Card vendor creates integrator programme

Integrators, software manufacturers and component makers have come out in strong support of nVidia’s Business Platform programme, the company’s first real drive into the business PC market.

The graphics chip company has created the Business Platform to encourage SMEs to invest in systems from smaller PC companies by certifying that the components used conform to high standards.

To attain certification, Business Platform motherboards, which are offered by manufacturers such as Asus, Foxconn, Gigabyte, and MSI, have to be designed to rigid specifications, use nVidia-defined components and complete an OEM-class commercial testing programme.

The new Business Programme also incorporates nVidia’s Unified Driver Architecture, which aims to lower the total cost of ownership for businesses by providing a single stable software image that can be implemented across multiple systems.

“The commercial desktop PC market represents an untapped opportunity for nVidia to grow its business,” said Drew Henry, general manager of media and communications processor business at nVidia. “IT managers demand a stable image platform. Only nVidia, along with our partners, has a solution that delivers certified stability throughout the channel.”

According to system builder Maxdata, the Platform supports smaller PC builders. “The nVidia Business Platform is empowering the channel and system builder communities,” said Guido Forsthoevel, marketing director at Maxdata. “For the first time, the Platform ensures we can provide a stable hardware platform based on AMD processors. Combined with the potential savings that can be achieved through the Platform’s low total cost of ownership, this makes it an attractive option for SMEs.”

To broaden the appeal of the Business Platform, nVidia has worked to align it with AMD’s Commercial Stable Image Platform programme, which guarantees a hardware and software configuration for at least one year. NVidia has also brought in system management software companies such as Altiris to improve the manageability of the Platform.

Tyler Smith, vice-president of business development at Altiris, said: “Altiris recognises that effective client management is key to help SMEs reduce manageability costs of PC hardware and software. We are working closely with nVidia on its Business Platform initiative.”