Before you optimize layers, maps, or projects for optimal data access, ensure that the system running ArcGIS Pro is configured correctly to allow for optimal performance.
System requirements
Read the ArcGIS Pro system requirements, and scan your computer for compatibility to ensure your machine meets or exceeds the minimum requirements.
Update GPU drivers
Because ArcGIS Pro uses graphics processing unit (GPU) drivers to accelerate rendering, it is important to check that the GPU driver is up to date on the machine where you install ArcGIS Pro. New driver releases not only include bug fixes and increase stability, but they can increase performance as well.
If you install ArcGIS Pro on a desktop computer, obtain the latest GPU driver directly from the GPU vendor (for example, from NVIDIA or AMD).
If ArcGIS Pro is installed on a laptop, you may need to get GPU driver updates from the laptop manufacturer. If you use a docking station to dock a laptop to external peripherals such as monitors, ensure that the docking station's drivers are up to date.
Hardware acceleration
ArcGIS Pro uses hardware acceleration if it is compatible and available on the physical machine or virtualization platform where ArcGIS Pro is installed. If hardware acceleration is not available, ArcGIS Pro uses software rendering, which means it uses the central processing unit (CPU) of the virtual machine to simulate graphics card functions. In general, this results in lower performance than if hardware acceleration were available, especially when you work with scenes.
Virtualization
For on-premises virtualization, you can run ArcGIS Pro in virtualized environments such as VMware vSphere or Citrix. Virtualization options with either on-premises or cloud-based systems provide stable and useful platforms that support ArcGIS Pro. For details about using ArcGIS Pro in virtualized environments, see the Virtualization section of the help.
To optimize performance of virtual machine instances, lower rendering detail and antialiasing settings.
When using ArcGIS Pro in cloud environments, it is important to configure virtual machines and cloud instances correctly to obtain reasonable performance and user experience. The configuration is dependent on the work needed, which is based on the type of user they are.
- Light—These users primarily create and interact with 2D maps.
- Medium—These users perform advanced data management and analysis tasks, including deep learning.
- Heavy—These users require high-end cartographic functionality and perform extensive analysis.
When reviewing on-premises options, consider the roles of the GPUs. Separate, or scale out, GPU usage between servers to reflect the user roles. If most users are light to medium users, group those users together to get the best density and functionality overall. When possible, separate the heavy users to their own GPUs (based on vGPU profiles such as 4q and 8q), as they will use more GPUs, as well as more CPUs and RAM.
For more information, see the ArcGIS Pro Virtualization technical paper.