System Requirements
Before installing PECU, ensure your system meets the following requirements for optimal performance and compatibility.
Hardware Requirements
Minimum Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i5-4000 series or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (or equivalent)
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4 (8 GB minimum for basic functionality)
- Storage: 500 GB SSD with at least 100 GB free space
- Network: Gigabit Ethernet connection
Recommended Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i7-8000 series or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (or newer)
- RAM: 32 GB DDR4 3200 MHz or faster
- Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD with at least 200 GB free space
- Network: 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet or 10 Gigabit for high-performance workloads
GPU Passthrough Requirements
- Motherboard: Support for IOMMU/VT-d
- CPU: Intel VT-x/VT-d or AMD-V/IOMMU support
- GPU: Dedicated GPU for passthrough (not integrated graphics)
- RAM: Additional 4-8 GB per GPU-enabled VM
Software Requirements
Operating System
- Proxmox VE 8.0 or newer (recommended: 8.2+)
- Debian 12 (Bookworm) base system
- 64-bit architecture (x86_64/amd64)
Prerequisites
# Update your Proxmox VE system
apt update && apt upgrade -y
# Install required packages
apt install -y curl wget git build-essential
Network Requirements
- Internet connection for downloading packages and updates
- DNS resolution properly configured
- NTP synchronization for accurate timestamps
BIOS/UEFI Settings
Required BIOS Features
- Intel VT-x or AMD-V (CPU Virtualization)
- Intel VT-d or AMD IOMMU (I/O Virtualization)
- UEFI Boot Mode (recommended over Legacy)
- Secure Boot disabled (if using custom kernels)
GPU Passthrough Specific
- Above 4G Decoding enabled
- Resize BAR Support enabled (if supported)
- IOMMU enabled in BIOS
- Multiple GPU support if using multiple cards
Compatibility Check
Supported Hardware Vendors
Motherboards
- ✅ ASUS (ROG, TUF, Prime series)
- ✅ MSI (Gaming, PRO series)
- ✅ Gigabyte (AORUS, Ultra Durable)
- ✅ ASRock (Taichi, Steel Legend)
- ✅ Supermicro (Server/Workstation boards)
CPUs
- ✅ Intel: 4th gen Core and newer, Xeon E3/E5/SP
- ✅ AMD: Ryzen 1000 series and newer, EPYC
GPUs
- ✅ NVIDIA: GTX 900 series and newer, Quadro, Tesla
- ✅ AMD: RX 400 series and newer, FirePro, Instinct
- ✅ Intel: Arc A-series, Iris Xe
Pre-Installation Checklist
Before proceeding with PECU installation:
- Proxmox VE 8.0+ installed and updated
- BIOS/UEFI virtualization features enabled
- System meets minimum hardware requirements
- Network connectivity confirmed
- Backup of current configuration created
- Administrative access to Proxmox VE web interface
Performance Expectations
Single GPU Passthrough
- VM Performance: 95-98% of bare metal performance
- Gaming: Near-native gaming experience
- Professional Workloads: Excellent for CAD, video editing
Multi-GPU Setup
- Scaling: Linear performance scaling with proper configuration
- Isolation: Complete hardware isolation between VMs
- Host Performance: Minimal impact on host system
Ready to proceed? Continue to our Installation Guide.