Hardware
Hardware checklist
Most business PCs from the last ten years will do. Here’s what a player and a server need, which used machines make great choices, and what to steer clear of. The setup guide has the full build steps.
Minimum requirements
Player
The small PC behind each TV. Minimums for 1080p screens.
- Processor
- 64-bit, with Intel HD 4000 graphics or newer (2012 onward)
- Memory
- 4 GB RAM (2 GB works for image-only screens)
- Storage
- 32 GB SSD; 64 GB if playlists are video-heavy
- Video out
- HDMI, or DisplayPort with a DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter
- Network
- Ethernet preferred; Wi-Fi works with a good signal
- 4K screens
- Intel 7th generation or newer (hardware 4K and HEVC decoding), 8 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD, HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2, Ethernet
Server
One PC that holds your content and runs the dashboard. Size it by the number of screens.
- Up to 15 screens
- 64-bit dual-core (2014 or newer), 4 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD. For example a Dell OptiPlex 3020/7020 or HP ProDesk 400 G1
- 15–50 screens
- Quad-core Core i5, 6th generation or newer, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD. For example an OptiPlex 7050 or HP EliteDesk 800 G3
- 50+ screens or several properties
- Quad-core Core i5/i7, 8th generation or newer, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD. For example an OptiPlex 7070 or Lenovo M720q
- Network
- Wired Ethernet only
- Also
- An SSD, never a spinning hard drive. A small UPS (around 600 VA) is a good idea
Good used machines to look for
Mini PC
Dell OptiPlex Micro
Player or server
Small enough to mount behind a TV, powerful enough to be a server. Check the processor generation for server use.
Mini PC
Lenovo ThinkCentre Tiny
Player or server
Same idea as the OptiPlex Micro. Plentiful from office refreshes.
Mini PC
HP EliteDesk / ProDesk Mini
Player or server
Another office favourite in the same size class.
Desktop
Office desktops (small-form-factor or tower)
Server
The classic retired office PC. Add an inexpensive SSD if it still has a spinning hard drive.
Laptop
Old laptops
Player or server
Any 64-bit laptop that meets the specs. Handy as a server, or as a player next to a screen.
Whatever the model, check its processor, memory and storage against the requirements above.
What to avoid
32-bit-only machines
Very old PCs and early netbooks (roughly pre-2008 hardware) can’t run our 64-bit software.
Small thin clients (Dell Wyse 3020, 3030, 3040)
Too little storage and memory for a player. The Wyse 3040, for example, has only 8–16 GB of built-in storage, under the 32 GB minimum. A tiny office PC is a better choice.
BIOS-locked machines
Some ex-office PCs have a BIOS/firmware password that stops them starting from a USB stick. Ask before you buy, or check that you can get into the setup screen.
Spinning hard drives on the server
Old mechanical drives are slow and the most likely part to fail. Swap in an SSD; it’s cheap and makes a big difference.
Where to find hardware
Your own closets
The PCs replaced in your last upgrade are often still sitting in a storeroom.
Office refreshes
Businesses replacing machines (Windows 10’s end of support is a big trigger) often give or sell the old ones.
Surplus auctions
Government, school and university surplus sales regularly sell office PCs, often in lots.
eBay and local marketplaces
Search for the model names above. Refurbishers often list tested units.
E-waste recyclers
Many recyclers set aside working machines for resale. Ask before they’re stripped for parts.
Found something that fits?
Tell us what hardware you have when you join the beta, and we’ll help you check it.