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

Automation1 iPC Industrial PC (-CC04 or -CC05)

Automation1 iPC (-CC04) and Automation1 iPC (-CC05) are fully configured control cabinet industrial PCs that can be used with A3200 HyperWire systems. This PC is only available through Aerotech. Advantech AIMB-275 Mini-ITX motherboard (compact control cabinet) Intel® Core™ i5-7500 or i7-7700 processor Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Long-Term Service Channel (LTSC). Windows 11 is not supported on this platform. When purchasing this Automation1 iPC, you must choose the -CC04 or -CC05 configuration because these are the only configurations that contain the AIMB-275 motherboard supported by A3200. See Automation1 iPC Intelligent Industrial PC for information about how to order this PC.

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 these 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. You must use Windows 10 64-bit. Windows 11 is not supported in A3200. Refer to Advantech AIMB-786 Specifications and BIOS Settings for ordering and configuration information.
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tower	The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tower is a commercially available PC that has good real-time performance, but it is not an industrial PC. Aerotech tested this PC with the Intel® Core™ i7-13700K processor. You must use Windows 10 64-bit. Windows 11 is not supported in A3200. The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tower 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 ThinkStation P3 Tower works with A3200. Refer to Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tower 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 the Intel® Core™ i5-12500 or i5-12600. You must use Windows 10 64-bit. Windows 11 is not supported in A3200. 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 Specifications and BIOS Settings for ordering and configuration information.

Legacy PC Options

General PC Configuration and Optimization

The PC pages in this guide include information about:

• Ordering
• Supported configurations
• BIOS settings

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

• Ordering, supported configurations, and BIOS settings.

  • If you will be using one of the PCs that Aerotech has tested and approved, go to the applicable page that follows for information about ordering and configuration.
    • Advantech AIMB-275 Specifications and BIOS Settings
    • Advantech AIMB-786 Specifications and BIOS Settings
    • Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tower Specifications and BIOS Settings
    • Supermicro X13SAE Specifications and BIOS Settings
  • Go to Optimizing A3200 Performance for information about which Windows settings to set.

• Windows Updates and Your PC

  • This section tells you how to best configure your PC so that you can control how and when Windows updates occur. This is important because automatic updates can change the configuration of PC settings that have an effect on real-time performance.