Most new meeting rooms don't need a separate conference room PC: appliance video bars run Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms built in, and BYOD rooms use the presenter's laptop. You need a room PC when you're building a Teams Rooms on Windows system (use the certified compute in a kit, not a generic PC), running large or custom rooms with many cameras and mics, or need a shared computer for software that isn't a meeting app.
Three ways to run the room
| Approach | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Appliance video bar | Bar runs Teams Rooms, Zoom Rooms or Meet itself | Huddle to medium rooms, simplest support |
| Certified room compute | Windows PC sold as part of a Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms kit | Large rooms, multi-camera, Windows features |
| Laptop / BYOD | User's laptop connects to a USB camera and display | Mixed platforms, low budget |
| General-purpose room PC | Ordinary mini PC running Teams/Zoom desktop apps | Shared computer needs, not a dedicated meeting system |
Certified room compute
For Teams Rooms on Windows, buy compute that comes as part of a certified kit, such as the Poly Studio 5 Room Compute or Poly Studio 7 Room Compute, or a Yealink MVC or Lenovo ThinkSmart kit. These PCs ship with the Teams Rooms app and Microsoft's supported configuration. Logitech's RoomMate is a compute appliance for Rally systems and MeetUp in appliance mode. See Teams Rooms kits.
General-purpose room PC
If you just want a shared PC for the room that people sign into:
| Spec | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| CPU | Current Intel Core i5 / Ryzen 5 or better |
| Memory | 16 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD or more |
| Ports | HDMI or DisplayPort (two for dual displays), several USB 3 ports, Gigabit Ethernet |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro or macOS, managed by IT |
| Peripherals | Wireless keyboard and mouse |
A general-purpose PC isn't a Teams Room: users sign in with their own accounts, there's no one-touch join, and you'll manage updates and sign-outs yourself. See build a DIY Teams Room for the tradeoffs.
Microphone and camera for a room PC
Don't rely on a webcam or the PC's built-in mic. Connect:
- A USB video bar (camera, mics and speakers in one), such as the Poly Studio V52 or Logitech MeetUp 2, or
- A USB speakerphone plus a separate conference camera for small rooms. See best speakerphones.
Set the room PC's default mic and speaker to the video bar or speakerphone in Windows sound settings and in the meeting app.
Display ("conference room computer screen")
Connect the PC to the room's commercial display over HDMI. Set Windows display scaling so text is readable from the back of the room, and turn off sleep timers that blank the screen mid-meeting. Display picks: conference room display options.
Mounting and cabling
- Mount the PC behind the display with a VESA bracket like the Logitech Compute Mount, or in a credenza with ventilation.
- Use active USB extension cables for runs over about 16 ft (5 m).
- Run a wired network connection to the PC.
Letting laptops use the room's camera
If the room has a PC but people want to run meetings from their own laptops, a switcher like Logitech Swytch gives a laptop one-cable access to the room's camera, audio and display. See BYOD conference rooms.
Not sure whether your room needs a PC? Tell us how it's used and we'll recommend the simplest setup.
Related guides
- Conference Room Furniture and Tables for Video Meetings
- What Is a Room PC for Microsoft Teams Rooms?
- Poly Mini IP Conference PC G9 alternatives compared
- Poly Studio G62/PC Plate Mount: price and compatibility
- Zoom Rooms requirements: PC specs, network and firewall
- Conference Room Electrical Requirements and Outlet Layout
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