Getting Started

Welcome to Renderboxes. This page takes you from “the box just arrived” to “I’m logged in and working” — for any Renderboxes workstation. For model-specific specs and port layouts, see the page for your machine under Models.

Unpacking

Inspect the box first

Before you open anything, look over the outer packaging. If it’s visibly damaged — crushed corners, punctures, or signs of impact — take photos from several angles before unpacking. If there’s a problem, this is the evidence we’ll need to help you.

1. Open the box carefully. Renderboxes machines are packed with protective foam and often an inner travel case. Don’t cut down into the box with a knife — you risk cutting cables or foam.

2. Lift the workstation out from the base, not by the front bezel, side panels, or the top. If your model has handles rated for its weight, you can use them — otherwise support from underneath.

   Heavy models (Atom, Nano Pro, Molecule Air) are two-person lifts. Don’t attempt them alone.

3. Check the accessories. Every Renderboxes workstation ships with:

   • The correct mains power lead(s) for your region — one per PSU
   • Any GPU support brackets your model includes
   • A welcome card with your serial number and order reference
   • Any accessories specific to your build

   If anything is missing, stop and contact servicedesk@renderboxes.com before using the machine.

Keep your boxes

Seriously — keep the packaging

If you ever need to return your workstation to us for warranty service, the original packaging is the best protection for the journey. Flat-pack the outer box, stash the foam inserts, and store them somewhere dry — a loft, garage, or storage cupboard works fine.

Replacement packaging is expensive and nowhere near as well-fitted. Courier damage on a return is the single most avoidable thing that can go wrong with a repair.

Find your serial number

Your serial number is on a label on the back or base of your machine and looks like RB-XXXX-XXXX (for example, RB-0050-1023). Write it down or photograph it — you’ll need it any time you contact support or check your warranty.

Power supply — how many cables you need

Different Renderboxes models use a different number of power supplies depending on how much power they need to deliver. Every PSU has to be connected and switched on for the machine to work correctly.

Model	Power supplies	Power cables to connect
Photon	1 × 1000 W	1
Electron	1 × 1200 W	1
Atom Rack	1 × 2000 W	1
Atom	2 × 1200 W	2 — both required
Nano Pro	2 × 2000 W	2 — both required
Molecule Air	3 × 2000 W	3 — all required

If you connect fewer cables than your machine needs, it either won’t power on at all or will run in a degraded state. Always connect every cable supplied with your workstation.

Power and your electrical supply

110 V customers: consult a qualified electrician

The guidance on this page assumes 240 V mains supply (UK, most of Europe, and other 230–240 V regions).

If you’re in a 110–120 V region (North America, Japan, parts of South America), the current draw on your circuit is roughly double for the same power. For the higher-end models — Atom, Atom Rack, Nano Pro, and especially Molecule Air — the peak current can exceed what a standard domestic socket or circuit is rated for.

Before plugging in any multi-PSU Renderboxes workstation on a 110 V supply, consult a qualified electrician to confirm your circuit, socket, and UPS (if applicable) can safely handle the peak load. This is an electrical safety matter — not something to guess at.

Approximate maximum current draw per model, for planning purposes:

Model	Peak power	At 240 V	At 110 V
Photon	1000 W	~4.2 A	~9.1 A
Electron	1200 W	~5.0 A	~10.9 A
Atom Rack	2000 W	~8.3 A	~18.2 A
Atom	2400 W (2 × 1200 W)	~10 A total	~21.8 A total
Nano Pro	4000 W (2 × 2000 W)	~16.7 A total	~36.4 A total
Molecule Air	6000 W (3 × 2000 W)	~25 A total	~54.5 A total

These are theoretical peaks — actual draw under normal workloads is significantly lower. But you should size circuits and UPS capacity against the peak, not the average.

Connecting your workstation

1. Place the workstation on a stable, flat surface with room around it for airflow. Avoid carpet — it’s a dust hazard and can block airflow from bottom vents on some chassis.

2. Connect your display to the ports on the graphics card (GPU), not the ports on the motherboard I/O shield. The motherboard video outputs are disabled on Renderboxes systems because a discrete GPU is always fitted. If you plug into the motherboard, you’ll get no picture.

   Most Renderboxes GPUs have HDMI and multiple DisplayPort outputs. Use the one that matches your monitor’s input.

3. Connect your keyboard and mouse to any of the USB ports. The front USB ports are convenient for things you plug and unplug often; the rear ports are good for permanent connections.

4. Connect the network cable to the main Ethernet port on the rear of the machine. If you’re using Wi-Fi instead, skip this and the machine will prompt you to connect to a wireless network during setup.

5. Connect the power cable(s) — use every cable supplied with your workstation (see the table above for how many PSUs your model has). Plug each kettle lead into its PSU socket on the rear of the chassis, then into a wall socket.

   Where possible, plug multi-PSU machines into the same mains spur so the workstation sees a consistent power source.

6. Switch on every PSU at the rear rocker if it has one (a small switch next to the mains socket on each power supply).

7. Press the power button on the front of the workstation.

What port goes where

For a full list of the ports on your specific model — which USB is which, where the front and rear I/O is, what speed each network port runs at — see your model’s page:

• Photon
• Electron
• Atom
• Atom Rack
• Nano Pro
• Molecule Air

First power-on

On the first boot, your workstation will:

1. POST through the motherboard firmware (you’ll see the Renderboxes or motherboard logo briefly)
2. Boot into Windows and run the final out-of-box setup steps — region, timezone, user account, network
3. Run Windows Update to pull any last-minute driver and security updates

Give it time

The first boot takes longer than normal boots. 10–20 minutes is perfectly normal — the machine is completing out-of-box setup, applying updates, and indexing for the first time. Don’t force shutdown. Make a coffee.

After setup

Your Renderboxes workstation is configured at our workshop with the correct drivers, BIOS settings, and software for its specific hardware configuration. Out of the box, you shouldn’t need to install anything manually — but if you do need to update a specific driver later, see Driver installation.

For nearly everyone, the next step is just “start using it”.

If something goes wrong

If the first boot fails, the machine doesn’t POST, or you see errors:

1. Power off and unplug everything.
2. Wait 30 seconds.
3. Reconnect power, display, and peripherals, then power on again.

If that doesn’t help, open a support ticket — your warranty covers this. See Warranty and service for how to contact us and what to include.