System on Chip (SoC) For Digital Signage - the Pros and Cons

For IT managers tasked with deploying and maintaining a digital signage network, the hardware landscape has shifted significantly over the last decade. The days when every screen required a bulky Windows PC hidden in a cabinet behind it are largely gone.

These days the primary decision for digital signage comes down to two choices: modular or integrated. Do you pair a commercial display with a separate, dedicated media player, or do you choose a display where the computing power is built directly into the screen itself?

The latter option, known as System on Chip (SoC), has grown from a niche offering into a popular and accessible solution in the market. But despite the fact that it sounds pretty straightforward, SoC is not a universal solution. In fact, using SoC displays introduces several trade-offs for digital signage, meaning it may, or may not, be the right solution for your needs.

So, let's take a look at exactly when to use SoC technology in the context of digital signage. We'll take a look at its operational advantages and technical limitations to help you determine the right hardware strategy for your network.

What is System on Chip (SoC)?

In the simplest terms, a System on Chip (SoC) is a fully-integrated circuit board operating as computer hardware, usually within another piece of hardware. In the context of digital signage, system on chip relates to the processing power and capabilities of a TV - these days known as a smart TV.

In a traditional setup, the screen display acts merely as a monitor, receiving a video signal via HDMI or DisplayPort from an external computing device (a media player). The media player handles the operating system, network connectivity, storage, and content rendering.

With SoC technology, these computing components from the media player, the CPU, GPU, RAM, internal storage, and network interface controller, are integrated directly into the display’s motherboard.

Leading manufacturers have developed their own proprietary SoC ecosystems. Samsung has its Tizen operating system, LG uses webOS, and various other manufacturers have adopted embedded Android versions. These are commercial-grade operating systems designed to run digital signage CMS (Content Management System) applications natively, without the need for added external hardware hardware.

Understanding SoC in deployment

Both SoC and modular display management have their benefits, but it helps to understand how they work in the real world. For IT managers, visualising the setup can be a useful way to understand the process around deployments - including the benefits and shortfalls.

The modular approach: screen + player

A traditional installation involves mounting the screen, mounting a separate media player box behind it (often requiring a separate bracket or cage), providing power outlets for both devices, and connecting them with a short high-quality video cable.

You'll then manage the network connectivity for the player. Often the app for the content management software (CMS) such as ScreenCloud is on the media player. In some cases this might need installing, but in many cases the software comes pre-installed on the media player such as with our own PIXI or on the popular Amazon Signage Stick.

Despite the multiple steps involved, this can be one of the simplest ways to setup a digital signage network.

The integrated approach (SoC)

Installation of SoC displays involves mounting the screen. All you then need is to provide a single power outlet and connect the network (either via Ethernet directly into the screen or integrated Wi-Fi).

The obvious difference here is a significant reduction in hardware footprint. You also skip all the cables and assorted setup of other devices. This streamlined architecture is the primary driver behind the adoption of SoC - but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best choice.

Installing the CMS can be done in several different ways.

One way is to access the on-board app store, locate your chosen CMS (eg. ScreenCloud), install and connect.

Another is to connect using a URL launcher. Open the URL launcher/browser, enter your URL (usually a shortened version, similar to a bit.ly link) and your app is installed.

You can also install your chosen CMS by using a USB with your app pre-loaded. Usually, you simply plugin your USB and are prompted to install - or access and install the software via the menu.

The benefits of choosing SoC displays for digital signage

As with most things, no two digital signage networks are the same. While some deployments might work fine with consumer electronics such as a smart TV or a Google Chromecast, more complex networks are going to need to need harder wearing equipment.

System on a chip hardware does come in both consumer grade and commercial grade, so there are plenty of options. Most of them are designed to work with digital signage applications and you'll be able to install your chosen media player app on your chosen screen.

When considering the reason to choose system on chip digital signage displays, these tend to be the main benefits:

1. Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

The most immediate benefit is saving on additional costs. By removing the need to purchase a separate media player, which for enterprise-grade devices can range just under $200 to over $600 per endpoint - the upfront hardware cost per screen drops significantly.

Furthermore, operational expenditures can decrease. SoC displays generally consume less power than a combined screen-and-separate-player setup.

Over a large deployment running 16/7 or 24/7, savings on power consumption can become substantial.

2. Simplified installation and aesthetics

From an installation standpoint, there is less equipment to unbox, inventory, mount, and configure, speeding up the deployment velocity for large-scale rollouts. In addition to this, it can be simpler to bulk install your chosen CMS software onto smart displays in advance of their installation.

IT teams might find the option to batch setup screens in one location and then deploy them to their final installation locations a tempting solution.

3. Reduced points of failure

Every connection in a hardware chain is a potential failure point. HDMI cables can vibrate loose, external power supplies for media players can fail, and the communication handshake between player and screen can sometimes break, leading to potential blank screens or error messages.

But by integrating hardware with SoC displays, this removes these physical interconnects. The system is self-contained, leading to a theoretically more stable hardware environment that requires fewer physical interventions by on-site technicians.

4. Better aesthetics

For deployments in high-visibility areas, aesthetics might be part of the bigger picture. SoC displays eliminate the "black box" zip-tied behind the screen and the potential nest of HDMI and power cables. This is particularly critical when screens need to be mounted flush against a wall, suspended from ceilings, or placed in slim kiosks where there is physically no room for external hardware.

With this being said, the slim profile of many media players such as the Amazon Signage Stick or our own PIXI players makes this a moot point.

The downsides of using SoC displays for digital signage

While the convenience of SoC is attractive, IT managers must be realistic about its limitations. SoC is generally less powerful and less flexible than dedicated modular hardware, which can create significant bottlenecks - depending on your strategy.

1. Performance limitations

The processors embedded in SoC displays are designed for efficiency and compact size, not raw computing power. For the most part, they cannot compete with the performance benchmarks of an Intel Core i5-based player or a high-end dedicated player such as our Station P1 Pro.

While SoC handles standard video loops and static images with ease, it often struggles with demanding, dynamic content streaming 24/7. This includes:

• High-Bitrate 4K video: Smooth playback of high-resolution 4K video, especially at 60 frames per second, can tax older or lower-end SoC chips, leading to stuttering.
• Complex HTML5: Modern digital signage often relies on web technologies to render live dashboards, social media feeds, or news tickers. If these HTML5 assets are computationally expensive, an SoC chip may lag or crash.
• Multi-zone layouts: Dividing a screen into four or five separate zones, each playing different videos or live data feeds simultaneously, requires significant processing headroom that SoC may lack.

Another shortcoming of SoC displays is that they tend to lack many factors that enterprise demands. For example, most system on a chip displays do not support remote device management or the higher end security features found in specialised external players.

2. The future proofing trap and lifecycle mismatch

This is perhaps the most significant concern for long-term IT planning. A commercial display panel is often built to last five to seven years. But computing hardware evolves much faster. It could be that a processor that is adequate today will be obsolete in three years as software demands increase.

With a modular setup, if the player becomes too slow, you simply unplug it and replace it with a newer model, keeping the expensive display on the wall.

With SoC, the computer and the screen are permanently married. If the integrated chip can no longer run the latest version of your CMS software or handle new content types, you cannot upgrade just the computing module. You'll need to replace the entire expensive display unit, even if the panel itself is still perfectly functional.

3. OS fragmentation and vendor lock-in

Unlike the standardized environments of Windows or ChromeOS, system on a chip platforms like Tizen and webOS are proprietary. This can contribute to vendor lock-in, especially if you're using the proprietary software. So switching from Samsung to LG means dealing with a different operating system, different management tools, and potentially different app compatibility.

This can of course be avoided by using a hardware agnostic content management platform such as ScreenCloud. In this case you'll be able to mix and match your screen brands without fear of fragmentation.

Another point to consider is that manufacturers are sometimes slow to release security patches or OS updates for older SoC models. You may find yourself managing a fleet of screens running three different versions of an OS, some of which are no longer supported, creating security and management headaches.

Should you use SoC displays or modular digital signage?

Choosing between SoC and modular media players is going to be a choice based on your potential uses for digital signage, your budget and your capability demands. But actually, for bigger organizations, it is rarely an "either/or" decision; many large networks effectively use a hybrid approach based on the specific use case of each screen location.

SoC displays are the right choice if:

• Your content needs are straightforward: You primarily display menus, corporate messaging posters, simpler video loops, or basic slideshows.
• Installation space is constrained: You need ultra-slim mounting with zero visible cabling.
• Budget is a primary driver: You need to minimize upfront capital expenditure for a large volume of screens.
• The deployment is uniform: You are rolling out hundreds of identical screens for a single, simple purpose (e.g., digital menu boards across a chain of restaurants).
• Your displays are limited: If you want a handful of screens in a waiting room or office, running simple displays, then a few TVs running smart displays could be more than adequate.

Dedicated media players are the right choice if:

• Performance is mission-critical: You are building a high-visibility video wall or need flawless playback of complex, data-driven HTML5 content.
• Longevity and upgradeability matter: You plan to keep the screens for more than 4-5 years and want the option to upgrade computing power mid-cycle without dismounting the displays.
• You require standardization: You want a unified operating system across different display brands to simplify network management and security compliance.
• You need specialized connectivity: Your application requires specialized I/O ports for interactive sensors, RFID readers, or peripherals that the limited ports on an SoC display cannot support.
• You need enterprise grade features: If you demand best-in-class security features, or you want to benefit from access to remote device management (RDM), then you'll need a dedicated media player that supports this.

Why choose ScreenCloud to power your signage?

Whether you choose SoC displays or you're looking for a more powerful modular solution, ScreenCloud is designed to offer the best CMS regardless.

While some in the digital signage industry recommend avoiding SoC displays, we think they have their merits. And in fact, these days, System on Chip has matured into a reliable, commercial-grade solution that simplifies many aspects of digital signage for IT teams.

For standard communication needs, it offers an elegant and cost-effective route to deployment. However, it is not a magic bullet. So if you take the time to understand the inherent performance ceilings and lifecycle implications of integrated hardware, IT managers can make informed decisions that align infrastructure with both current content needs and future network strategy.

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