PV4’s on-site application suite is designed to run reliably across a range of hardware configurations, from compact on-site rigs to high-performance media servers. While some installations use dedicated machines for each component, many deployments run multiple PV4 applications on the same system.
This page outlines the minimum specifications for each on-site application. For larger or more complex configurations, RWS Global can provide bespoke systems, including full design, build, and commissioning services, under our Managed Solutions program.
Supported operating systems
The PV4 on-site applications are supported on all versions of Windows 11.
Windows 11 Enterprise Edition is recommended where possible, as it provides enhanced administrative control — including the ability to pause automatic updates that could interfere with live delivery.
Additional operating systems, including macOS, are not supported in public release at this time. Enterprise customers with specific operating system or version requirements should contact their Account Manager.
Content Manager Application
The Content Manager Application is an essential CONTENT component, enabling the use of Site Distribution and connecting to your PV4 Portal instance to synchronize managed content.
It is lightweight but should run on a stable system with fast storage and network reliability, especially in live environments. It may be run on shared hardware with all other on-site applications, assuming adequate processing and memory overhead.
We recommend a minimum 3GB/s read-write speed for all media storage drives, as well as a minimum 1GbE network interface card.
Orchestrator Application
The Orchestrator Application is the keystone component for PLAY on site, facilitating bidirectional communication between your PV4 Portal instance, the Renderer Application, the Controller Application, and any data sources.
It is lightweight but should run on a stable system with fast storage and network reliability, especially in live environments. It may be run on shared hardware with all other on-site applications, assuming adequate processing and memory overhead.
We recommend a minimum 1GbE network interface card.
Renderer Application
The Renderer Application is the media playback component of PLAY, responsible for real-time video, image, audio, and data playback.
It is the most performance-intensive on-site application — hardware requirements are show-load dependent and should be configured to meet the use case as required.
As general benchmarks, we recommend:
|
Spec type |
Minimum |
|---|---|
|
CPU |
8 cores, 16 threads, 2.7GHz base frequency or higher. Intel recommended. Core count should allow a single core per PV4 on-site application running on the hardware, plus an additional core per engined surface being rendered. Lane count to support required PCIe expansion cards. |
|
Memory |
16GB DDR4, or higher. System memory should be configured at a minimum of 2:1 against GPU memory. Always consult your CPU and motherboard specifications to choose the fastest memory possible. |
|
Motherboard |
PCIe 4.0, or higher. Always ensure you select a motherboard with appropriate slot and lane support for required PCIe expansion cards and storage drives. |
|
Storage |
3GB/s read-write speed, or higher, for all media drives. Drive capacity suitable for all show content. We recommend all hardware run dedicated system and media drives. |
|
Network interface card |
1GbE LAN, or higher. Motherboard-integrated NICs are suitable for use in most environments. |
|
GPU |
AMD or Nvidia GPUs — both consumer-grade and professional-series cards are supported, depending on use case and show rendering requirements. Nvidia RTX or Quadro GPUs recommended for high-load, high-heat, or continually operational environments. Multi-GPU systems are supported on Nvidia RTX or Quadro GPUs with the use of Nvidia Quadro Sync II sync cards. |
|
I/O cards |
Currently supported video I/O card manufacturers are:
For a detailed list of all supported cards, or to confirm card compatibility, please contact pv4-support@rwsglobal.com. |
Controller Application
The Controller Application is the primary on-site operational and control user interface for PLAY.
It is lightweight but should run on a stable system with fast storage and network reliability, especially in live environments.
We recommend a minimum 1GbE network interface card.