tensorHVAC-Pro System Requirements

This page describes the minimum and recommended system requirements for installing and running tensorHVAC-Pro effectively on Windows and macOS platforms.

Operating System Requirements

Windows

RequirementDetailsMinimumWindows 10 (64-bit) version 1903 or laterRecommendedWindows 11 (64-bit) or Windows 10 version 21H1+Architecturex64 (64-bit only)

macOS

RequirementDetailsMinimummacOS 10.15 (Catalina)RecommendedmacOS 12.0 (Monterey) or laterArchitectureIntel (x64), Apple Silicon (ARM64 – M1/M2/M3)

Hardware Requirements

Processor (CPU)

LevelSpecificationMinimumIntel Core i5 (4th gen) / AMD equivalent (4 cores)macOS MinimumIntel Core i5 or Apple Silicon (M1 or later)RecommendedIntel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 (8+ cores)macOS RecommendedApple Silicon M2/M3 or Intel Core i7/i9

Multi-core CPUs significantly improve parallel CFD simulation performance.

Memory (RAM)

UsageRAMMinimum8 GBRecommended16 GB or moreLarge / Complex Simulations32 GB or more

Disk Space

ComponentRequired SpaceApplication Installation~2 GB (Windows / macOS)Dependencies (Windows)5–10 GB (WSL2, Ubuntu, OpenFOAM, ParaView)Dependencies (macOS)3–5 GB (Docker Desktop, ParaView)Simulation Cases100 MB – 100+ GB (depends on case size)Total Minimum Free Space20 GBRecommended Free Space50+ GB

Graphics & Display

  • Integrated graphics or dedicated GPU supported

  • Windows: DirectX 11 compatible GPU

  • macOS: Metal-compatible GPU

  • Display Resolution:

    • Minimum: 1280 × 720

    • Recommended: 1920 × 1080 or higher

  • Dedicated GPU recommended for ParaView post-processing

Software Dependencies

Windows (Automatically Installed)

  • WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

  • Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (WSL distribution)

  • OpenFOAM 2506

  • ParaView-mod-tensorCFD 2026.1.0

All dependencies are installed and configured automatically by the tensorHVAC-Pro Installer.

macOS

  • Docker Desktop (v4.0 or later)

  • OpenFOAM 2506

    • Runs via Docker container: opencfd/openfoam-default:2506

  • ParaView 5.13.2

    • Installed separately and linked within the application

Network Requirements

  • Internet connection required for:

    • Initial license validation

    • Dependency downloads

    • Periodic license checks

  • Recommended bandwidth: ≥ 5 Mbps

  • Ensure firewall does not block license server communication (if applicable)

Installation Prerequisites

Windows

  • Administrator privileges

  • Windows Update up to date

  • Virtualization enabled in BIOS

  • Minimum 20 GB free disk space on system drive

macOS

  • Administrator privileges

  • Virtualization support enabled

  • Security settings allow identified developers

  • Minimum 20 GB free disk space

Runtime Requirements

Windows

  • WSL2 must remain enabled

  • Ubuntu distribution must be accessible

  • OpenFOAM environment sourced automatically

macOS

  • Docker Desktop must be running

  • Recommended Docker resource allocation:

    • Memory: 8 GB (minimum 4 GB)

    • Disk: 20 GB or more

Performance Recommendations

For best simulation performance:

  • CPU: 8+ cores

  • RAM: 16–32 GB

  • Storage: SSD recommended

  • Close unnecessary background applications

Performance scales with:

  • CPU core count

  • Available memory

  • Disk I/O speed

  • Mesh size and complexity

Compatibility Notes

  • Windows: Requires WSL2 (Windows 10 1903+ or Windows 11)

  • macOS: Intel and Apple Silicon fully supported

  • Virtual Machines: Not recommended due to nested virtualization limitations

Troubleshooting Tips

Windows

  • Ensure Hyper-V / Virtual Machine Platform is enabled

  • Verify WSL2 and Ubuntu installation

  • Check OpenFOAM availability inside WSL

macOS

  • Confirm Docker Desktop is running

  • Allocate sufficient Docker resources

  • Verify OpenFOAM container connectivity

Version Information

ComponentVersiontensorHVAC-Pro2026.1.2OpenFOAM2506ParaView (Windows)ParaView-mod-tensorCFD 2026.1.0ParaView (macOS)5.13.2Electron30.0.0