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 Automation1 PC-based controllers.
IMPORTANT: This guide is not necessary for drive-based controllers because they do not run a real-time operating system on the PC. You should be able to use most Windows PCs and laptops with a drive-based controller. Drive-based controllers include the iXA4, iXC2, iXC2e, iXC4, iXC4e, iXC6e, iXI4, iXL2e, iXL5e, and iXR3.
Aerotech selects industrial PCs with a processor and motherboard on the Intel-embedded roadmap. These platforms usually work the best with the Automation1 PC-based controller because they have the qualities that follow:
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Long-life processors and motherboards
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Configurations that are usually available for years longer than a commercially available PC
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Usually can be configured for real-time control
Aerotech recommends that you use the
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 Automation1
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 |
|---|---|
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Automation1 iPC Intelligent Industrial PC |
The Automation1 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.
See Automation1 iPC Intelligent Industrial PC for information about how to order this PC. |
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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:
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
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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. |
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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.
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 Automation1. 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 Automation1. Contact Global Technical Support for instructions on how to manually apply a custom INtime 7 upgrade so that the Lenovo P360 works with Automation1. Refer to Lenovo P360 PC Specifications and BIOS Settings for ordering and configuration information. |
|
Lenovo P340 |
The Lenovo P340 is a commercially available PC that has good real-time performance but not as good as an industrial PC. This PC is possibly no longer available for purchase. 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. |
General PC Configuration and Optimization
Refer to the page of your PC model for information about:
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Ordering
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Supported configurations
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BIOS settings
For all PCs, Aerotech recommends that you review the information that follows:
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Ordering, supported configurations, and BIOS settings.
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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.
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Use the User Guide for Optimizing Performance for information about which Windows settings to set.
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This guide 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.
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