What are the CPU, GPU, RAM and storage requirements?

The minimum specifications to run StarTools, increases with the resolution of the dataset you intend to process.

For best results, 16GB and a modern many-core CPU are recommended, in addition to running from a RAM disk (or alternatively a Solid State Drive). You should ensure your operating system is configured to provide an additional 2x-3x as much virtual memory as physical memory.

As of version 1.7 StarTools is fully GPU accelerated. Heavy arithmetic is offloaded to any OpenCL 1.1 compliant GPU present in your system. Significant processing speed can be seen on even modest, older GPUs.

Regardless of your machine's specification, consider binning your data if your data is oversampled.



Download

One ZIP archive contains Windows, macOS and Linux versions of StarTools. Do not download StarTools from anywhere else but startools.org. We do not allow distribution of StarTools by any other party, on-line or off-line.

Please consult the FAQ section about configuring your system properly.


macOS notes

Users may have to "unquarantine" StarTools, before the OS allows it to run. Alternatively StarTools can be launched via control + clicking (right clicking) on the application, Show Package Contents, navigating to Contents/MacOS and clicking on the application.

The following two commands unquarantines StarTools on macOS 13 Ventura and later;

sudo xattr -d -rs com.apple.quarantine StarTools.app

and then;

sudo xattr -d -rs com.apple.provenance StarTools.app

The following single command unquarantines StarTools on macOS 12 and earlier;

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine StarTools.app

Please see the screenshots for more information, or download this detailed guide.


Download stable

StarTools 1.8.527 Maintenance Release 3 for Windows, macOS (Universal Binary with native M1 support), and Linux

Latest version released 2023-11-15 (YYYY/MM/DD), size 6.8MB


Download bleeding edge

StarTools 1.9.565 Beta 7 for Windows, macOS (Universal Binary with native M1/M2 support), and Linux

Multi-language support EN, DE, ES is available via config file

Latest version released 2024-03-24 (YYYY/MM/DD), size 7.1MB

Please note beta versions may still exhibit some flaws or instabilities. Documentation may be incomplete. Please use at your own risk.


Unofficial English manual

Unofficial English StarTools 1.8 Manual (164MB), last updated 2022-09-30, improved with extra tips, tricks and information from various sources.

Many thanks to J. Scharmann for putting together this excellent work, as well as its German translation.


Unofficial German manual / Inoffizielle Deutsche Anleitung

Inoffizielle StarTools 1.8 Anleitung in Deutsch (164MB), letztes Update 2022-09-30.

Vielen Dank an J. Scharmann für die ausgezeichnete Übersetzung.


Unoffical Spanish manual / Manual en Espanol

Manual de StarToolsBasado en la versión 1.8 al español (19MB). Ultima actualizacion 2022-03-09.

Muchas gracias a C. R. Guixé por la excelente traducción.


English manual

StarTools uses AIFE.AI for content management and digital footprint. This means that the website content doubles as a printable manual and vice-versa. This content is also available as a smartphone/tablet app, virtual flipbook, virtual reality (VR) experience and more. This content will always be up-to-date with the latest information.


Technical FAQ

These are some questions that get asked frequently.