Many issues dictate how fast your content creators and game developers need to work. But in all cases, users themselves want the capability to render, run compute-intensive editing applications and access media files faster.
For IT teams, that means equipping them with devices powerful enough to future-proof against trends such as 4K video, augmented reality (AR), 360° video or whatever next big thing arises before your next upgrade cycle. Put simply, content creators and game developers need systems built for speed. Lenovo recommends that IT teams and advanced users look at six key factors when selecting devices for media creation:
CPU: Most media editing and creation is CPU-intensive and multi-threaded so Lenovo recommends Intel® Xeon® processors. These server-grade processors have more cores and support larger memory capacity than desktop processors. This technology enables content creators to create, edit and encode graphically intensive files while running background applications without compromising performance.
Memory: Video editing and game development software uses a lot of memory. Ensure you have the flexibility to add more memory in the future - without this, your processor(s) could be constrained by the amount of available memory. ECC (error-correcting code) memory is recommended, as it dramatically reduces the chance of memory errors which lead to system crashes and tiny pockets of corrupted data.
Graphics: a powerful professional-grade GPU is essential for rendering video effects, animations and games development. Most of today's leading industry software is optimized to use the CPU and GPU together, speeding up workflows.
Storage: M.2 PCIe SSD storage is the fastest storage technology today, and Lenovo workstations support installation of these modules. Working with 4K video or intensive game development applications may require installation of more than 2 PCIe SSD modules, in which case Lenovo workstations will support through an M.2 PCIe adapter. More commonly, users expand with additional SATA SSD or HDD drives using onboard storage bays. Multiple drives can set up with RAID configurations that optimize performance and add redundancy in the event of drive failures.
Tuning: Before buying new workstations, check how easy it is for advanced users and IT admins to optimize detailed settings that can boost application performance. For example, Lenovo's Performance Tuner enables users to fine-tune power management, BIOS, processor priority, graphics features and more. They can save settings in software specific profiles or use the predefined profiles created by our experts for popular video and game development applications.
Uptime: In content production and game development, downtime brings productivity to a halt and can also result in lost files, unrecoverable work and missed deadlines. Lenovo's workstations feature a patented Tri-Channel cooling design that directs airflow over key components using an air baffle inside the machine. This separates the air into 3 zones, reducing the need for additional fans, which increase the risk of system failures if they break down. If a problem does occur, IT teams can ensure greater uptime with tools such as:
Lenovo PC Diagnostics allows your workstation to communicate directly to your mobile device in the event the system will not boot or power on. This application provides instant diagnostics and potential solutions.
Windows Analytics Device Health, which identifies issues users may not even be aware of and allows IT to pinpoint root causes to develop fixes in bulk.
"With the dominance of mobile over desktop, there is no doubt where the traffic is shifting. The availability of cheaper phones & access to high-speed internet are driving the demand for mobile videos."
Santosh Saraf, CTO, Streamerium