New pc for LinuxCNC

I need to repace the old Dell Optiplex. I need some recomendations on a new relatively inexpensive pc that will run 10.4 and LinuxCNC well

Thanks in advance
Paul

Hi

The best general reviews on the forum for new motherboards have been for the Intel D525MW mini ITX.

It has a parallel port, 1.66 - 1.8Ghz processor fitted, onboard video and needs only 12v supply and no fan.
Fit a small SSD or DOM, 2GB of memory and it returns +/- 10K latency, which is as good as you will get with 10.04 on practically anything

Make sure you get the Intel board, I wouldn't touch Gigabyte after some bad experiences in the past and the Asus board is different.

They are supposedly difficult to get hold of now, but a quick google found lots over here, average price £60

For slightly more you can get one with a case complete with card reader, PSU etc, just requiring RAM and SSD to be fitted
www.dabs.com/search?q=intel%20D525

Just check the spec against the bare board to ensure the graphics chip etc has not been changed, or if it has, that it works well with Linux.
Intel have a nasty habit of upgrading perfectly good stuff to things with no open source drivers.

regards

I have found a d525mwve complete for under $500, comes tested and loaded with 10.4. I think it would work. No cd I would have to install Linux CNC from some where is that possible?

Paul

andypugh wrote:

paulstenlund wrote:

I have found a d525mwve complete for under $500,

That seems expensive.

I agree, sounds very expensive, especially as prices always seem far lower in the US than the UK.

I built one with special ITX case, PSU, 2GB RAM, 32GB SSD and slimline DVD writer for about £240 (approx $388)
The ones in the link I gave were £129 requiring drive and RAM so would come out about the same.

This one in the US is $199 with case and Pico PSU and includes 1GB RAM so just needs a small SSD or DOM
www.mitxpc.com/proddetail.asp?prod=EKIAD525M350

regards

Great tip Andy thanks a million, I bought one,w/ more memory , big HD and WIFI. I would guess you loaded LinuxCNC from an external cd or flash drive?

Thanks again