System requirements
These are the system requirements for Pixotope Graphics.
Hardware
Recommended configuration
The following combination of components provides optimal performance and has been tested and certified by Pixotope.
For any other combination of supported components, see Supported components below.
CPU |
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|---|---|
Motherboard |
|
GPU |
|
Video card* |
|
Memory | 64GB Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 Memory |
System drives |
|
Power supply | 1000 Watt Redundant Power Supply |
Cooling | Powerful enough to keep the machine within operating temperatures of all components |
Enclosure | Big enough to fit the selected Motherboard, GPU and Video card above, as well as fit and allow for adequate cooling |
With the above selection of CPU, GPU and Motherboard, any of the supported PCIe-based Video Cards listed below will work optimally.
Supported components
Guidelines to build your own hardware configuration
If you build your own hardware configuration based on the list of supported components below
the selected CPU and Motherboard must provide the right PCIe lanes configuration for the selected GPU and Video cards to operate at their full speed
Example
GPU: NVIDIA® RTX 4090 = 16x PCIe Gen 4 lanes
Video card: AJA® Kona 5 = 8x PCIe Gen 3 lanes
The selection of CPU and Motherboard should ensure that:
CPU has more than 24x PCIe Gen 4 lanes available
The Motherboard/Chipset allows a 16x PCIe Gen 4 + 8x PCIx Gen 3 configuration simultaneously
For further information in this matter, and to ensure your system configuration is correct and error free, please read the Hardware and software environment guide
While Pixotope provides guidance for hardware selection to optimize the performance of our software solutions, it is crucial that you consult with your hardware experts/IT professionals to validate and ensure the compatibility and effectiveness of your chosen configuration.
Video cards - SDI
Manufacturer | Model | Firmware Version | Video | Physical interfaces | Audio1 | PCIe lanes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AJA | Kona 4 | 2021/04/14 (4K) | HD | 3G-SDI | embedded over SDI | 8x PCIe Gen 2 |
AJA | Kona 5 | 2021/12/23 (4K) | HD | 4x 12G-SDI | embedded over SDI AES/EBU2 | 8x PCIe Gen 3 |
2021/12/26 (8K)3 | multiformat HD & UHD | embedded over SDI | ||||
AJA | Corvid 44 | 2021/09/16 (4K) | HD | 4x 3G-SDI | embedded over SDI | 8x PCIe Gen 2 |
AJA | Corvid 44 12G | 2021/12/19 (8K) | multiformat HD & UHD | 4x 12G-SDI | embedded over SDI | 8x PCIe Gen 3 |
AJA | Corvid 88 | 2021/11/30 (4K) | HD | 8x 3G-SDI | embedded over SDI | 8x PCIe Gen 2 |
AJA | Io 4k Plus | 2021/06/23 (Io4KPlus) | multiformat HD & UHD | 4x 12G-SDI | embedded over SDI | N/A - Thunderbolt |
BMD | DeckLink 8K Pro | Driver 12.7 | HD & UHD | 4x 12G-SDI | embedded over SDI | 8x PCIe Gen 3 |
BMD | DeckLink 8K Pro Mini | Driver 12.7 | HD & UHD | 4x 12G-SDI | embedded over SDI | 8x PCIe Gen 3 |
BMD | DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G | Driver 12.7 | HD & UHD | 4x 12G-SDI | embedded over SDI | 8x PCIe Gen 2 |
BMD | DeckLink SDI 4K | Driver 12.7 | HD & UHD4 | 2x 6G-SDI | embedded over SDI | 4x PCIe Gen 2 |
BMD | DeckLink Quad 2 | Driver 12.7 | HD | 8x 3G-SDI | embedded over SDI | 8x PCIe Gen 2 |
BMD | DeckLink Duo 2 | Driver 12.7 | HD | 4x 3G-SDI | embedded over SDI | 4x PCIe Gen 2 |
Only for audio output generated in the Pixotope Engine - audio input passthrough not supported
AES/EBU is only supported by Kona 5 with 4K firmware installed. No other firmware or video card supports this audio format.
It is recommended to run the Kona 5 with 8K firmware by default to support all video standards without needing to change the firmware
UHD is limited to 6G-SDI (e.g. 2160p at 25/29.97/30 fps only, 2160p at 50/59.94/60 fps not supported)
Other BlackMagic Design devices with SDI support which are not listed may also work.
Video cards - IP (SMPTE 2110)
SMPTE 2110 supported from 24.1.0 release, expected in Q2 2024
Manufacturer | Model | Firmware Version | Video | Physical interfaces | Audio | PCIe lanes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NVIDIA (Rivermax) | Bluefield-2 DPU | Rivermax SDK | HD & UHD | Dual SFP56 (25G) | IP (SMPTE 2110-30) | 8x PCIe Gen 4 |
Notes on NVIDIA Rivermax cards
A Rivermax license is required to use Bluefield-2 DPU cards for 2110. Please ensure that you have a valid license before deployment.
Please follow Unreal Engine’s Rivermax SDK deployment guide to get the card ready for operation
This card is designed to run in data center servers with proper cooling - As per NVIDIA's specifications, the maximum operating temperature is 55ºC, and machines mounting these cards should be cooled accordingly
Rivermax cards operating at 8x PCIe Gen 4 provide Dual 25G ports. There are Rivermax cards that can operate at 16x PCIe Gen 4 to provide Dual 100G ports; these are not yet tested nor certified by Pixotope. For more info, please check NVIDIA's specifications
GPUs
Series | Models | PCIe lanes |
|---|---|---|
NVIDIA® RTX 30 series | 3070, 3070Ti, 3080, 3080Ti, 3090, 3090Ti | 16x PCIe Gen 4 |
NVIDIA® RTX 40 series | 4070Ti, 4080, 4090 | 16x PCIe Gen 4 |
NVIDIA® RTX 40 Super series | 4070 Super, 4070 Ti Super, 4080 Super | 16x PCIe Gen 4 |
NVIDIA® RTX Professional series | A6000, RTX 6000 ADA | 16x PCIe Gen 4 |
Other RTX cards not listed may also work.
AMD GPUs are NOT supported.
Drivers
Operating System | Windows® 10*, Windows® 11, 64-bit with the latest updates |
|---|---|
AJA Driver | For all formats using Kona 4, Kona 5, Corvid 44, Corvid 44 12G, Corvid 88, Io 4k Plus 16.2 (retail) |
NVIDIA Driver | Latest Studio Driver from www.nvidia.com |
BMD DeckLink Driver | Driver 12.7 |
Windows® 10 is supported but EOL is scheduled on October 14th, 2025. Pixotope recommends customers to upgrade to Windows® 11.
Software
For troubleshooting AJA issues or access to more AJA card settings, please contact AJA support: https://www.aja.com/support