MEDMONT STUDIO 5 BASE REQUIRMENTS Base Recommendations CPU: Pentium 4 2.8 GHz; (Core 2 Duo processor or better recommended) Mainboard: Intel chipset; (Genuine Intel motherboard recommended) Hard drive: 10GB or more File System: NTFS file system (default on all modern windows operating systems) RAM: 2GB recommend for XP 3GB recommend for Vista / Windows 7 (32bit) 4GB recommended for Vista x64 / Windows 7 x64 (64bit) Optical Drive: CD-ROM required for disc based installation. USB: 2 free USB 2.0 ports Video: A standalone high performance video card with dedicated video memory is REQUIRED. Failure to use a suitably powerful video card will lead to error messages, an inability to initialize the E300, and system freezes / crashes when attempting to capture. DO NOT USE AN INTEGRATED VIDEO CHIPSET DO NOT USE A VIDEO CHIPSET THAT USES SHARED MEMORY Shared memory refers to when a portion of the system memory is allocated (or shared ) with the video card/chipset. Specific Modern Chipsets That Should Be Ok: Nvidia GeForce 7000 series or greater Ati X600 series or greater
Do NOT Use: Anything with an integrated video chipset. Anything that uses shared memory. Anything that uses Ati HyperMemory Anything that uses Nvidia TurboCache Anything that describes memory using two numbers e.g. Nvidia 6200 SE 128MB (32MB) Avoid chipsets described with HM, SE, LE, GS designations Do NOT Use These Specific Chipsets Known To Be Problematic Intel GMA X3100, GMA3500, GMA4500 Intel Graphics Media Accelerator series Intel Extreme Graphics series Nvidia GeForce 9300 GS Nvidia GeForce 8400 GS / 8500 GT Nvidia GeForce 7500 LE Nvidia GeForce 7100 GS / 7200 GS / 7300 GS /7300 LE Nvidia GeForce 6200 TC / 6200 SE Ati Radeon X1650 w/ Hypermemory series Ati Radeon X1300 w/ Hypermemory series Ati Radeon X300 SE Ati Radeon X550 256MB Ati Radeon X600 SE 256MB / X600 512MB Ati Radeon X700 SE 512MB Ati Radeon Xpress 1100 series Ati Radeon Xpress 200 series Supported Operating Systems: IMPORTANT: Medmont cannot guarantee compatibility of your third party devices with your chosen operating system. In particular windows 7 or any 64 bit operating system. Please check with your equipment manufacturer before purchasing any operating system. Windows XP Professional (32 bit editions only) Windows Vista Business / Enterprise / Ultimate (32 bit & 64 bit editions) Windows 7 Professional / Enterprise / Ultimate (32 bit & 64 bit editions) Windows Server 2003 (32 bit and 64 bit editions) Windows Server 2008 (32 bit and 64 bit editions) Windows Server 2008 Foundation edition is not supported. Windows Home editions are not officially supported (But in our experience tend to work just fine.) Medmont Studio does not officially support virtualization or remote desktop services/terminal services. The license dongle has known issues with virtualization solutions. Remote desktop performance tends to be poor due to the graphical imaging in Medmont Studio. 2
For the Latest Medmont Studio Software, please refer to the Medmont Website: SUPPORT, Software Updates under the Medmont Studio Support section. (1)W18 Video Converter Upgrade Kit required if the perimeter that will be attached has a serial number less than M714719. Please contact Medmont International or one of its authorised distributors if you require this upgrade kit. Medmont Studio will not be supported if running in a virtualized environment or terminal services. Novell networks and network storage devices are not tested or recommended. All Microsoft Operating Systems should have the latest service pack installed. Medmont Studio 5 - E300 Topographer Special Notes Topographer USB Converter Box If you are working with a newer Topographer, or acquiring a brand new Topographer it will connect to the PC via a USB Convertor box. We have experienced a number of issues with the USB ports many computers (both desktops and laptops) are equipped with. If the USB converter box doesn't work reliably plugged directly into the computers USB ports, we have had a lot of success overcoming the issues by introducing a high quality powered USB hub between the computer and the topographer. USB We recommend connecting the E300 Converter Box directly to the rear USB ports, without any intervening splitters or unpowered hubs. We recommend avoiding the front ports on many cases. They are frequently unable to deliver the same quality signal as the rear ports. (due to the often unshielded wiring used to attach them to the main board.) Leutron Vision Picport If you are upgrading from v4 and have an older Topographer it will connect to the PC via a Leutron Vision Picport video capture card. You will require a full height PCI slot to accommodate this card. We strongly recommend the PC form factor be a mid-tower. You can also optionally purchase a USB converter upgrade kit for your topographer. But unless your leutron card is defective or you wish to use a laptop which cannot accommodate the leutron card there is no particular advantage to purchasing this upgrade kit at this time. Motherboard: We have had some unexplained and unresolved issues running on systems from HP. We currently recommend avoiding HP when making a purchase specifically to host a Medmont E300 topographer. CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo processor recommended. 3
RAM: 2GB Recommended for Windows XP 4GB recommend for Windows Vista / Windows 7 NOTE: that the latest version of Medmont Studio 4 (4.14.1.1) must be used on systems with 3GB or more of system memory (RAM). Medmont Studio 5 is not affected by this limitation. Hard Disk: 250GB or higher recommended. CDROM: A CDROM drive will be useful to load the software and calibration files. We recommend a DVD-RW for maximum flexibility (backups, etc) USB: 2 available USB2.0 ports minimum (1 for the license key dongle, 1 for the Medmont USB Converter box). We recommend a system with several USB2.0 ports. PCI *OLDER TOPOGRAPHERS ONLY* 1 available half-length full-height PCI slot for Leutron Vision PicPort Color capture card (the E300 topographer). Small form factor cases often do not have enough room. A mid-tower case is usually preferable. Audio: Audio support is not required. Floppy Drive: A floppy drive is no longer required for Medmont Studio. (However it was previously required to load calibration files. If you have an older instrument that shipped with calibration data on floppy you may want to select a floppy drive (or copy that file to CD or USB-flash on a suitably equipped computer.) Case and Power Supply: A small mid-tower case is recommended, especially for older topographers that require the video capture card installed on a PCI slot. We recommend using high quality power supplies. A poor power supply can be responsible for all kinds of intermittent and difficult to troubleshoot issues. Also consider ventilation requirements; do not plan to store the PC inside a cupboard or other poorly ventilated area. We have encountered system issues related to overheating in those circumstances. Running Medmont Studio with the E300 Topographer on Laptops: The new Medmont USB Convertor box for E300 Topographers can be used with a laptop. The general system requirements for laptops is the same. We recommend selecting performance oriented brand name laptops with graphics accelerators for best results. If you have an older topographer that connects via the Leutron Vision Picport that you wish to use with a laptop, the recommend solution is to upgrade to Medmont Studio version 5.0 and purchase a USB converter upgrade kit for the topographer. 4
Medmont Studio 5 with an M700 Perimeter Notes This applies to systems that will host an M700 Perimeter. Compared to the E300, the hardware requirements for the M700 are much less particular. We recommend a machine per the base recommendations; but nearly any modern PC should be fine. A camera upgrade kit is required to make M700 Perimeters with serial numbers lower than M714719 compatible with Vista / Windows 7 32bit and 64bit computers. Video: 24-bit VGA capable chipset. The M700 is much more forgiving than the E300, and you shouldn't have any problems with any modern video solution, including integrated video solutions. Audio The M700 component does have audio feedback. Basic integrated audio and The speakers built into some monitors is an ideal solution. USB 2 USB 2.0 slots. A newer M700 connects via USB. And a 2nd port for the license dongle. We recommend connecting the M700 directly to the rear USB ports, without any intervening splitters or hubs. We recommend avoiding the front ports on many cases. They are frequently unable to deliver the same quality signal as the rear ports. (due to the often unshielded wiring used to attach them to the main board.) Case Power Supply Because there is no PCI requirement any case is acceptable. Again we recommend good quality Power Supplies. Serial Port (legacy perimeters only) If you have an older M700 that connects via a Serial port, you will require a serial port, or USB->Serial adapter. We recommend. Avoiding adapters as much as possible, and installing a serial port. Medmont Studio 5 Network Server Special Notes For systems that will host Medmont Databases over the network, but not have any instruments attached. We recommend a PC that meets the base recommendations. Note that a USB port is required for the license dongle. This has proven to be incompatible with a number of virtualization solutions. Medmont Studio 5 Network Client Special Notes For systems that will run Medmont Studio as a review station connecting to a network server, without any instruments attached; most modern PCs that meet the base specifications are fine. 5