Hardware Requirements and Performance Recommendations

  • Article

This topic describes the hardware that is required to install a MultiPoint Server operating system and support user application scenarios. The user scenario directly affects the CPU, RAM, and network bandwidth requirements.

Optimize MultiPoint Server system performance

The performance of your MultiPoint Server system will be directly affected by the capability of the CPU, the GPU, and the amount of RAM that is available on the computer that is running MultiPoint Server.

Applications and Internet content

Because MultiPoint Server is a shared resource computing solution, the type and number of applications that are running on the stations can impact the performance of your MultiPoint Server system. It is important to consider the types of programs that are used regularly when you are planning your system. For example, a graphics-intensive application requires a more powerful computer than an application such as a word processor. Overloading the computer with graphics-intensive applications will likely cause lag problems throughout the entire system.

The type of content that is accessed by applications also affects the system’s performance. If multiple stations are using web browsers to access multimedia content, such as full-motion video, fewer stations can be connected before adversely affecting the system performance. Conversely, if the multiple stations are using web browsers to access static web content, more stations can be connected without a significant effect on performance.

Hardware recommendations

To achieve good performance with your MultiPoint Server system under various loads, use the guidelines in the following table when you are planning and testing your system. These are the basic requirements for MultiPoint Server. The actual configuration sizing depends on your system configuration, the workload you are running, and the hardware capability. You should always validate by using your applications and hardware.

Note

2C = 2 cores, 4C = 4 cores, 6C = 6 cores, MT = multithreading. Processor speed should be at least 2.0 gigahertz (GHz).

Application Scenario Up to 4 Stations 5-6 Stations 7-10 Stations 11-14 Stations 15-20 Stations

Productivity

Office, web browsing, line-of-business applications

CPU: 2C

RAM: 2 GB

CPU: 2C

RAM: 4 GB

CPU: 4C

RAM: 6 GB

CPU: 4C

RAM: 8 GB

CPU: 4C+MT or 6C

RAM: 8 GB

Mixed

Office, web browsing, line-of-business applications, and occasional video use by some users

CPU: 2C

RAM: 2 GB

CPU: 2C

RAM: 4 GB

CPU: 4C

RAM: 6 GB

CPU: 4C+MT or 6C

RAM: 8 GB

CPU: 4C+MT or 6C

RAM: 8 GB

Video intensive

Office, web browsing, line-of-business applications, and frequent video use by all users

Note

Video testing was performed using 360p H.264 video at native resolution.

CPU: 2C

RAM: 2 GB

CPU: 4C

RAM: 4 GB

CPU: 4C+MT or 6C

RAM: 6 GB

CPU: 4C+MT or 6C

RAM: 8 GB

CPU: 4C+MT or 6C

RAM: 8 GB

  • Thin Client: RemoteFX

  • USB video not recommended

Note

RemoteFX, or equivalent technology for RDP, is required when 15–20 remotely connected thin clients are running full motion video within their session. For more information about the hardware requirements for RemoteFX, see Hardware Considerations for RemoteFX.

In addition to the minimum recommended hardware guidelines, there are also maximum hardware allowances that you should consider.

MultiPoint Server 2011 Standard MultiPoint Server 2011 Premium

Maximum x64 sockets

1

2

Maximum RAM

8 GB

32 GB

For hard drives, a minimum of 7200 RPM and SATA 3Gb/s is recommended. For systems with a higher number of stations, a higher speed interface, e.g. SATA 6 Gb/s is recommended. For disk-intensive applications, you should use disks with faster rotational speeds, such as SAS 10K or 15K RPM, or use multiple disk RAID configurations that improve performance (for example, RAID 5).

For more information about choosing the best MultiPoint Server hardware for your needs, contact your hardware vendor.