--- title: Basic vs. Advanced Display Node description: Display Node comparison --- [Skip to content](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/en/vis-ability.co-knowledge/basic-vs.-advanced-display-node#main-content) [![viz2020-dark-Jul-07-2026-10-21-54-0124-PM](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/hs-fs/hubfs/viz2020-dark-Jul-07-2026-10-21-54-0124-PM.png?width=250&height=59&name=viz2020-dark-Jul-07-2026-10-21-54-0124-PM.png)](https://www.vis-ability.com) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact us](https://www.vis-ability.com/contact-us) [Contact us](https://www.vis-ability.com/contact-us) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Vis|Ability Knowledge Base](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/en/vis-ability.co-knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Hardware Setup](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/en/vis-ability.co-knowledge/hardware-setup?hsLang=en) 3. [Display Node Hardware](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/en/vis-ability.co-knowledge/hardware-setup?hsLang=en#display-node-hardware) October 7, 2026 # Basic vs. Advanced Display Node ## What's the Difference? **Hardware** **[![Basic vs Advanced Display Nodes](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Basic%20vs%20Advanced%20Display%20Nodes.png?width=670&height=335&name=Basic%20vs%20Advanced%20Display%20Nodes.png)](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/hubfs/Basic%20vs%20Advanced%20Display%20Nodes.png?hsLang=en)** A **Display Node** is the vis|ability endpoint responsible for rendering content to one or more physical displays or Display Areas. Display Nodes are available in **Basic** and **Advanced** configurations. The appropriate configuration depends on the number and resolution of displays being driven, the types and quantity of content being displayed, and whether direct baseband video capture is required. The distinction between Basic and Advanced is based primarily on **rendering capability, graphics hardware, expansion capability, and supported source types** rather than the physical size of the computer.   **Basic Display Node**   A **Basic Display Node** provides an efficient rendering platform for smaller Display Areas and applications that do not require direct baseband video capture. Basic Display Nodes may be deployed using **Micro Form Factor (MFF)** or **Small Form Factor (SFF)** hardware depending on the required performance and system design. **Typical capabilities include:** - - Up to **4 × 4K display outputs**, depending on the selected hardware - Support for IP and network-based content, including: - Capture Client sources - IP video streams - Web sources and dashboards - Applications - Graphics and media - No direct HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or SDI baseband capture - Lower overall rendering and decoding capacity than an Advanced Display Node Basic Display Nodes are commonly used for **smaller video walls, individual displays, meeting or collaboration spaces, satellite locations, and other applications with moderate visualization requirements**. > **Basic does not mean limited to a single display.** A properly configured Basic Display Node can support up to four 4K outputs and can be an effective solution for many smaller visualization applications. **Advanced Display Node** An **Advanced Display Node** provides increased graphics, processing, and expansion capabilities for larger or more demanding visualization environments. Advanced configurations utilize **discrete graphics hardware** and can accommodate supported direct-capture and video-processing hardware when required. **Typical capabilities include:** - - Multiple high-resolution display outputs - Support for large tiled video walls and multiple Display Areas - Discrete professional graphics hardware - Increased rendering capacity for larger numbers of simultaneous sources - Support for **direct baseband video capture** - Support for compatible **Matrox IPX and C4K** capture hardware - Increased IP video decoding capacity - Multiple graphics cards where required - Greater PCIe expansion capability Depending on the hardware configuration, Advanced Display Nodes can support **up to 12 or more 4K outputs**, with larger configurations available for specialized deployments. Advanced Display Nodes are commonly used for **large control rooms, operations centers, high-resolution video walls, DVLED displays, and environments requiring a combination of network and directly captured video sources**. **At a Glance** | **Capability** | **Basic Display Node** | **Advanced Display Node** | | --- | --- | --- | | **Typical Form Factor** | Micro / Small Form Factor | Workstation / Rack-Mounted | | **Graphics** | Integrated or entry-level graphics | Discrete professional GPU | | **4K Outputs** | Up to 4 | Multiple; configuration dependent | | **Network/IP Sources** | Yes | Yes | | **Web & Application Sources** | Yes | Yes | | **Direct Baseband Capture** | No | Yes | | **Matrox IPX / C4K Support** | No | Yes | | **Multiple GPUs** | No | Supported where required | | **Large / Complex Video Walls** | Limited | Yes | | **Typical Application** | Smaller/moderate visualization | Large or demanding visualization |  **The published Display Node specifications support this general distinction: the Basic/Entry tier supports up to four 4K outputs and does not support graphics input, while the Standard and Large/Advanced tiers add discrete graphics, direct capture, IP decoding, and substantially greater output capacity.**  **Licensing** Display Node licensing consists of the **Display Node endpoint license** and the appropriate **Display License** for the displays being driven. A **Basic Display License** is generally associated with Basic Display Node deployments, while an **Advanced Display License** is used for Advanced Display Node deployments and applications requiring the corresponding advanced capabilities. Display licensing is based on the displays and resolution being driven. **DVLED licensing may vary based on the size and resolution of the display**, and most DVLED deployments require an **Advanced Display Node License**. Each Display Node also requires a **Display Node endpoint license**, regardless of whether the node is configured as Basic or Advanced. - [Home](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/en/vis-ability.co-knowledge) - [Product Commissioning](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/productcommissioning) - [Training](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/product-training) - [Partners](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/en/partner-portal) - [Customer Portal](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/tickets-view?status=all&view=my_tickets&offset=0) [![viz2024-activu-KO](https://knowledge.vis-ability.com/hs-fs/hubfs/viz2024-activu-KO.png?width=254&height=68&name=viz2024-activu-KO.png "viz2024-activu-KO")](https://www.vis-ability.com) [mailto:info@vis-ability.com](mailto:info@vis-ability.com) Copyright © 2025