Windows | GSPro or E6 on the same PC with the Pro package | CAT6 straight into the PC (PoE on the XR) | |
| No, Windows PC required | ProTee Labs on Windows | GSPro or TGC 2019 on the same PC | 10 m Cat6 into the PC's Ethernet port, 1 Gbit wired | |
| No, Windows PC required | E6 on Windows | E6 (2026) on the same PC | 50 ft CAT6 into the included USB-to-CAT6 adapter on a USB 3 port |
From each maker's current pages and our product pages. A unit with its own screen still needs a Windows PC for GSPro, E6 (2026) or Foresight Premier.
What are the golf simulator computer requirements for GSPro, E6 and Foresight?
GSPro PC requirements start at an RTX 3060; Uneekor's floor for third-party software is an RTX 4070 Ti. Buy for the heaviest software you plan to run, at the resolution of your projector.
| Software | Windows | Graphics card | Memory | Storage | Also needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 or 11 | 1080p: RTX 3060 or RTX 4060 1080p Ultra: RTX 3060 Ti, 3070, 5060 or 5060 Ti 4K Ultra: RTX 3080, 4070, 5070, 5070 Ti or 5080; GSPro also lists AMD Radeon equivalents |
16GB 32GB for 4K Ultra |
10GB minimum, 20GB for Ultra; about 1GB per course | i5 or Ryzen 5; i7 or Ryzen 7 for 4K Ultra; internet at every launch; Ethernet port or Bluetooth depending on the launch monitor | |
| TruGolf E6 (2026) | 10 64-bit | RTX 3060 with 12GB VRAM | 24GB | NVMe SSD | Intel i7 10th Gen or newer |
| 10 or 11 64-bit, or iOS | GTX 1070 or equivalent, DirectX 11 | 8GB | 25GB | Intel i5; internet. iOS: any iPad Pro, iPad 5 or later, iPad Air 3 or later, iPad mini 5 or later, iPhone 8 or later | |
| 10 or 11; 11 recommended | Minimum RTX 4060 8GB (1080p Low) RTX 5070 12GB (1080p Medium) RTX 5070 Ti 16GB (1080p High) RTX 5080 16GB (4K) |
16GB 32GB recommended |
50GB free on an SSD 1TB SSD recommended |
Core i5-12500 minimum; Core Ultra 7 for 1080p Medium and High; Core Ultra 9 for 4K. GC3, GC3S, GCQuad, QuadMAX, GCHawk, Falcon, Launch Pro, LPi | |
| Foresight FSX Play | 10 or later, 64-bit | Minimum RTX 3060 RTX 3070 Ti, 3080 or 3090 for best results |
8GB 16GB with swing cameras |
Not listed | 7th Gen or newer Intel i5, i7 or i9; no AMD GPU, no Quadro, no Apple or Android |
| Uneekor VIEW with third-party software or AI Trainer | 11 Home or Pro, 22H2 | RTX 4070 Ti or equivalent (a 12GB card); 16GB of graphics memory for VIEW with AI Trainer | 32GB | 200GB free for third-party courses | Core Ultra 7, i7 12th Gen or later, or Ryzen 7 5000 or later; a dedicated Ethernet port for the launch monitor; 25 Mbps internet |
| 10 64-bit | GTX 670 minimum GTX 1080 or better for 4K |
4GB 8GB recommended |
30GB | Core i5-760 minimum, i7 3.2 GHz recommended; DirectX 11; broadband | |
| 10 or 11 64-bit | RTX 3060 minimum RTX 3080 or better for GSPro at 4K |
8GB minimum 32GB for 4K GSPro |
30GB recommended | Core i7-8xxx 3.0 GHz; wired 1 Gbit Ethernet | |
| 10 or 11 64-bit | GTX 1650 minimum RTX 2060 for 4K graphics RTX 3060 for max graphics |
8GB 16GB recommended |
128GB SSD 500GB recommended |
Core i3 10100F minimum, i5 11500K recommended; 5 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet |
Figures from the GSPro knowledge base, TruGolf, Foresight (Premier specifications article, September 2026), Uneekor, ProTee and SkyTrak requirement pages.
- The graphics card sets the tier. The gap between each maker's 1080p and 4K lines is mainly a GPU step; Foresight Premier also lifts the CPU from a Core i5 to a Core Ultra 7, then Ultra 9.
- 32GB meets the highest figure these makers publish. GSPro wants 32GB for 4K, Uneekor asks for 32GB, Foresight Premier recommends 32GB and TruGolf asks for 24GB.
- Courses eat storage. GSPro says each course is about 1GB, Uneekor budgets 200GB of free space for third-party courses, Foresight recommends a 1TB SSD. Our guidance: 1TB is the floor, 2TB is comfortable.
- Ports are a requirement too. Uneekor wants a dedicated Ethernet port for the launch monitor; GSPro wants an Ethernet port or Bluetooth depending on the unit.
Which graphics card do you need for 1080p vs 4K?
Match the card to the projector. SurfThing publishes frame rates for its own computers, and 60 fps or more matches a 60Hz projector.
1080p projector
GSPro at Ultra: 105 fps at 1080p on the SG3-5602, 51 fps at 4K. E6 (2026) on Low: 54 fps at 1080p.
4K projector, GSPro
GSPro at Ultra and 4K: 85 fps on the SG3-5702, 105 fps on the SG3-5702Ti; both hold 149 fps at 1080p. FSX Play at 4K Ultra: 34 fps on the SG3-5702, 64 on the SG3-5702Ti.
4K, the heavy software
On the SG3-5802 at 4K: FSX Play Ultra 81 fps, GSPro 128 fps, E6 (2026) Medium 56 fps, still under the 60 fps line.
Average frames per second from SurfThing's golf software performance tests, as published on our collection page; E6 (2026), which SurfThing's chart still labels E6 Apex, at Medium (Low on the SG3-5602). SurfThing says 30 fps avoids visible jitter and 60 fps matches a 60Hz projector.
- Our rule of thumb: a 1080p projector never needs more than the RTX 5060 for GSPro; a 4K projector wants the RTX 5070 Ti, which also clears 60 fps in FSX Play; E6 (2026) at 4K wants the RTX 5080 and still settles for Medium.
- Swing cameras change the math. Foresight asks for 16GB with a swing camera, Uneekor 32GB; both the SG3-5702 and above carry 32GB.
- A faster card does not help a 60Hz projector past 60 fps. Spend the difference on the 4K projector or the launch monitor instead.
Desktop or laptop for a golf simulator?
A desktop for a fixed bay, a laptop for lessons on the road. SurfThing's own tests put its laptop a step behind its mid-range desktop.
SurfThing SG3-5702Ti Desktop
- GSPro: 149 fps at 1080p, 105 at 4K
- Ports: 2.5G LAN, Thunderbolt 4, 14 USB, Wi-Fi 6E
- Pick it for: a permanent bay with a 4K projector
SurfThing M3H Laptop
- GSPro: 103 fps at 1080p, 45 at 4K
- Ports: HDMI, two DisplayPort over USB-C, LAN, Wi-Fi 7
- Pick it for: coaching, travel and a 1080p screen
- Laptop GPUs are smaller than their desktop names. The M3H's RTX 5070 Laptop GPU carries 8GB; the desktop RTX 5070 carries 12GB, and it shows at 4K.
- Wired launch monitors want the desktop. Uneekor says to use the PC's built-in Ethernet port, never a hub or adapter, and the desktops have a 2.5G port ready.
Which SurfThing computer fits your software and screen?
Four desktops, one case, one step of graphics card between each. Pick by the resolution you play at and the heaviest software you run.
SG3-5602
- Memory: 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
- GSPro: 105 fps 1080p, 51 4K
- Pick it for: a 1080p projector
SG3-5702
- Memory: 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD
- GSPro: 149 fps 1080p, 85 4K
- Pick it for: 4K GSPro, many peripherals
SG3-5702Ti
- Memory: 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD
- GSPro: 149 fps 1080p, 105 4K
- Pick it for: 4K plus swing cameras
SG3-5802
- Memory: 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD
- GSPro: 149 fps 1080p, 128 4K
- Pick it for: E6 (2026) and cameras at 4K
Processors: Core Ultra 5 225F in the SG3-5602, SG3-5702 and SG3-5702Ti, Core Ultra 7 265F in the SG3-5802. All four: Windows 11 Home, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, a 2.5G Ethernet port, 2-year warranty, 30-day returns.
How do you connect the launch monitor, projector and PC?
A wired build has three runs: CAT6 to the launch monitor, HDMI to the projector and a second video lead if you add a side screen. Phone and Wi-Fi units skip the first. The makers set the rules.
| Connection | Who uses it | The rule | Who says so |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT6 Ethernet to the launch monitor | Uneekor (every model except the EYE MINI on Wi-Fi); ProTee VX; TruGolf APOGEE; Bushnell Launch Pro and Foresight Falcon as an option | Uneekor: straight into the PC's built-in Ethernet port, never through a router, switch or hub. ProTee: its 10 m (32 ft) Cat6 into the PC's Ethernet port. TruGolf: the 50 ft CAT6 into the included USB-to-CAT6 adapter on a USB 3 port | Uneekor help center, ProTee setup guide, our APOGEE page |
| HDMI to the projector | Every PC build | Ultra High Speed HDMI, no more than 5 m for 4K at 60 Hz or 12 m for 1080p at 60 Hz; beyond that an HDMI extender or an optical or powered HDMI cable | BenQ projector FAQ |
| HDBaseT over one network cable | Commercial bays with the PC in a back room | Video, audio and control on one RJ-45 cable up to 100 m; the BenQ LK936ST has the input | BenQ LK936ST page |
| Bluetooth | Garmin R10 to a phone; Rapsodo MLM2PRO to the PC for GSPro | The PC needs built-in Bluetooth or a USB adapter; GSPro then streams courses over the internet | GSPro requirements, our MLM2PRO setup guide |
| Wi-Fi or USB-C | Garmin R50 to GSPro; SkyTrak ST MAX; Foresight GC3; Mevo Gen2 | The ST MAX connects in network mode through your router (SkyTrak's recommended mode), in direct mode, or over USB-C to a Windows PC; the GC3 and Falcon offer USB-C, Wi-Fi and Ethernet | Our SkyTrak and Foresight pages |
- Count the Ethernet ports. A Uneekor or ProTee unit takes the PC's port, so the internet rides Wi-Fi 6E or a USB-to-Ethernet adapter; ProTee includes one for that, and Uneekor lists "one or more" dedicated ports.
- Blue port for the adapter. ProTee's internet adapter and TruGolf's APOGEE adapter both want a USB 3 port; the SG3 desktops carry six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the back.
- Two video outputs. The projector takes one; a side or touch screen takes the second. The M3H laptop offers HDMI plus two DisplayPort outputs over USB-C.
- Measure the HDMI run before you mount. BenQ's 4K line is 5 m, about 16 ft. A short-throw projector near the screen with the PC behind the golfer often needs more, so plan an optical cable or HDBaseT when it does.
What else goes in the simulator cabinet?
A screen you can touch from the hitting area, and a second display for data. Both plug into the same PC.
DT2424H Touch Monitor
- Inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA
- Refresh: 75Hz IPS panel
- Pick it for: starting rounds by touch
D2424H Monitor
- Inputs: HDMI and DisplayPort
- Refresh: 165Hz IPS panel
- Pick it for: shot data beside the screen
- The case is sized for a cabinet. The SG3-5702, SG3-5702Ti and SG3-5802 measure 8.07 in wide, 14.29 in tall and 17.8 in deep, which SurfThing says fits most simulator bays and cabinets.
- Cooling matters in a closed cabinet. The SG3-5602 to SG3-5702Ti use dual 120 mm fans; the SG3-5802 a 280 mm liquid cooler.
- Ready out of the box. SurfThing ships the SG3-5602 and SG3-5702 pre-configured for golf simulation; the SG3-5602, SG3-5702 and SG3-5702Ti list a wireless keyboard and mouse in the box.
Decision path: which computer do you need?
Start from the launch monitor you own or want, then the software, then the projector.
- Garmin R50 on Home Tee Hero: no PC. Plug the HDMI output into the projector and play.
- R10, MLM2PRO, Mevo Gen2 or KIT and you want GSPro on a 1080p projector: the SG3-5602; add Rapsodo Premium for the MLM2PRO.
- ProTee VX or APOGEE: a desktop with 32GB: the SG3-5702 for 1080p or entry 4K, the SG3-5702Ti for 4K with cameras.
- Uneekor: an RTX 4070 Ti class card with a Core Ultra 7 or 12th Gen i7, so the SG3-5802 is the match; 16GB of graphics memory (VIEW with AI Trainer) is on it and the SG3-5702Ti. Its 2.5G port is Uneekor's dedicated Ethernet port.
- Foresight GC3, GC3S or Bushnell Launch Pro with Premier: the SG3-5702Ti carries Premier's 1080p High card (RTX 5070 Ti 16GB) behind a Core Ultra 5, not Foresight's Ultra 7; for Premier's 4K line (Core Ultra 9, RTX 5080) the SG3-5802 is the closest box.
- E6 (2026) at 4K, swing cameras and video capture: the SG3-5802, at 56 fps on Medium in SurfThing's test; FSX Play at 4K Ultra already clears 60 fps on the SG3-5702Ti (64 fps) with headroom on the SG3-5802 (81).
- Lessons at the range and a sim at home: the M3H laptop, with a 1080p screen in mind.
Every SurfThing golf simulator computer, frame rates included, sits side by side on the SurfThing collection page.
Bottom line
A golf simulator needs a computer when the software needs one. The graphics card picks the resolution, 32GB covers every maker's list, and a Uneekor or ProTee unit needs the Ethernet port, the APOGEE a USB 3 port.
- Skip the PC: Garmin R50 on its own screen; range practice on any unit with a built-in display.
- Cables: CAT6 to the PC's Ethernet port (Uneekor, ProTee) or its USB adapter (APOGEE), HDMI under 5 m for 4K or an optical run, two video outputs.
Go deeper: setup guides for your launch monitor
Three guides that pick up where this one stops:
Uneekor setup guide
Mounting heights, the Ethernet rule and Uneekor's PC table for every EYE model. Set up a Uneekor.
GSPro with the ProTee VX
ProTee Labs, the GSPro API, VSync and the PC specs for 4K. Connect the VX.
MLM2PRO with GSPro
License conversion, GSPro Connect and the day-one error most owners hit. Pair the MLM2PRO.
Prices checked October 16, 2026.
