Ok, so i'm trying to put a second pc together to enable me to test a new table i am building without stopping my existing table working.

I have managed to find a lowly Dell Dimension desktop that had '98 running on it and updated it to XP sp3, it has a speedy 500mhz processor, massive 128m ram and a super 10gig hard disk 

I have Mach running on it now, it passed the port test at 25khz only, any other speed results in instant reboot 

I have set the motor tuning to something like what i need (9000mm/min) and have a simple g-code running an 1100mm square at full speed repeatedly on it.

Is there anything I should be aware of or does this sound like it will work when i connect the BOB up to the drives???

Thanks

I think you are going to find that it will not work well you are WELL below the minumum threshold of 1ghz and 256mb to run Mach3 dependably. 

(;-) TP

Hmm, ok

its mainly for testing and debugging the new table motion out, don't think it will ever get to fire the torch.

I'll try it anyway as nothing to lose but not push it into service.

Thanks

You have to be VERY carefull there as you are at the point that any problem you run into COULD be a PC GUSTO problem and not a M3 problem. It can be very hard to tell them apart sometimes.


Side note, the very best PC/M3 combo I have is an older  1.2ghz @256mb PC running W2k and an OLD version of Mach3(lpt) and it is bulletproof.  So newer bigger faster is NOT always better. (;-)

(;-) TP

I was surprised it even let me do the XP upgrade

I'll use it for testing and ditch it after, basically just need a control system to run the motors around while I'm tweaking the machine.