Do I need to install UHD scenery on both PCs in a networked X-Plane 12 setup?

UHD scenery on both PCs?

Nik,

If PC #1 (your “Master”) truly isn’t drawing any outside world (no forward view, no external visuals, no map that depends on high-res terrain), then in most setups you don’t need UHD scenery on that machine. The UHD mesh is primarily about what gets rendered (terrain detail, elevation/mesh resolution), so the real benefit is on the visuals machine.

That said, there are a couple of “it depends” items in a networked/multi-PC arrangement, so here’s how I’d approach it.

How to decide (practical checks)

1. What is PC #1 actually rendering? If it’s running X-Plane with no meaningful outside view (or you keep it on a 2D panel / cockpit-only and don’t care about terrain), UHD mesh won’t buy you anything visually there.
2. Are you using any features on PC #1 that reference the 3D world? Things like a moving map, replay views, external spot view “once in a while,” or any add-on that samples terrain/elevation can be impacted by the underlying mesh on that PC.
3. Do both PCs run as full X-Plane instances with scenery loaded, or is PC #2 the only one drawing the world? In some multi-computer workflows both machines still load local scenery (even if one is mostly “instruments”), and mismatched scenery/mesh can sometimes cause oddities (slight altitude differences, position offsets over sloped runways, etc.) depending on how you’re syncing them.

Recommended approach (what I’d do)

1. Install UHD scenery (or any higher-res mesh you’re using) on PC #2 (External Visuals) for sure.
2. On PC #1, stick with the default XP12 Global Scenery unless you notice any of the following:
   • PC #1 ever needs an outside view that you care about
   • You see altitude/ground-contact inconsistencies between the two machines (one thinks you’re on the ground while the other thinks you’re slightly above/below)
   • Any add-on running on PC #1 appears to depend on terrain elevation/mesh detail and is acting “off”
3. If storage is the main concern, another middle-ground is: keep PC #1 lean now, and only add the UHD mesh later if you run into one of the issues above. It’s an easy change compared to chasing performance ghosts.

A couple quick questions so I don’t assume the wrong network method

1. How exactly are you network-syncing the two X-Plane machines (built-in multiplayer/external visuals, or a plugin-based sync)?
2. Does PC #1 ever show an outside view at all (even a small one), or is it strictly avionics/panels?
3. Are you using any ortho/mesh add-ons on PC #2 beyond UHD (or is it only UHD + default overlays)?

Answer those and I can tell you more definitively whether there’s any downside to keeping PC #1 on default Global Scenery in your specific setup.