Messages

271

General Mach Discussion / Anyone tried Windows 8 32-bit?

« on: January 28, 2013, 09:28:11 PM »

I am getting ready to build a new computer for my machine. I did purchase Win 7 32 bit for it.

I have 32 bit Windows 8 I could try first though, just as an experiment.

I am just wondering if anyone already tried it and confirmed it will not work. I don't want to waste my time if it for sure won't work, but it would be free (other than time), for me to try it before I load up Win 7 on there.

Any thoughts?
It would save me some money if it worked (I could return or resell my Win 7)

My machine is just a hobby toy, so I don't need it up and running right away for production or anything. I could try Win 8 and see what happens if it is worthwhile for anyone to know if it works??

I am using parallel ports (no motion controller). 

272

General Mach Discussion / Re: New computer questions

« on: January 28, 2013, 09:17:37 PM »

I just got my parts from Micro-Center. No waiting and better prices than Tiger-Direct on a lot of stuff.

I ended up with:
Intel i3 3225 $119.99 (retail box with fan etc)
Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H MATX Motherboard $24.99 (was $50 off with processor)
Sandisk Extreme 120 Gig SSD drive $89.99
Kingwin Internal Dual 2.5" HDD/SSD to 3.5" Plastic Mounting Kit $4.99
Cooler Master TC102 Mid Tower ATX Computer Case with 500W Power Supply $36.99
Kingwin 120mm BB Fan (x2) $3.99 Each
Kingston HyperX Red 4GB DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800) CL 9 Memory Module $19.99
LG 24x Super Multi Internal SATA DVDRW DL Drive  $15.99

All new computer with good stuff = $320.91 + tax
Not bad

The sucky part is I had to pay $87.96 For Window 7 Home Premium 32 bit. I just couldn't bring myself to put my old XP on this thing.
The good thing is for some weird reason they had a single returned one that was lower priced than normal.

So, now I have some work to do.

Since I went the all new route, I will have to make the old one work once I take it out so I can sell it. I should be able to get back $100-150 for that one though.

Hopefully my computer headaches will gone after this.

273

General Mach Discussion / Re: New computer questions

« on: January 28, 2013, 05:18:59 PM »

I think that is what I will do. If it does not cooperate, I might just invest in a motion contoller instead of a video card.....

I also may downgrade to a Celeron G550, they are only $35, but that may not offer the $50 off on a motherboard with that one. Going to the store after work to shop....

274

General Mach Discussion / Re: New computer questions

« on: January 28, 2013, 01:48:37 PM »

It looks like it would have graphics capability that is built into the i3.


Graphics Specifications

Processor Graphics

Intel® HD Graphics 2500


Graphics Base Frequency

650 MHz


Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency

1.05 GHz


Intel® Quick Sync Video

Yes


Intel® InTru™ 3D Technology

Yes


Intel® Insider™

Yes


Intel® Wireless Display

Yes


Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)

Yes


Intel® Clear Video HD Technology

Yes


# of Displays Supported

3

275

General Mach Discussion / New computer questions

« on: January 28, 2013, 01:39:18 PM »

Due to troubles with my computer on my CNC, I think I am going to build a new computer.

I believe I am going to go with:
Intel i3 3220 $99.99
MSI Z77A-G41 Motherboard $34.99 w/processor purchase.
Couple gis of memory
Reusing my Parallel card (PCI I thing-have to look again)
Reusing my wireless network card (PCI also I think)
400-500 Watt power supply and new case
64 Gig SSD Drive
DVD
Windows 7 32 Bit

This is about the best price/performance I think I will do. Not sure where I will get it Yet. It's overkill for Mach3 I know, but should be stable (I hope).  I know an old junk computer should work, but I am tired of fighting with them and getting nowhere on my CNC machine.

My main question is on the Video card side of things. I know on the specs required page for Mach 3 it recommends a seperate video card. Is this really necessary with my proposed setup that will be very fast for a mach3 dedicated computer? I really don't want to pay for a seperate video card that I don't need, unless it is going to cause problems with Mach 3, then I will get one.

I am still trying to figure out if the board above even has on board video, it has vga port and HDMI, but I have not found where it says it has on board video. Either way I will try to pick a MB with on board video, unless you guys tell my I should not use on board video even on a newer faster MB/Processor.

276

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't deal with XP and old computers any more. Help!

« on: January 27, 2013, 11:15:55 PM »

Hmm, I deleted the partition more than once and even selected the slow formatting version when creating the new partition (not the quick format one). How could it not have wiped it enough that it would still be using old files? I am doubting all that extra work will do anything for me.....you still think so based on this?

277

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't deal with XP and old computers any more. Help!

« on: January 27, 2013, 11:00:13 PM »

Looking around and is even more discouraging. I am going to spend more getting this computer to run than just buying a new computer

I can find a new computer for under $300 (non-proprietary) with Windows 7, but they all have the 64 bit version I guess I could ask them for one with 32 bit on it.

Will the 32 bit even work right on a 64 bit machine?

278

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't deal with XP and old computers any more. Help!

« on: January 27, 2013, 10:14:16 PM »

Makes sense, but sounds like it is getting a little too proprietary for me. I like to be able to upgrade, swap parts, upgrade or change OS, etc. without buying from one source.

It also sounds like these may not be available now? I want to get this going ASAP. I sold my little mill, so if I need to mill something, this is all I have. I want to start building my router and possibly a 3D printer soon, and need to get past this and learn how to use it properly.

Based on what I have read so far, I think my cheapest course of action is to just find a Win 7 32 bit disc as cheep as I can. Install it and see if I can get a bootable computer. If so then run it a bit and see if it has issues still. If not, then I am done. If it still acts up I can at least do some diagnostics to narrow it down. If it will not load even with Win 7, then at least I have a new OS for when I change components in the PC. Since nothing is going to work above 32 bit, I guess that is all I can do since Win 8 seems to not be an option (or at least no one has said they have tried it).

So, tomorrow my mission will be to find Win 7 32 Bit as cheep as possible and go from there.

279

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't deal with XP and old computers any more. Help!

« on: January 27, 2013, 09:53:15 PM »

How much are those?
What is the advantage of having it embedded over just using a solid state drive so you can change it later if needed?

I can basically replace all the guts of this case for $500 or less and have a pretty fast computer with SSD etc. Most of the ones people sell for CNC seem to cost a couple thousand plus??

Will Mach 4 Hobby have these same OS constraints? Hate to gimp the computer if it won't be an issue in the future. I have not bought the full version of Mach 3 yet, because I have not been able to cut a part yet to need more lines of code. By then maybe Mach 4 will be out?

280

General Mach Discussion / Re: Can't deal with XP and old computers any more. Help!

« on: January 27, 2013, 09:37:56 PM »

SO you are tired of all the problems with the old stuff BUT want to jump right into the fire with a version not proven to run mach3 correctly???

Have you tried reloading the XP you have as a clean install Reformatting  the drive??

Just a thought, (;-) TP

No, hence the part where I am asking questions first Ultimately I just want to stop wasting my valuable time and get the machine to cut something. Right now it is dead in the water because of the PC. Windows XP will not load period. I am going to have to update something and with that comes questions of updating the OS. I would never use XP on any computer again, except Mach 3 is a problem...

I deleted the partition and reformatted a new one. Win XP will not load. I can get it past the input of the CD key and the time/date/time zone stuff, and after that I get a BSOD. I had a lot of errors to battle just getting it that far, but had no success with the BSOD every time I try. The only thing I can try next is taking out hardware until I find a way that it lets it load without a BSOD or other error. Or, I can try a different OS....

Right now I think some piece of hardware is not liking drivers or something as it is installing. But this is just an educated guess based on where it is stopping during the install.

This is Windows XP Home Premium. Unfortunately, this is all I have available except Windows 8. So I will have to buy something to try anything else.

So if I have to buy a new OS I guess Win 7 32 bit is the way to go? I was only asking about Win 8 because I have it now at $0 dollars to spend and it has 32 bit.....not saying It is a good idea, just asking...