Improved pulse timing on all-in-one motherboard

[Beefy]

Hi Everybody,

my Mach computer has an all in one motherboard. Now I've heard that Mach runs best when a computer has an independant graphics card.

So with an all in one motherboard, could I install a graphics card in the spare PCI-e slot, and I guess disable the one board graphics in the bios, thereby leaving the processor with less tasks to do.

Or does it not work like that. Does the motherboard need to be one which is not and all-in-one type, and you must have an independant graphics card in the boards slot.

Thanks,

Beefy

[florins]

Hi Beefy,

I am using Intel Atom 330 Dual-Core based boards on two of my routers. One is going directly on the parallel port, the other one uses a SmoothStepper. Both boards are single board computers http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=47#jnc92-330 (this means with integrated graphics and everything else on the board) and both are working impeccably. I have 1 GB RAM and Windows XP on the parallel port one, and 2 GB RAM and Windows 7 on the SmoothStepper one.

It's true, in both cases, nothing else really runs on these computers.

You can install the graphics card, but Mach 3 itself is not that graphically intensive, so I don't believe that you'll see a difference.

Hope this helps,

Florin

[rock4xfab]

I am in the same boat, I purchased a DELL GX560 off EBAY just to run the plasma table. It has the graphics on the MB. I looked at installing another card to be safe but it is a MINI and the regular size card will not even fit in the case. So I hope I wont have any issues.

[ksanalytical]

I've actually just done this but for a completely different application. All that was required was installation of the card (my application is running inside DOS so I didn't even need to install drivers for basic functions) and change the BIOS to prioritize the PCI graphics card over the integrated graphics card. I don't know that it will make any difference to Mach, but my system was giving me all kinds of problems before changing the card.

The only question is whether or not your BIOS has a setting like this. Note: Do not change the setting until the new card is installed and make sure you back up ahead of times, otherwise, you might be left without any way to interact with the computer... Don't ask me how I know.


Ken

[Beefy]

Thanks for your input guys. I think for now I'll save some cash unless any obvious problem arises. From what you have told me it will probably be OK without a separate graphics card. I'm using a P4 3.2 Ghz processor and 2 gig of ram. Bare installation of XP and done the Mach optimisation recommendation. Nothing else installed.

Cheers,

Keith