2012/1/3 <kqt4a...@gmail.com>: > On Tue, 3 Jan 2012, Viesturs Lācis wrote: > >> 2012/1/3 gene heskett <ghesk...@wdtv.com>: >>> >>> >>> I do not currently have a machine that can boot from either usb or >>> network, >>> and that includes this $300 Asus mobo with a quad core phenom on it. So >>> ATM, the only universal boot to install method I have is to maintain a >>> working internal optical drive in every box. >> >> >> I am sure that there is even more universal method, which fits also >> size-limited situations - You can have one dvd drive for all machines >> and attach it to particular PC, when necessary. That way You will save >> on dvd drive cost, space in the case (and case size, if space limit is >> an issue) and, important for DIY cases, also effort of fitting it >> nicely in the case. >> >> >>>> I just would like to warn You about using D525 and LPT-based I/O card >>>> that requires EPP mode - Intel has screwed it up, I had a very bad >>>> experience with 3 D525 boards, other users can report success, so be >>>> careful. >>> >>> >>> I followed that discussion rather closely, but for steppers it doesn't >>> appear that fully working EPP is required. >> >> >> I mean those I/O cards that do hardware step generation and provide >> more I/O bits than there are LPT pins, like Mesa 7i43 or PicoSystems >> PPMC. >> >> Usual LPT breakout boards that require software step generation do not >> require EPP, so would work fine. >> > > As usual I am still quite confused > If the Mesa hardware will do the critical work, step generation, why does it > matter so much about the motherboard
It does not matter really much. It just happened that there is limited space for motherboard in the cases of machines I have built, so that is why I like using mini-ITX board. And I find D510/525 to be only viable option, because it comes with dual-core CPU and onboard video for incredible price. It requires only 3 additional things: 1) RAM (I use 2GB, so that I can live without swap partition); 2) HDD; 2 machines have SSDs, another 2 have pseudo-SSD drives - compactflash cards in SATA adapter. Both of these things will appreciate as little writes to the drive as possible, so I have no swap partition and also disabled access time writes to hdd; 3) PSU; As calculated by previous posters, the total cost of the PC is very low. Actually I find D525 to be the most cost-efficient way to build _new_ PC for EMC2. And it takes up so little space. In one of machines I managed to use standard ATX case and squeeze in it: 1) D525 board + PSU + CF card in SATA adapter; 2) Mesa 7i43 (to be replaced by 5i23) + 2x 7i39 servo drives 3) DIY optoisolator card 4) 3x Gecko drives 5) 2x 400W AC transformers 6) 2x rectifier bridges with capacitors If I had a chance to fit a VFD in there, I could say that _all_ controls and electronics of the machine are in the usual ATX PC case. What I wanted to say with all this - PC mainboard does not matter that much, but D525 has a lot of advantages, when compared to other options. Viesturs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Write once. Port to many. Get the SDK and tools to simplify cross-platform app development. Create new or port existing apps to sell to consumers worldwide. Explore the Intel AppUpSM program developer opportunity. appdeveloper.intel.com/join http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-appdev _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
