Results of latency test, list of computers tested for use with LinuxCNC

Model E430
Yes, the disk is spinny
I did not try tuning any BIOS power settings ... should I try some?
Also, besides loading a full loaded ISO ... do I need to be installing some other dependencies?

For general use for running a machine no.
Unless you intend building Linuxcnc from source or using qt based screens. I'm can't comment on the Debian based ISOs but the Mint ones I put together will get you up & running without having to install anything apart from the deps for qt if needed if you wish to use one of the "eye candy" screens.

Yes the general rule is to disable as much power saving & speed step options as possible, this is mentioned ad nauseam on just about every thread discussing latency, tho this can cause a laptop to run a little hotter than normal.

BeagleBrainz wrote: For general use for running a machine no.
Unless you intend building Linuxcnc from source or using qt based screens. I'm can't comment on the Debian based ISOs but the Mint ones I put together will get you up & running without having to install anything apart from the deps for qt if needed if you wish to use one of the "eye candy" screens.

Yes the general rule is to disable as much power saving & speed step options as possible, this is mentioned ad nauseam on just about every thread discussing latency, tho this can cause a laptop to run a little hotter than normal.

Got it. Will try that and run another round of tests. The kernel was not updating even though the updater says a newer version is available... is that by design?

Best practice is not to update the realtime kernel, at least with the ISO's I put out. I spent quite a bit of time testing & building a few different kernels, even iterations of the same version. Personally I don't touch the kernel. I've had servers running for +7 years on the same hardware & kernel 24/7 with no issues. The reason I did do a total upgrade is that I was running Slackware and was getting a little tired of compiling up to 12 different packages to satisfy dependencies when wanting to install new software and keeping track of multiple versions of different libs.
I tested older & newer kernels than the one I put on the ISO. So far I haven't heard of any issues, apart from some teething problems when installing on UEFI systems, which has been addressed.
I can't really comment on the Debian based ISO as I don't use them myself.
Put it this way, if your PC runs for 15 years and without any hardware failures, the system will run without any issues for that time. The kernel and programs don't "get old & die" they will keep going & going.
I would guess that there are systems still running early versions of Linuxcnc on Ubuntu 10 that are performing just as well now as the day there were installed.

BeagleBrainz wrote: I would guess that there are systems still running early versions of Linuxcnc on Ubuntu 10 that are performing just as well now as the day there were installed.

heh ... probably at nuclear power plants and air traffic control centers.

Is there anything else that should not be updated?

thx

Do you think much about updating the firmware on the computer in your car ? Unless of course your into performance mods.
What about the 20 odd billion home appliances in a home that have a mcu ?
What about a tread mill or exercise bike ?
My CNC box doesn't get updated that often as the only network connection it has is when I plug in a USB adapter. And all it gets used for is running the mill.

It's purely up to you how often you update.