OpX

System Requirements

Although OpX will run on a variety of PC hardware platforms (we do not impose any restrictions) for peace of mind, we strongly suggest that you consider purchasing a fully configured system direct from BSI that is ready to operate out of the box.

These hardware configurations have been thoroughly tested with OpX and are known to work well when properly configured by BSI Technicians. Most ‘off-the-shelf’ PCs will require careful configuration as Multimedia machines, rather than general office computers.

BSI systems are built using Lenovo computers and include a 3-year On-Site Warranty; or we can customize a 19″ Rack Mounted solution for you using branded components that we have tried and tested.

If you decide to source your own hardware from other vendors then you will be responsible for any additional costs incurred to correctly configure your Hardware or Windows Operating System. BSI Technical Support is limited to hardware or software that BSI has supplied and reserves the right to charge for configuration of third-party hardware / software that has been purchased elsewhere.

Our recommended platforms are:

• • • Lenovo Mid-Tower Computer or BSI Rackmount system based on Asus motherboards
    • configured with an Operating System hard drive and a large storage hard drive dedicated to audio files
    • Intel Core i5 or Xeon 2.4GHz or better
    • 8GB RAM
    • Windows 10 Pro 64bit
    • Professional AudioScience Audio Cards or Axia Livewire multi-channel driver
    • 19″ or larger monitor running at 1280 x 1024 or higher resolution (21” 1920×1080 recommended)
    • System optimized for multi-media play out, rather than ‘appearance’ or office applications
    • High-quality 24×7 rated power supply

  Although OpX will run on lesser configurations, this is known to be a good, stable platform that will run for extended periods of time. Please check with BSI Sales for latest model specifications.

If you are sourcing your own computers & hardware, please ensure that all the hardware is fully compatible with the motherboard – and pay particular attention to memory, cooling, and power supply quality.

• “Stock” Windows installations (a fresh install of Windows, without system manufacturer supplied trial-ware, ad-ware, or bloat-ware, is imperative to system stability)
• Celeron, budget level processors, or AMD Processors – we prefer Genuine Intel Core i or Xeon CPUs
• Non-Intel Chipsets (these have all proved troublesome in the past)
• Software RAID / SCSI / Emulated Drives – use SATA drives and hardware RAIDs when necessary.
• ‘Cheap’ Memory – make sure you use a brand recommended and certified by your motherboard manufacturer.
• Flimsy, thin cases with little RF shielding
• Consumer grade audio devices
• USB/Firewire external audio devices

Pitfalls to Avoid:

We have put together a list of some of the major pitfalls to avoid when building your own system:

• Any server based operating system (including Windows 2003, 2008, 2012) for playout systems (The File Server is supported on Windows Server 2012, 2016). Our supported system is Windows 10 64bit. No other operating systems are supported.
• File should be played off the LOCAL PC’s hard drive, not across a network or from a file server
• “Stock” Windows installations (a fresh install of Windows, without system manufacturer supplied trial-ware, ad-ware, or bloat-ware, is imperative to system stability)
• Intel Celeron, Pentium, or AMD Processors (or emulated PCs) – use Genuine Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i series, or Xeon series or above CPUs
• USB/Firewire or other external storage devices
• SCSI or IDE drives – use SATA 6Gb/s drives for best performance; using separate hard-drives for Windows and Audio Files can also help in a number of ways.
• Software RAID Arrays – these can be detrimental to performance, place additional requirements on your computer system, and often make it more difficult to rebuild or restore a machine. They also do nothing to Protect against viruses or accidental deletion of files (our Second Copy software file mirroring keeps multiple copies of deleted files safely).
• ‘Cheap’ or non-branded memory – make sure you use a brand recommended by your motherboard manufacturer. 8GB is standard in the machines we supply.
• Flimsy, thin cases with little RF shielding (often consisted mainly of plastic and with poor air circulation). A good technical ground is essential in a professional broadcast environment.
• Consumer Grade Audio Cards – BSI products are designed and tested to work with AudioScience and IP Audio drivers–such as Axia, WheatNet and Dante–to ensure reliable 24×7 operation.
• USB/Firewire external audio devices
• Drivers or Software Updates not yet certified by BSI. Manufacturers will often make newer drivers and utilities available on their web sites prior to them being fully tested by BSI. You can find the latest recommended drivers and utilities listed on our Latest Drivers web page.

If you decide to source your own hardware from other vendors then you will be responsible for any additional costs incurred to correctly configure your Hardware or Windows Operating System. BSI Technical Support is limited to hardware or software that BSI has supplied and reserves the right to charge for configuration of third-party hardware / software that has been purchased elsewhere.