NovaStar Video Processors: CMS130 vs CMS260 vs VX Series — How to Choose
Ports, total capacity and the two rules that size the right processor for your LED wall.
Every LED wall needs a video processor: the box that sits between your video source — a laptop, a camera, a media player — and the screen itself. It takes the video signal, scales it to the exact resolution of your wall, and splits it across the receiving cards inside the cabinets. Choose the right processor and your content plays smoothly at full resolution. Choose the wrong one and part of the screen stays dark, or the image is cropped, no matter how good the panels are. NovaStar is the processor brand Bluestar supplies with its screens, and the choice comes down to five models: the CMS130, the CMS260, and the VX600 PRO, VX1000 PRO and VX2000 PRO. This guide explains what each one does and how to pick the right one for your screen.
1. What a video processor actually does
A video processor has three jobs. First, it accepts the video signal from your source. Second, it scales that signal to the exact pixel resolution of your LED wall, so the picture fills the screen without stretching or cropping. Third, it divides the picture into sections — called zones — and sends each section to the receiving cards in the cabinets through its output ports. Each output port carries 650,000 pixels, so the number of ports and the total capacity of the processor set a hard limit on how big a wall it can drive. The processor is also known as the sender box, and it is covered by a one-year warranty, while the cabinets carry a two-year warranty.
2. The NovaStar range at a glance
All five models work the same way; they differ only in how many ports they have and how many pixels they can carry in total. One port always equals 650,000 pixels.
| Model | Output ports | Total capacity |
|---|---|---|
| CMS130 | 2 | 1.3 million pixels |
| CMS260 | 4 | 2.6 million pixels |
| VX600 PRO | 6 | 3.9 million pixels |
| VX1000 PRO | 10 | 6.5 million pixels |
| VX2000 PRO | 20 | 13 million pixels |
Small screens — up to 2 zones and up to 1.3 million pixels in total — use a single CMS130. Everything larger steps up the range.
3. The two rules that decide your processor
Choosing a processor is a calculation, not a guess. First work out the total pixels of your wall: multiply the screen area in square meters by the pixel density of your model. The densities are P3.91: 65,536 pixels per m²; P2.9: 112,896; P2.6: 147,456; and P5: 40,000. Then divide the total pixels by 650,000 and round up — that gives you the number of zones. Now apply the two rules:
- Rule 1 — ports: the processor must have at least as many output ports as your wall has zones.
- Rule 2 — capacity: the processor's total capacity must be at least as large as your wall's total pixel count.
Both conditions must hold at the same time. Take the smallest model that satisfies both; if no single processor is big enough, use two processors and split the wall between them.
4. Three worked examples
A small rental screen: 3 × 2 m, P3.91 outdoor (6 m²). Total pixels: 6 × 65,536 = 393,216. Zones: 393,216 ÷ 650,000 rounds up to 1. A CMS130 (2 ports, 1.3 million pixels) covers it comfortably.
A medium stage screen: 8 × 4 m, P3.91 outdoor (32 m²). Total pixels: 32 × 65,536 = 2,097,152. Zones: 2,097,152 ÷ 650,000 rounds up to 4. The CMS260 (4 ports, 2.6 million pixels) satisfies both rules exactly, so it is the right choice.
A large outdoor screen: 10 × 5 m, P3.91 outdoor (50 m²). Total pixels: 50 × 65,536 = 3,276,800. Zones: 3,276,800 ÷ 650,000 rounds up to 6. The VX600 PRO (6 ports, 3.9 million pixels) is the smallest model that meets both rules.
Notice how much the pixel pitch matters. A 6 × 2 m indoor P2.6 wall is only 12 m², yet it has 12 × 147,456 = 1,769,472 pixels — more than the 32 m² P3.91 wall above — and needs 3 zones, so it takes a CMS260. A finer pitch packs more pixels into every square meter, and a wall of the same size in P2.6 needs a bigger processor than in P3.91.
5. Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing by screen size alone. Two walls of the same size can need different processors if their pixel pitch is different. Always calculate from total pixels, never from square meters alone.
- Checking only the port count. Both rules matter. A processor with enough ports but too little total capacity will not drive the wall.
- Buying the biggest model "to be safe". A VX2000 PRO on a 6 m² screen is capacity you will never use. The smallest model that satisfies both rules is the right one.
- Forgetting the processor in the order. The screen cannot display anything without it. Make sure the processor is listed on the quotation together with the cabinets, so nothing is missing when the shipment arrives.
6. What to send us for a recommendation
You do not need to do the calculation yourself. Send us three facts — the screen size in meters (width × height), the pixel pitch, and whether the screen is indoor or outdoor — and we will work out the total pixels and zones, recommend the right NovaStar processor, and include it in your quotation. Our flagship P3.91 outdoor rental screens pair with the full range above, from a single CMS130 on a small wall to the VX series on large stage and billboard walls.
Not sure which processor your wall needs? Message us on WhatsApp at +86 155 7321 7152 with your screen size and pixel pitch, or use the Request a Quotation button below and we will size the processor for you.