Online poker • Computer help

Is your computer ready for both poker platforms?

ClubWPT and ClubWPT Gold share your computer's resources when you play them together. A computer that handles one table may struggle with two platforms, extra tables, Discord, and a video stream.

Our starting point for playing both

For both platforms at once, we recommend 16 GB RAM, a reasonably recent processor, graphics hardware that handles both platforms smoothly, an SSD, and a stable internet connection. Start with one table on each platform and add more only while everything stays responsive.

These are Stream Team planning recommendations, not official platform requirements or results of a performance benchmark. Your table count, software versions, and other open apps affect what you need.

Official minimums versus comfortable play

ClubWPT's download page lists a minimum of 2 GB RAM and a 1024 × 768 display for its Windows and Mac clients. Those are published client minimums; they do not establish a comfortable setup for running both platforms together.

We could not verify a general CPU or RAM minimum for ClubWPT Gold from the official pages reviewed. Check the Gold download page and Gold help center for current compatibility information. Requirements for specific features can differ.

Sources checked October 10, 2026. Use an operating system that still receives security updates and is supported by the version of the poker client or browser you choose.

Practical computer targets

Stream Team recommendations. On a small screen, scroll sideways to compare.
Component	One platform, light use	Both platforms together
Memory (RAM)	8 GB as a practical starting point; keep other apps limited.	16 GB recommended. Consider 32 GB for many tables, recording or streaming your own play, or substantial multitasking.
Processor (CPU)	A reasonably recent mainstream processor.	A modern processor with at least four cores; recent Intel Core i5, AMD Ryzen 5, or Apple M-series models are examples. Compare the actual model and generation, not just the name.
Storage	An SSD with free space for updates.	An SSD; aim to keep at least 20 GB free as general operating headroom, not a poker installation requirement.
Display	1920 × 1080 recommended for comfortable table viewing.	1920 × 1080 or higher; a second monitor can help organize tables but does not add processing power.
Graphics (GPU)	Integrated graphics may handle light use, but test your actual computer and keep drivers current.	Give GPU performance priority. Members have reported problems with onboard graphics when running both platforms. On Windows PCs, consider a capable dedicated GPU if testing shows graphics are the bottleneck. Modern integrated graphics can still work; confirm performance with your table count.
Internet	A stable broadband connection.	Prefer wired Ethernet or a strong Wi-Fi signal. Consistent response times and few dropped packets matter alongside download speed.

RAM is not storage: a computer with a 512 GB drive might still have only 4 GB RAM. More drive space does not give your open apps more working memory. A 2–4 GB computer is a poor choice for both platforms; even 8 GB can become tight with extra apps.

Your graphics hardware matters, too

Members have reported heavy GPU usage and performance trouble on some computers with onboard graphics when playing both platforms. If tables stutter or clicks feel delayed, check the GPU alongside RAM and CPU before deciding what to upgrade.

Integrated (onboard) graphics typically shares system memory with the processor. A dedicated graphics card has its own video memory (VRAM). See Intel's explanation of integrated and discrete graphics. Shared memory can add pressure when several apps are open, but the exact GPU and workload matter more than the onboard label alone.

For a Windows computer intended to run both platforms, a capable dedicated GPU is worth considering when graphics performance is limiting play. We have not verified an official GPU model or VRAM minimum for either platform, and a dedicated card is not a guarantee of smooth play. Apple Silicon uses unified memory; evaluate those computers by actual performance rather than requiring a separate video card.

Compare GPU usage with one platform and with both. In Windows Task Manager, open Performance → GPU. Check the GPU name, the 3D and video-decode graphs, and dedicated/shared GPU memory while the problem occurs. A busy engine that stays near 100% during stuttering is a clue; high usage alone does not prove the cause. Microsoft explains the GPU graphs and memory readings.
Check which GPU the app uses. If Windows lists two GPUs, do not assume GPU 0 is the dedicated one. Check their names. In Settings → System → Display → Graphics, select the poker app or browser and try the High performance GPU preference when available. Restart the app between sessions and compare. See Microsoft's graphics preference instructions.
Update graphics drivers from official sources. Use your computer manufacturer's guidance or the GPU maker's supported driver. Avoid third-party driver updater tools.
Compare browser graphics acceleration settings. Where your browser provides this setting, test enabled and disabled between sessions, restarting the browser each time. Acceleration can offload rendering to the GPU; disabling it may shift work to the CPU and make performance worse. Keep the setting that performs better on your machine.
Reduce the graphics load. Close video streams and screen sharing, reduce table count, and test with fewer displays or a lower display resolution. Change one item at a time.

Before adding a desktop graphics card, check case clearance, power supply, and compatibility. Laptop graphics hardware is usually not replaceable. Choose an upgrade based on the bottleneck you measure.

Why opening the second platform can slow things down

Both clients or browser sessions need memory, processor time, and graphics resources. Video streams, screen sharing, browser tabs, and background downloads add to that load. When memory gets tight, the computer may move data to its drive, which can cause pauses, especially on an older hard drive.

Switching from a browser to a download client is worth testing, but neither version is automatically faster on every computer. Two different browsers still share the same hardware. Gold's official multi-tabling guide currently describes its multi-tabling feature as desktop-app only.

Try these steps before buying anything

Restart before a session. Update your operating system, browser, and poker clients between sessions, then finish any required restart.
Open only what you need. Close unused tabs and apps. Pause video playback, screen sharing, and large downloads while testing. Keep security software running.
Test one platform, then both. Begin with the lobby or a low-pressure play-money session where available. Add one table at a time and note when the slowdown begins.
Plug in your laptop and keep it cool. Use a hard surface with clear vents. Power-saving settings or heat can reduce processor performance.
Check the connection. Try Ethernet, move closer to the router, or compare another device on the same network. A fast speed-test result alone does not rule out intermittent Wi-Fi trouble.
Compare browser and download versions one at a time. Close the version you are replacing, and use official download links. Change one thing at a time so you can tell what helps.

Windows: check your computer with Task Manager

You do not need to be a computer expert. Task Manager shows what your computer is using right now. Do this in the lobby or a low-pressure test session so you can look away from the tables safely.

Open Task Manager. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc together. You can also right-click the Start button and choose Task Manager. If you see a small window with only a list of apps, click More details. Depending on your Windows version, the sections appear as tabs across the top or icons in a left sidebar.
Start with Processes. This lists your open apps and background processes. Find your poker clients and your browser. The CPU, Memory, Disk, and GPU columns show their current usage. Click a column heading to sort it; click again if needed to put the largest values at the top. A browser may group several processes together; expand its group to see more detail.
Show the graphics columns. Right-click a column heading such as Name or CPU and enable GPU and GPU engine if available. GPU shows activity; GPU engine identifies the GPU and engine an app is using, for example GPU 1 – 3D. If your Windows version does not offer those columns here, check the Details tab's column headings and choose Select columns.
Open Performance. Select CPU, Memory, Disk, or GPU in the list to see the whole computer's usage over time. These are totals across apps, so use Processes to help identify who is contributing to them.
Check CPU and Memory. CPU shows processor activity as a percentage. Memory shows how much installed RAM is being used, such as 14 / 16 GB. High memory usage while the computer pauses can indicate too little available RAM for your current workload.
Check Disk. Look at Active time, not just transfer speed. Sustained high active time during freezing can indicate a drive bottleneck, background work, or the computer moving data between RAM and storage. It does not necessarily mean the drive is full.
Check each GPU. Click GPU 0, GPU 1, or whichever entries you have. Read the actual model name to identify onboard or dedicated graphics; the number alone does not tell you which is which. Watch the 3D graph for rendering and Video Decode when video is playing. Click a graph's engine label to choose another engine if needed. The overall GPU percentage reflects the busiest engine, rather than an average of every graph.
Look at graphics memory. Dedicated GPU memory is the card's own memory where available; Shared GPU memory uses system RAM. An integrated GPU may show little dedicated memory by design. Shared memory usage by itself is not a fault. Look for a repeated increase that coincides with lag and compare it with overall RAM usage.
Compare one platform with both. Restart, open one platform with one table, and watch for about a minute. Add the second platform with one table and watch again. Record CPU, used/total RAM, disk active time, GPU model and busy engine, and whether clicks or animations become slow. Close video playback or other optional apps one at a time and repeat the same comparison.

How to read what you see

Example: one platform runs smoothly with the GPU's 3D engine at 35%. After opening the second, that engine stays near 100% and tables stutter while CPU and RAM still have room. That points toward graphics as a bottleneck worth investigating. If instead memory is nearly full and disk active time rises, investigate memory pressure and storage activity.

Brief spikes are normal. A sustained high reading at the same time as the slowdown is more useful than a single screenshot. Low totals also do not rule out an app-specific issue or a busy individual CPU core. Do not end poker clients, system processes, or security software during play. Close your own unused apps normally.

If GPU readings are missing, your graphics driver or hardware may not support Task Manager's GPU reporting. Missing readings do not mean the GPU is unused. See Microsoft's explanation of Task Manager GPU measurements.

Find out what is struggling

On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Look at Processes and Performance while the slowdown happens. On a Mac, open Activity Monitor from Applications → Utilities and check CPU and Memory, and Window → GPU History where available.

Memory stays nearly full: close unused apps and reduce tables. On a Mac, sustained yellow or red Memory Pressure suggests memory strain. More RAM may help if your machine supports an upgrade.
GPU stays heavily loaded while tables stutter: follow the graphics checks above. Check the active GPU, drivers, and browser acceleration before buying hardware. More system RAM alone may not solve a GPU bottleneck.
CPU stays near 100%: reduce tables, stop video or recording, and check cooling. More RAM alone will not fix a processor bottleneck.
Disk activity stays very high: check for updates or downloads, low free space, and memory pressure. An SSD upgrade may help an older hard-drive computer, but first identify the cause.
The desktop is responsive but tables disconnect: investigate Wi-Fi, your internet connection, or a platform issue. A hardware upgrade may not solve this.
Only one platform struggles: check that platform's updates and contact its support with the exact symptoms. The problem may be specific to that client.

Brief usage spikes are normal. Look for sustained high usage that coincides with the problem. For additional Windows steps, see Microsoft's performance guide.

What to share when asking for help

Tell us your computer model, operating system, processor, installed RAM, GPU model (and whether it is integrated or dedicated), whether it has an SSD, and whether you use Wi-Fi or Ethernet. On Windows, find processor and RAM in Settings → System → About; on a Mac, start with Apple menu → About This Mac.

Include which platform and version you use, the number of tables on each, other open apps, and whether you see freezing, delayed clicks, or disconnections. Let us know whether each platform works well on its own. Crop personal and account information out of screenshots.

Ask the Stream Team on Discord. If you are considering an upgrade, check whether your model allows RAM or storage upgrades before purchasing parts.