With the continuous advancement of technology, industrial control computers (ICCs), as specialized devices in the computer field, are widely used in industrial control, robotics, automated production, and other areas. Due to their high reliability and stability, more and more companies need to purchase ICCs to support their manufacturing processes. However, for many, purchasing an ICC remains a significant challenge because they are unclear about the specific parameters required for selection. Below, this article will detail the key parameters needed to purchase an ICC, allowing you to easily understand the essentials for selecting one.
Applicable Environment
The applicable environment for industrial PCs is one of the key factors that must be considered when purchasing one. Industrial PCs are typically installed in various harsh environments, such as industrial sites with high levels of dust, high temperatures, humidity, and vibration. The size, durability, and operating temperature of the industrial PC must be selected based on the actual usage environment.
Size: The size of the industrial PC should be selected based on the actual installation space. If the installation space is limited, a NUC or micro industrial PC can be selected. However, if the installation location requires more space, such as in a rack or wall-mounted steel plate, a suitable industrial PC chassis needs to be selected.
Durability: The durability of industrial PCs also needs to be considered. Industrial environments often contain many types of corrosive substances, such as water and chemical materials. In such cases, industrial PCs with reinforced corrosion-resistant casings are essential.
Operating temperature: Ambient temperature is also an important factor affecting the normal operation of industrial PCs. If the actual operating environment temperature is very high, then an industrial PC that can operate under high-temperature conditions for a long time is needed, such as an industrial-grade industrial PC with a temperature range of -20℃ to +60℃.
Performance parameters
Performance is another important factor when purchasing an industrial PC. When choosing an industrial PC, performance selection needs to be based on the corresponding application scenario, such as the required CPU, memory, gaming GPU, network interface, and SPI interface.
CPU: The CPU is a key factor affecting the performance of industrial PCs. Currently, most mainstream industrial PC CPUs on the market are Intel or AMD processors, generally arranged from low to high performance. The key to selection is to choose based on application requirements. For applications requiring high computing power, a CPU processor with more cores and a higher frequency should be selected.
Memory: RAM is another key parameter. When choosing RAM, you must select a configuration that is sufficient and stable for the application's operation. If your actual use case requires a large number of programs to run simultaneously or large data processing jobs, then you will need to choose stacked RAM with a large capacity.
GPU: Graphics card performance plays a crucial role in the gaming field, but for industrial control computers, it is usually not a very necessary parameter unless you need to support certain specific applications and graphics tasks.
Network Interface and SPI: When selecting an industrial PC, the network interface and SPI configuration need to be chosen based on the purpose of the purchase. For applications requiring high-volume data transmission, a gigabit Ethernet port is necessary, while applications that may need to connect a large number of sensors will require a sufficient number of SPI interfaces.
operating system
For most industrial applications, choosing a stable, reliable, and highly compatible operating system is essential. When selecting an operating system, you can choose an existing one based on your actual application needs. Windows is well-suited for low-cost industrial control, while Linux-based industrial PCs can meet more demanding application performance requirements.
price
As a high-end device, industrial PCs are typically more expensive than regular computers. However, it's essential to assess your needs before purchasing and compare the required features with the price. We should always remember: we should only buy an industrial PC that suits our needs within our budget.
Hopefully, this introduction has helped you understand the key factors to consider when purchasing an industrial PC. Generally, we recommend evaluating industrial PCs based on your specific needs, considering different factors. When buying an industrial PC, you should ensure its high reliability, stability, expandability, upgradeability, and cost-effectiveness, and make a careful evaluation and selection within your budget. Ultimately, choosing a suitable industrial PC can help improve your company's productivity and quality, and reduce unnecessary costs.
