Scala, Inc. - Hardware FAQ / Hardware Stability Guide

Scala's MMOS core is a very well crafted multi-threaded application. Scala makes good use of CPU resources--and depending on the nature of the ScalaScript content MMOS wants as much as it can get! In the Windows NT4/Windows2000/WindowsXP environment an interesting effect can be seen: Two relatively slow processors are often faster than a single high speed part! With everything else held constant, [memory, video, audio, network, serial, MPEG] a dual processor Pentium III-S 933 MHz is visibly faster than a single Pentium4 2.0 GHz machine in most operations. With the Symmetric Multi-Processor support in the NT4/5 operating systems and the well designed multi-threading of MMOS it is possible to perform smoother video transition effects (wipes, crawls, zooms) than is possible on single processor systems costing over twice as much! The use of multiple CPU's also proves an effective way to deal with the contention that can result from background loads placed on a machine, such as decoding MPEG audio streams, decompressing JPEG images, or receiving a new script via ScalaNet or some other network transport.

As a general guide for Scala InfoChannel IC200/IC3 Playback systems:

Basic "TV resolution", (640x480, 720x480, 720x576, 800x600 @ 16bpp or 24/32bpp), 'static image display' presentations can execute well on systems based around VIA/Cyrix C3-700 or Intel CeleronII-633 MHz or faster systems. MPEG-2 playback on such systems is only acceptable through the use of HARDWARE MPEG-2 decoders such as the "Sigma Designs Hollywood Plus", "The Sigma Designs NetStream 2000TV", or the Optibase VideoPlex Plus/Pro PCI cards.

High resolution: "Plasma, LED, or CRT Computer Monitor Displays 1024x768+" require at least Intel CeleronII 900 MHz(256KB L2 cache) or Intel PentiumIII 866 MHz(256KB or 512KB L2 cache) processors.

Truly "Dynamic" Presentations: High Resolutions, Multiple simultaneous "Wipes" or "Text Crawls" and presentations that use IC3's integrated MPEG-2 software CODEC require at a minimum a system with either a single Intel PentiumIII-933 MHz CPU or dual PentiumIII-S
700MHz CPU's.

Our "most recommended" CPU's are the Intel CeleronII(256KB L2 cache) FC-PGA and the Intel PentiumIII-S and -M(512KB L2 cache) FC-PGA 0.13 micron "Tualatin core" parts.

The Intel Pentium4 XEON processors, (Prestonia core), with their Symmetric MULTITHREADING cores and 512 KB L2-cache memory promise to offer significant performance increases -- however the pricing of this product may be 300% that of the existing Pentium III-S unit cost.

"Pentium4" CPU's are *NOT* required for Scala's products and are, from a practical standpoint, discouraged. We expect that Pentium4-based computers will have a lower reliability than comparable systems built from PentiumIII/CeleronII-based CPU's. If you have a ScalaScript
application that requires the processing power of the Intel Pentium4-series parts; Scala strongly suggests only the use of the Pentium4(A) and -M series, (these are also known as the 0.13 micron 'Northwood core' parts), and the Pentium4 XEON, (0.13 micron 'Prestonia core') parts!


Suggested CPU's for single processor systems: (Windows2000sp2 Pro/WindowsXP Home)

Socket 370 motherboards with the VIA/Cyrix C3, (0.13 micron Ezra core), at 700 MHz+; the Intel CeleronII FC-PGA 633 MHz+; or the Intel PentiumIII-S or PentiumIII-M 'Tualatin core' at 700 MHz or better).

Socket 478 motherboards with Intel Pentium4 'A' and '-M' series, (0.13 micron 'Northwood core'), parts at 1.6 GHz or better.


Suggested CPU's for dual processor systems: (Windows2000sp2 Pro/WindowsXP Pro)

Socket 370 motherboards with Intel PentiumIII-S.

Socket 603 motherboards with Intel Pentium4 XEON ('Prestonia core' with 512KB L2 cache)


What about AMD Duron, Athlon4, AthlonXP, and AthlonMP based systems?

Due to compatibility and stability issues with involving Athlon supporting motherboard chipsets Scala does not recommend the use of AMD processor based platforms for Scala InfoChannel IC200 and IC3 Players, NetManager3's, or Broadcast Servers. For IC3Designer AMD systems
may be considered but due to the stability issues we would generally discourage such systems. The same general performance guidelines would apply: Duron 700 MHz systems are perfectly adequate for basic static "TV Resolution" displays. AthlonXP1500+ systems would be advised for higher resolution/Dynamic presentations. At this time we CAN NOT SUGGEST the use of AthlonMP-based dual CPU systems for ANY TASK.

To check out the latest Weekly CPU prices, click here:

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/

Regards,

Scala Technical Support