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  • 1.  SFF PC Recommendations for Dashboard

    Posted 07-22-2021 11:33
    Hi, all. I'm looking for any specific recommendations for a small form factor micro/nano-PC to run Dashboard exclusively, and good touch screen monitors to go with it. Something like the Lenovo ThinkCentre M720 Tiny, assuming it has enough CPU and can support dual monitors. Anybody using anything like this? 

    We want two of them in a control room (so SMALL and QUIET) - one for graphics execution (controlling XPression) and one for the TD to control an Ultrix router and also provide aux bus switching for our Acuity. I want a ~27" multi-touch monitor (or two) for the XPN Dashboard PC and a smaller (17-24"?) version of the same monitor on a moveable arm for the TD.

    We're considering an upgrade to an Ultrix router, and will need a Dashboard to control that, plus help us switch aux busses during live shows using a custom panel. Have been using keyer rows but it can be complicated and we don't have a dedicated aux panel. We already have the Acuity and XPression/Dashboard, but I want touch control for both. We have an old Mac Mini that is running Dashboard now, but I'm guessing Mac won't work with a touch monitor. Running Dashboard on our XPN machine works but not sure how well touch will work through our Adderlink KVM - although that's something else to research.

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    Bryan Block
    Malick Media
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  • 2.  RE: SFF PC Recommendations for Dashboard

    Posted 07-27-2021 11:37
    Hi Bryan,

    Someone else may be able to chime in with specific recommendations from experience but I will say that DashBoard is not very picky. Below are the minimum requirements for DashBoard running on Windows:

    Microsoft® Windows® 10, Windows® 8, or Windows® 7 Systems (64-Bit)
    The following are the minimum requirements when installing DashBoard on a Microsoft® Windows® system:
    •64-bit configurations
    •Intel® Pentium 4, 1.6GHz (Intel® Core™ 2 Duo recommended)
    •Minimum 2GB RAM (4GB or more recommended)
    •300MB available in HD space
    •Microsoft® Internet Explorer® version 8 (minimum)

    We sell the Dell Optiplex 7480 AIO touch PC for use with DashBoard but the Lenovo ThinkCentre M720 Tiny seems more than capable as well. I don't find DashBoard is very CPU intensive but I do like having extra RAM available in case I have several large devices loaded in my basic tree view. By default DashBoard uses 1GB of RAM but newer 64 bit versions are capable of utilizing up to 50% of the available system RAM.

    Hopefully others will share their experiences in this discussion as well as I cannot speak to how loud these devices are in a control room.


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    Dave Sampson
    Ross Video
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: SFF PC Recommendations for Dashboard

    Posted 07-29-2021 19:12
    Thanks for the reply, Dave. I like the tiny form factor since it allows flexibility in monitor placement (on moveable arms, flat against desk, etc.).

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    Bryan Block
    Malick Media
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    Original Message