What is the NovaStar A8s receiving card?
The NovaStar A8s is the receiving card inside a compatible LED cabinet. It turns the image data mapped by the sender into the pixel signals for that cabinet’s modules. Its place in a design is determined by more than its board size: the module driver IC decides its maximum load, while image-quality functions also depend on the sender, software and module electronics.
That is why an A8s purchase should begin with the existing card label or the new cabinet specification. An A8s-N or A8s Pro may share a family name, but the cabinet data path and the supported feature conditions can be different.
A8s key features
Smoother dark content when the module electronics match
Dark gradients can break into visible steps, brightness spikes or a color cast. Image Booster works with the A8s and a compatible driver IC to improve that low-gray behavior. Check the module electronics first; the card cannot create the same result on every module type.
HDR only when every part of the signal path agrees
The A8s can pass HDR10 and HLG, but the sender must also parse the HDR source and the driver IC must support the selected path. An HDR video file does not turn an SDR sender and module into an HDR wall.
A replacement module that does not stand out
One cabinet that is brighter, pinker or dimmer than its neighbors makes a wall look patched. A8s works with NovaStar’s calibration system to apply brightness and chroma correction at pixel level, provided the cabinet has the correct coefficients and configuration.
Portrait layouts without changing the module wiring
The card rotates the display image in 90-degree steps for a portrait cabinet design. A custom-angle screen needs additional software and controller hardware, so it is a different decision from simply mounting a cabinet vertically.
NovaStar A8s specifications
Use this table to establish the A8s cabinet envelope. Its PWM/common-driver capacity split matters before you set the card count.
| PWM-driver load | Up to 512 × 384 at 60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Common-driver load | Up to 384 × 384 at 60 Hz |
| Module data | Up to 32 parallel RGB groups or 64 serial groups, expandable to 128 |
| Input voltage | DC 3.8 V to 5.5 V; 5.0 V recommended |
| Rated current / power | 0.6 A / 3.0 W |
| Dimensions | 70.0 × 45.0 × 8.2 mm |
| Operating environment | −20°C to +70°C; 10% to 90% RH, non-condensing |
| Certifications | RoHS and EMC Class B |
A8s load capacity for PWM and common driver ICs
The A8s does not have one universal capacity figure. With PWM driver ICs, one card supports up to 512 by 384 at 60 Hz. With common driver ICs, the maximum becomes 384 by 384. A 512-wide common-driver cabinet therefore needs another card or a different data arrangement; the PWM headline cannot be used for both module types.
| Module driver | Maximum per A8s at 60 Hz | What it means for planning |
|---|---|---|
| PWM driver ICs | 512 × 384 | A 512 by 384 cabinet can fit one card after scan and data-group checks. |
| Common driver ICs | 384 × 384 | A 512-wide cabinet needs another card or a different cabinet layout. |
Pixel dimensions are still only the first filter. The cabinet must fit the A8s hub board, scan and 32 parallel data groups. Keep those checks in the same cabinet drawing rather than quoting capacity separately from the modules that create it.
A8s Image Booster, HDR and 22bit+ conditions
Image Booster, HDR and 22bit+ solve different visual problems. Image Booster works at the module driver IC; HDR10 and HLG preserve the source’s brightness range and color space; 22bit+ gives low-brightness content more grayscale steps through NovaLCT V5.4.0 or later.
For a wall that mainly needs cleaner dark gradients, confirm the driver IC and Image Booster path. For HDR content, confirm the source and sending card can pass HDR before choosing the receiving card. A8s still sends a normal image when those conditions are absent, but the named image feature will not suddenly appear after installation.
A8s low-latency and free-rotation requirements
For a live camera or confidence screen, the A8s can reduce receiving-card-end delay to one frame with PWM driver ICs. Continuous-clock PWM driver ICs need customized firmware. Treat the module type and firmware as part of the live-video decision, not something to discover after the cabinet is built.
Free image rotation also needs the complete control path: SmartLCT, an MCTRL R5 and a compatible cabinet design. The A8s alone handles 90-degree steps; arbitrary angles add those extra parts.
A8s vs A8s-N and A8s Pro
Use the A8s when the cabinet is built and documented for A8s, or when its exact image-quality and capacity conditions match the design. Choose another card family only for a named cabinet need, not because a suffix sounds newer.
| Model | Choose it when | Check before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| A8s | The cabinet uses the documented A8s PWM/common-driver capacity path and its matched configuration. | Confirm the original label, module driver IC, hub board, scan and saved files. |
| A8s-N | You need its bit-depth planning or its documented COEX 10-bit capacity condition. | Do not transfer the A8s capacity or firmware assumptions to an A8s-N cabinet. |
| A8s Pro | The modules need up to 40 parallel RGB groups or the cabinet is designed for the A8s Pro path. | A similar board outline does not prove the data groups or cabinet configuration match. |
Before replacing a working A8s, save its receiving-card program and cabinet parameters in NovaLCT. A matching model and its known-good cabinet file are safer than changing families because a suffix sounds newer.
A8s datasheet, firmware and NovaLCT downloads
The A8s datasheet establishes the PWM/common-driver capacity split and feature conditions. Use NovaLCT to save the working program and cabinet parameters. Firmware must match the A8s PCB and module chips; verify an exact package instead of applying a file because it looks close to A8s-N or A8s Pro.
NovaStar A8s FAQ
What does the A8s receiving card do?
The A8s sits inside a compatible LED cabinet, receives image data from the sender and provides the assigned pixel data to that cabinet’s modules.
What is the A8s load capacity?
It depends on the module driver IC: PWM supports up to 512 by 384 at 60 Hz, while common driver ICs support up to 384 by 384 at 60 Hz.
Can one A8s run a 512-wide LED cabinet?
With PWM driver ICs, one A8s can load up to 512 by 384 at 60 Hz. A 512-wide common-driver cabinet exceeds the documented 384-wide limit and needs another card or a different cabinet path.
Does A8s Image Booster work with every LED module?
Its effects depend on the driver IC. Confirm the module electronics and the required software path before making an Image Booster result part of the screen specification.
Does A8s support HDR?
It supports HDR10 and HLG when the sending card also supports HDR and can correctly parse the HDR source.
Does every A8s cabinet have low latency?
No. The documented low-latency path is for PWM driver ICs. Continuous-clock PWM driver ICs need customized firmware.
Can A8s rotate an LED screen at any angle?
Arbitrary-angle rotation requires SmartLCT and an MCTRL R5 controller. The A8s itself supports 90-degree rotation steps.
Can A8s-N or A8s Pro replace A8s?
Not automatically. Confirm the exact card label, hub board, module driver IC, scan, data groups, firmware and saved cabinet configuration before changing models.
Can I request A8s volume pricing or Net 30?
Yes. Quantity pricing and eligible Net 30 terms are available for A8s orders. Send the model and quantity so we can review the order requirements with you.
How is an A8s warranty tracked?
A8s cards from our authorized US NovaStar channel have three years of manufacturer coverage tied to their serial numbers. Keep the serial record with the cabinet files for future service.
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