Both fast CPU & step generation desktop

I'm looking for a good LinuxCNC desktop candidate, but with powerful CPU. I need also to calculate toolpathes on it too with Blendercam.

Currently I'm using Intel Atom D425 (only 512Kb L2 cache, with 1.8Ghz frequency). Well, for step generation it's a good partner, but It horribly slow as a toolpath calculation machine.

Does anybody found fast CPU destktop for LinuxCNC?

I'm real happy with my Gigabyte H81M-S2H GSM mother board. The H81M has < 5000 servo period latency, the best I've ever seen. I used a G3260 processor with the H81M.

JT

BigJohnT wrote: I'm real happy with my Gigabyte H81M-S2H GSM mother board. The H81M has < 5000 servo period latency, the best I've ever seen. I used a G3260 processor with the H81M.

JT

Thanks. There is no any other options yet. So I will choose your hardware option. Thanks for advice!

BigJohnT wrote: I'm real happy with my Gigabyte H81M-S2H GSM mother board. The H81M has < 5000 servo period latency, the best I've ever seen. I used a G3260 processor with the H81M.

JT

I didn't find andy LPT port on Gigabyte H81M-S2H GSM, maybe you meant GA-H81M-S2PH ?

tarasko wrote:

BigJohnT wrote: I'm real happy with my Gigabyte H81M-S2H GSM mother board. The H81M has < 5000 servo period latency, the best I've ever seen. I used a G3260 processor with the H81M.

JT

I didn't find any LPT port on Gigabyte H81M-S2H GSM, maybe you meant GA-H81M-S2PH ?

Nope no mistake, I have no need for a parallel port. My ASRock H97 Pro4 has a LPT header on the motherboard and running RT-Preempt kernel with LinuxCNC Uspace I get 15k latency with 5 GLX Gears running.

JT

I've just bought the same hardware you have, but in debian wheezy intel graphics driver is too old for g3260. I can't set resolution higher than 1440x900 ? Did you face the same problem? Thanks.

No, I'm running LinuxMint with the Mate desktop. I've just installed Debian Sneezy on one computer with no issues but not that one. I could swap hard drives perhaps and see if I have an issue.

gnipsel.com/files/linuxmint/mint17.3.txt

JT

Thanks. I'm curious is there way to use x86_64 environment? Because of limitation of max RAM capacity (for i386 max available address space is 2^32 = 4GB). I have 16Gb of RAM and it's useless in i386, besides, generation of CAM toolpathes with Blendercam requires a large amount of RAM. Of course it's possible work having 0.8Gb of RAM but it could be much faster to have access to all 16Gb RAM that I have.

I've installed Debian Jessie x86_64 with Linux cnc 3.18.13-rt10mah+ #3 SMP PREEMPT RT kernel.
Well latency test is showing ~70000 ns Base thread period comparing to stock i386 Wheezy image with RTAI kernel which gives ~6000 ns. So the main problem is that there are no RTAI kernel for x86_64? Is there a way to compile such? Thanks.

Depending on the hardware 70,000nS might be perfectly OK.