PC Selection, Configuration, and Optimization for Aerotech Controllers

This page will help you select a PC for your Aerotech controller that uses the INtime real-time operating system. This information applies to all PCs that are used with A3200 PC-based controllers.

Aerotech selects industrial PCs with a processor and motherboard on the Intel-embedded roadmap. These platforms usually work the best with the A3200 PC-based controller because they have the qualities that follow:

  • Long-life processors and motherboards

  • Configurations that are usually available for years longer than a commercially available PC

  • Usually can be configured for real-time control

Aerotech recommends that you use the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Long-Term Service Channel (LTSC) or the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Long-Term Service Branch (LTSB) edition of Windows so that you have more control with Windows automatic updates.

Aerotech only supports the PC configurations that are in this guide. These PC options and configurations were fully tested to make sure that they can do real-time performance. There are several factors that determine the real-time performance of a PC, including the processor (CPU), motherboard chipset, and the specific BIOS/UEFI firmware from the manufacturer. You cannot determine if a PC can be used for real-time performance by looking at only PC specifications.

Supported PCs for A3200

Preferred PC Options

The table that follows includes the industrial PC models that Aerotech recommends. These PC models have the best performance with little configuration.

Table: Aerotech Preferred PCs

PC Option Description

A3200 iPC Intelligent Industrial PC

The A3200 iPC is a fully configured and optimized industrial PC. It can be shipped from Aerotech, and you can use it immediately to start controlling your system. No user configuration is necessary.

  • Available form factors: Desktop, 4U rack mount, and 1U rack mount

  • Based on the Advantech AIMB-785 motherboard

  • Intel Core™ i5 or Intel i7 processor

See A3200 iPC Intelligent Industrial PC for information about how to order this PC.

Advantech AIMB-275 or Advantech AIMB-785

You can purchase an Aerotech approved Advantech PC from the distributor (Arrow) or the manufacturer (Advantech). In the list that follows, the industrial PC motherboard and processor combinations were tested by Aerotech to make sure that they can achieve optimal performance:

  • Advantech AIMB-275 Mini-ITX motherboard (compact control cabinet)

  • Advantech AIMB-785 ATX motherboard (desktop, 4U rack mount, or 1U rack mount)

  • Intel® Core™ i5-7500 or i7-7700 processor

See Advantech AIMB-275 and AIMB-785 Specifications and BIOS Settings for ordering and configuration information.

Alternative PC Options

If you cannot use one of the PC options that Aerotech recommends, there are other options with good performance that Aerotech has tested. But, you must spend more time configuring these PCs. Make sure that you get the correct PC model number and Intel® processor model number before you purchase one of the PCs. See the table that follows for options.

Table: Alternative PC Options

PC Option

Description

Advantech AIMB-786

The Advantech AIMB-786 is an industrial PC ATX motherboard that you can use in a desktop, 4U, or 1U form factor. This PC has good performance. Aerotech tested this motherboard with the Intel® Core™ i7-8700 processor in a desktop configuration.

Refer to Advantech AIMB-786 Specifications and BIOS Settings for ordering and configuration information.

Supermicro X13SAE

The Supermicro X13SAE is a motherboard that you can purchase as a fully configured desktop PC or industrial PC. This PC was tested and has good real-time performance.

Aerotech recommends that you use Intel® Core™ i5-12500 or i5-12600.

During limited testing at Aerotech, the Supermicro X13SAE worked with A3200 6.04. But, the Supermicro X13SAE possibly can have performance problems because of the older version of INtime.

If necessary, contact Global Technical Support for instructions on how to manually apply a custom INtime 7 upgrade so that the Supermicro X13SAE works with A3200.

Refer to Supermicro X13SAE PC Specifications and BIOS Settings for ordering and configuration information.

Lenovo P360

The Lenovo P360 is a commercially available PC that has good real-time performance, but it is not an industrial PC.

Aerotech recommends that you use Intel® Core™i5-12500 or i5-12600.

The Lenovo P360 can have problems because of the older version of INtime that comes with A3200. Contact Global Technical Support for instructions on how to manually apply a custom INtime 7 upgrade so that the Lenovo P360 works with A3200.

Refer to Lenovo P360 PC Specifications and BIOS Settings for ordering and configuration information.

Lenovo P340

The Lenovo P340 PC has good real-time performance but not as good as an industrial PC. This PC is possibly no longer available to purchase. The Lenovo P340 is not compatible with A3200 because of the older version of INtime that is distributed with the software. If you use this PC option, you must contact Aerotech Global Technical Support for instructions on how to manually apply a custom INtime upgrade. To contact Aerotech, use the Global Technical Support Portal.

This PC was tested with the Intel® Core™ i5-10400 and Intel® i7-10700K processors.

Refer to Lenovo P340 PC Specifications and BIOS Settings for important ordering and configuration information.

Legacy PC Options

Aerotech supports older PCs for legacy A3200 systems. Some of these PC platforms are not easy to get because of their age. More information about these PCs is on the pages that follow:

General PC Configuration and Optimization

Refer to the page of your PC model for information about:

  • Ordering

  • Supported configurations

  • BIOS settings

For all PCs, Aerotech recommends that you review the information that follows:

Related Topics 

Known Problematic PC Models