Re: [Emc-users] Building a Basic EMC system for < $500

[Kenneth M. <co...@gr...>]

Jon -

That's an excellent way to get a spare machine to work with EMC.

But I'm looking to build new - because this system is for a paying 
customer.

I bought a Walmart special (<$500 with monitor) -- it works okay, but a 
custom built would probably still be better.

Thanks though - I'm going to follow up and get one of the Dell's for 
development.

KenMc

On Saturday, April 16, 2005, at 11:34 AM, Jon Elson wrote:

> Kenneth McNamara wrote:
>
>> First, thanks to the developers - I have a functioning EMC XY table 
>> made from BDI 4.18.  It's just awesome and I pretty much proved that 
>> I couldn't do it without you.
>>
>> Now....
>>
>> I'd like to build a basic EMC system for < $500.  (Monitor not 
>> included)
>>
>> No frills.
>>
>> Sweet spot CPU (speed VS cost) - that point in the product life cycle 
>> where the CPU is not being sold at a premium - but it's not a dead 
>> horse either.
>
> Buy a 500 - 600 MHz Dell Optiplex GX110 - very small box, runs RT(ai) 
> Linux great, got
> all you need, very reliable.  I get these on eBay for ~ $80 delivered. 
>  If you are willing to
> wait and lowball them, you will eventually get lucky.  Or, you can 
> call up the brokers
> with these things and make an offer without eBay.
>
>>
>>
>> RAM to match EMC requirements X2
>
> 256 MB is plenty, but you can get more if needed.
>
>>
>> 2 IDE drives (any suggestions on mirroring in Debian with IDE drives?)
>>     - more important to get a pair of drives than massive storage
>
> OK, this moves you to the larger box, that is an Optiplex GX1 for the 
> older CPUs,
> or a GX150 for the 1 GHZ models.  That will run you about $150 - 180 
> delivered.
>
>>
>> 1 IDE CDROM drive
>>     -- cost and reliability - not speed (although that's probably not 
>> an issue these days)
>
> Built into all Dells.
>
>>
>> Video with on card memory (I'm presuming that shared video introduces 
>> problems)
>>     1024x768 with 1,000's of colors
>>     A card with a good track record for real time systems - but not 
>> the latest most expensive
>
> Most of these boxes have on-mobo video that runs fine with Linux & 
> BDI.  I have had a problem
> with the GX110 with the BDI 4.18, others work fine.  Just plug in an 
> Nvidia card if it is a
> problem.
>
>>
>> 2 USB ports
>
> Yup, built into all of them.
>
>> Ethernet (please comment on built-in or external)
>
> Yes, built into all of them, works fine, 3Com 3C509 chip set.
>
>>
>> Case on the small side - a small desktop - virtually no expansion is 
>> okay
>>     Something suitable to mount with a machine tool
>
> The really small boxes (GX110 can't fit 2 hard drives)
>
>>
>> Quality power supply
>
> Dell uses good stuff.  I have a couple at work, and now a couple here 
> at home,
> all very reliable.
>
>>
>>
>> I'm sure I'm missing a lot - please point it out.
>>
>> Any experience with rolling your own for EMC would really be 
>> appreciated.
>
> I won't do this anymore, as the cheap off-lease Dells are so cheap and 
> work so well.
>
> Jon
>
>
>
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