Machsupport Forum
Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: jes on April 11, 2017, 09:16:31 PM
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Hi,
Does anyone know what the best operating system is for Mach3?
We were using windows XP and are now looking at getting another computer.
Anyone got any suggestions.
Thanks
Jes
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Hi Jes,
Welcome to the forum.
My personal preference for running Mach3 is WinXP (but genuine copies of this OS are getting harder to obtain nowadays).
Mach3 Minimum Recommended Requirements:-
Requirements if using the parallel port for machine control:
Desktop PC (Laptops are not supported) with at least one parallel port
32-bit version of Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (64-bit versions will not work)
1Ghz CPU
512MB RAM
Non-integrated Video Card with 32MB RAM (Large G-code files, especially 3D files will require a video card with 512MB RAM or higher)
Requirements if using an external motion device for machine control:
An appropriate external motion controller
Desktop or Laptop with Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 /10
1Ghz CPU
512MB RAM
Video Card with 32MB RAM (Large G-code files, especially 3D files will require a video card with 512MB RAM or higher)
Tweakie.
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Hi,
the question is do you wish to use an external motion controller?
If you do want to use an external controller then use whatever OS you want up to Win10 64 bit.
If you don't ie you wish to use a parallel port motion controller then your OS is 32bit Win7 or earlier.
Mach will run happily under just about any Windows OS but a parallel port motion driver IS OS dependent
and also dependent on how the PC is configured. Some otherwise good PCs run PP like a dog and yet an old $10 XP
clunker will run fine. A major reason that so many CNCers have migrated to an external controller like a UC100
or Smoothstepper is that Mach is SO much less dependent on OS or PC configuration.
Craig