Selecting a PC for Intraoral Scanning, Lab Scanning, CAD, and CAM calculations.
The computer running your intraoral scanner, laboratory scanner, CAD or manufacturing software is a critical part of the digital workflow.
Whether you are scanning directly in the clinic, designing restorations in UPCAD or exocad, processing implant cases, generating milling files, or running several pieces of dental software at the same time, the computer does a significant amount of work behind the scenes.
Hardware that is only close to the recommended specifications is not enough.
For reliable performance and technical support, I recommend a known, supported hardware configuration using an Intel processor and compatible NVIDIA graphics card.
Saving money on the wrong computer usually saves very little. It simply moves the cost into lost time, unstable software, failed cases and eventually replacing the computer anyway.
Universally supported PC configuration.
For intraoral scanning, laboratory scanning, CAD and manufacturing workflows, I recommend:
Intel Core i7 or Core i9 processor
32 GB DDR5 RAM minimum
1 TB SSD minimum
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 or higher
Do not use RTX xx50-series graphics cards.
Windows 11 Pro
USB-C with at least 15 W Power Delivery where required by the connected scanner
For notebook computers, pay particular attention to the processor model. A processor carrying a similar name is not necessarily equivalent to its desktop version.
The Intel Core 7 240H is a mobile processor and is not part of any supported configuration.
Intel processors and NVIDIA graphics cards are non-negotiable within many supported systems. Do not treat AMD processors and AMD graphics cards as equivalent alternatives simply because their advertised specifications or benchmark results appear similar.
The same applies to Intel integrated graphics.
Minimum specifications do not mean recommended specifications.
A computer that can open dental software differs from one that can reliably run a complete digital dental workflow.
Software manufacturers often publish minimum requirements intended to identify hardware capable of running the application. That does not necessarily mean the same computer is suitable for:
large full-arch scans
implant cases
facial scans
photogrammetry
complex CAD
large laboratory cases
milling calculations
manufacturing simulation
running several dental applications simultaneously
In real life, these workflows frequently overlap.
You may have scanning software open while reviewing another case in CAD, generating a manufacturing file in UPCAM, running exocad and transferring files to another manufacturing system.
That is why I specify hardware with reasonable processing headroom rather than trying to operate at the absolute minimum.
Why the computer specification matters
Modern dental software processes large, complex datasets.
An intraoral scanner continuously acquires images or three-dimensional data, analyses geometry, aligns scan frames, and builds a three-dimensional model. CAD software may then calculate margins, contacts, occlusion, emergence profiles, anatomical morphology and restoration geometry.
Manufacturing software adds another layer of processing, including:
toolpath calculations
NC-file generation
nesting
collision detection
kinematic calculations
manufacturing simulation
All of this requires the processor, graphics card, memory and storage system to work together reliably.
Unsupported or underpowered hardware can result in:
slow performance
freezing
software crashes
incomplete calculations
failed scan stitching
graphics errors
failed manufacturing files
corrupted or lost work
complete case failure
These specifications are not intended to make customers unnecessarily purchase an expensive computer.
Professional scanning, CAD, and manufacturing software requires appropriately capable hardware.
If you are investing tens of thousands of dollars in digital dental equipment, the computer controlling it should not be the weakest part of the system.
Generally, before software troubleshooting can begin, the computer must meet the software developer’s supported hardware specifications. Software cannot compensate for incompatible or underpowered hardware.
Why NVIDIA graphics are required
Many processing functions in modern dental applications are designed around NVIDIA GPU acceleration and CUDA.
CUDA is NVIDIA's parallel-computing platform, allowing compatible software to send certain calculations to the graphics processor rather than relying entirely on the CPU.
This can dramatically increase processing capability for workloads involving large numbers of calculations.
For this reason, my supported configuration requires a compatible NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card.
AMD graphics processors are not supported within any market configuration.
Intel integrated graphics are also not considered an alternative, even when paired with a suitable Intel processor.
A computer advertised as having:
Dedicated graphics
or even:
NVIDIA RTX graphics
is not automatically suitable. The exact graphics processor matters.
I recommend an RTX 4060 or higher, while excluding the lower-tier RTX xx50-series cards, including models such as the RTX 4050 and RTX 5050.
When comparing computers, always check the full GPU model rather than relying on terms like RTX, gaming graphics, or dedicated graphics in the advertisement.
Why I specify Intel processors
The processor handles a large proportion of the calculations performed throughout scanning, CAD, and manufacturing.
I standardise my workstations on Intel Core i7 and Core i9 processors because they provide a known platform supported by the software developers .
The exact processor also matters.
Modern processor naming has become increasingly confusing, particularly with notebook computers. Two processors carrying similar branding can have very different power limits, core configurations and sustained processing performance.
A thin notebook designed around battery life and portability is not necessarily equivalent to a desktop workstation, even if both carry Core 7, Core i7 or similar branding. That is why buying a PC based purely on the words i7 or i9 is no longer enough. Always check the full processor model before purchasing.
Why 32 GB RAM is the minimum
All datasets have become significantly larger.
A single case may contain combinations of:
full-arch intraoral scans
upper and lower arches
bite scans
facial scans
high-resolution texture information
photogrammetry data
implant-position information
multiple STL or PLY files
high-resolution laboratory scans
large CAD meshes
manufacturing files
These datasets may contain millions of individual points and polygons.
During processing, the software may need to keep several versions of these datasets in memory at the same time while performing alignment, optimisation, or design calculations.
Memory demand increases further when several programs are open simultaneously.
For example, a laboratory may have: Scanning software + exocad + UPCAD + manufacturing software + browser + practice or laboratory management software all running on the same workstation.
Insufficient RAM will result in:
slow processing
freezing
software crashes
failed scan processing
incomplete calculations
excessive use of the Windows page file
lost work
complete processing failure
For this reason, 32 GB RAM should be considered the minimum, not an upgrade.
I also recommend DDR5 or newer-generation memory for new systems.
For particularly heavy laboratory workloads, larger implant cases or workstations expected to run several applications continuously, 64 GB may be worth considering.
Why the SSD matters
A minimum 1 TB solid-state drive is recommended. Data accumulates quickly.
Scans, project files, temporary processing data, exported STL files, manufacturing files, software installations and Windows updates all consume storage. A computer supplied with a small system drive can become problematic surprisingly quickly.
Performance can also deteriorate when an SSD is near capacity because Windows and dental applications need free space for temporary files and processing. A 1 TB SSD provides reasonable working capacity for most clinical installations.
Laboratories or high-volume environments should consider larger storage or appropriate network storage and backup systems instead of buying the smallest available drive.
Windows 11 Pro
Realistically, the only supported operating system is Windows 11 Pro.
Using a standard operating environment across supported systems makes installation, networking, security, remote support and troubleshooting considerably more predictable.
Avoid unusual Windows builds, heavily modified installations or computers supplied with unnecessary manufacturer utilities wherever possible.
A dental workstation is a production computer. Reliability is more important than having dozens of pre-installed applications running in the background.
USB-C is not always the same
USB-C describes the connector. It does not guarantee that every USB-C port provides the same functionality.
Depending on the intraoral scanner being connected, the port may need to provide:
high-speed USB data
USB Power Delivery
sufficient power output
stable continuous communication
For systems requiring power through USB-C, I specify at least 15 W Power Delivery.
Do not assume that a computer is compatible simply because it has a USB-C socket.
Check the port's specifications.
This is particularly important with notebooks, mini PCs, docking stations and USB hubs.
Desktop versus notebook computers
Both can work, but desktop systems generally provide considerably more flexibility.
A desktop PC typically offers:
better cooling
higher sustained CPU performance
higher sustained GPU performance
easier upgrades
replaceable graphics cards
additional RAM capacity
more storage options
easier servicing
Notebook computers can be appropriate when mobility is genuinely required, but you need to choose them more carefully.
Laptop CPUs and GPUs often run at lower power limits than desktop versions with similar model names.
Thermal limitations can also reduce performance during long scanning, CAD or manufacturing sessions.
Do not assume that an RTX 4060 laptop performs identically to an RTX 4060 desktop workstation.
Be careful with cheap gaming PCs.
Gaming computers can sometimes provide excellent hardware for dental applications because gaming and dental CAD share several requirements, particularly strong processors and NVIDIA GPUs.
However, buying something simply because it is marketed as a gaming PC does not guarantee compatibility.
Check:
the exact CPU
the exact NVIDIA GPU
installed RAM
SSD capacity
Windows version
USB configuration
USB-C Power Delivery where required
cooling
Can you upgrade the PC later?
A computer with an impressive case and RGB lighting does not automatically contain an appropriate workstation specification.
Do not save money on the wrong computer.
An almost compatible computer is not a bargain.
It will waste clinical or laboratory time, create unnecessary support problems, increase the risk of remakes and potentially cause complete case failure.
Buy the correct computer once. Anything else is likely to cost more.
Saving A$1,000–A$1,500 on the workstation may seem attractive.
That saving becomes insignificant when compared with:
lost chair time
technicians waiting for processing
repeated scans
interrupted production
failed restorations
support costs
staff frustration
replacing the computer prematurely
The computer is part of the equipment investment. Treat it accordingly.
Standardise your systems
Wherever possible, use one known and proven computer configuration throughout your clinic or laboratory.
Standardisation makes performance more predictable and simplifies:
installation
software deployment
staff training
updates
spare parts
troubleshooting
remote support
If five workstations use five different processors, graphics cards, USB controllers and Windows configurations, every technical problem has additional variables.
If all five use the same tested platform, diagnosis becomes considerably easier.
Every unsupported variation introduces another potential source of failure.
My recommendation
For most current intraoral scanning, laboratory scanning, UPCAD, exocad and dental manufacturing workflows, a good starting configuration is:
Intel Core i7 or i9
32 GB DDR5 RAM or greater
1 TB NVMe SSD or greater
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 or higher, excluding xx50-series GPUs
Windows 11 Pro
Suitable USB-C connectivity with at least 15 W Power Delivery where required
More demanding laboratory environments may benefit from 64 GB RAM, additional SSD capacity and higher-performance RTX graphics, particularly where large datasets or multiple applications are processed simultaneously.
The objective is not to purchase the most expensive computer available; it is to purchase a known, compatible and appropriately specified computer that allows your dental equipment and software to perform as intended.
Your scanner, CAD software and manufacturing equipment are production tools. Treat the computer running them the same way.
