Sample Computer System Videos See how to build a Matrix ready computer using the Dell website... • Sample Dell Desktop System.wmv • Sample Dell Laptop1 System.wmv • Sample Dell Laptop2 System.wmv Download Player: These samples are for information purposes only. Gemvision Corporation does not benefit monetarily or in any way from these recommendations.

The following is a range-set of recommendations meaning that if you choose a computer with specifications within these ranges, you will have a good computer to run Matrix on. We encourage you to look around before you buy to familiarize yourself with current prices and availability. Since we are not able to test every type of processor, video card, and monitor, please be aware that we are recommending the components that we have had consistent success with when using Matrix. We recommend that your computer has at least these specifications:

• Intel Core 2 Duo, AMD Dual Core or better
• 1-2 GB of DDR RAM for Windows XP
• 2-4 GB of DDR RAM for Windows Vista
• 128-256 MB nVidia open GL video card or better
• 256-512 MB nVidia Open GL video card or better with Windows Vista
• 40 GB hard drive or larger
• 19-21 inch monitor (desktop) or larger
• 15-17 inch monitor (laptop) or larger
• 1280 x 1024 minimum screen resolution
• DVD-ROM, DVD+/-RW drive or better
• Windows XP Home, Professional, or Media Center
• Windows Vista (32-Bit Versions only - Home Basic NOT supported) IMPORTANT: Windows Vista is problematic and strongly not recommended for running Matrix. Windows XP is recommended.
• 64 bit version of Windows XP or Vista NOT supported
• There are no current plans to port Matrix over to Apple Macintosh computers

To view a comparison chart for the different versions of Windows Vista, please click the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

Matrix will run on Windows Vista. At the time of compiling the data on this particular web page the major PC distributors (such as Dell) no longer offer computers without Vista as the operating system. If at all possible, we still recommend purchasing a PC with Windows XP as the operating system. Video and graphics functionality is noticeably slower in Windows Vista – as drivers for most video cards are not created or optimized for Vista yet. Matrix/Rhino operating on the Vista platform is NOT compatible with ATI video graphics cards and is NOT supported by Gemvision technical support.

Processor
Matrix is processor-intensive, so getting a faster processor is always a good thing. First, the difference between “dual processors” which are 2 physical CPUs and have NO speed effect on the software and “dual core” processors which are essentially 2 CPUs hardwired into 1 physical chip and have great performance and speed returns on the software.

With all the different choices and naming conventions out there, thought it might be helpful to try to break down the confusion between them all:

• “Sempron”-AMD, single chip spec, similar to regular Pentium 4, OK, but not great, but cheap. Prepare to wait for intense tasks (i.e. rendering, booleaning, etc.)
• “DualCore”-AMD manufacturer, often notated on web sites with + as in AMD 4400+ been around for awhile now, very fast and until release of the “Core2Duos”, fastest at rendering in our tests
• “Pentium 4”-Intel-Basic chipset based on specs that have been around for awhile, will run Matrix, but intense operations, (booleaning, shading, meshing intricate models and rendering lag)
• “Duo” or “Duo Core” –Intel manufacturer and has been their answer (and not quite as good) to the AMD “Dual Core” chips above, still pretty good chip – comes in M or Centrino flavors for battery saving on laptops
• “Core2Duos”-Intel-Latest and greatest, by all reviews and tests, the next have to have chips, in rendering tests especially outdo the former leader of the pack AMD “DualCore”. Also being priced pretty aggressively to cut into AMD’s market share which has been growing and eating away at Intel for the last year or so. Intel also has what they market as “Extreme” editions of most of their chips which is their top of the line, stuffed with memory cache and running at highest speeds, these are the ‘top of the line’ chips are almost always priced well above the ‘normal’ chips. In our experience, the performance difference never comes close to the price difference.

In our experience, the best way to specify a chip for best return on performance vs. cost is to find the fastest and most powerful chip out there (and of course usually the newest) then take 1 or 2 steps ‘down’ in performance to the one that was the leader usually a matter of months before. The performance difference is small and usually the price difference is substantial. For example, if the new hot chip is a 3.6GHZ Core2Duo, then look for a 3.2 or 3.0 and see what the price ‘break’ is. It will usually be enough so you can afford more…

RAM
RAM, or ‘memory’ is like money, the more the better. 1GB is acceptable; 2GB is better. For now, Windows XP only addresses and therefore Windows programs can only address or use 2GB. Vista supports up to 4GB of RAM, and therefore, a good range is 2 - 4GB of RAM memory.

Video Graphics Card
Gemvision recommends any of the NVIDIA brand open GL video cards. Visit NVIDIA’s website for detailed descriptions of the various models. Please contact Gemvision technical support if you have any questions. Matrix/Rhino operating on the Vista platform is NOT compatible with ATI video graphics cards and is NOT supported by Gemvision technical support.

Monitor
A 19 inch monitor is a comfortable size for most people, but if you present to a customer who is looking at the screen from a distance, a 21 inch monitor might be more effective. CRT, flat panel, and laptop monitors vary in display appearance and quality - it’s best to visit a store so you get a feel for the monitor before deciding on a size and resolution.

Resolution
The minimum resolution for Matrix is 1280x1024. Some computers may have other resolutions that will work for you (wide, for example), but this is the most common resolution. Native Resolution is the number of pixels that the monitor was made with. Flat panel monitors are available with almost any Native Resolution but must be run at that setting or else the display will be blurry. CRT (tube-style) monitors, however, can be changed from their lowest to maximum resolution with virtually no quality loss. There are various acronyms that vendors use to designate how many pixels a monitor can display. The following detailed explanation of aspect ratio, resolution, many of the acronyms, and their meaning are considered advanced information intended to be self-explanatory. It is not essential to understand all of the following to purchase a good computer for Matrix use.

For the purposes of the information below, Horizontal/Vertical (H/V) is the ratio of the image width to height in pixels, display modes with an H/V Ratio of 4/3 will appear to have square-shaped pixels, and distortion occurs when the pixel size ratio differs from the physical screen size ratio.

Quad and Hex are emerging as terms for high-resolution displays. Quad refers to 4 times as many pixels as a previous mode (2 times the vertical and horizontal pixels). Hex refers to 16 times as many pixels as a previous mode (4 times the vertical and horizontal pixels).

HDTV specifies an aspect ratio of 16/9 and digital broadcast HDTV uses 1920×1080 pixels for high resolution mode. Computer display modes are intended to be used with HDTV-style wide screen displays.Most of the wide screen modes have a pixel width to height ratio of 16/10, which yields pixel array dimensions easier to cope with in computer hardware and software. The WXGA mode, with dimensions of 1366×768 pixels, is within one pixel of a 16/9 ratio.