new computer

[Claude Boudreau]

Hi, I have bought Mach 3 about 5 years ago to run my home made cnc router.
Using bob-cad ver.23 to produce the g-code I had a good experience with both software.
As I am planning to upgrade my computer and that parallel port are seldom used now, is there a way to control my cnc with usb port or is the parallel port essential with Mach 3 ?

[fixtureman1]

If you get a new PC you could install a new parallel port IO card

[mcphill]

You can install a parallel port card, use a smooth stepper, of find a motherboard that does still include a parallel port. I bought an Atom based motherboard last year with a Dual Core Atom 1.2 GHz and it does great running MACH3.

Here are a few:

Intel D410PT Motherboard Details and Product Specifications - Epinions.com
Intel D945GCLF2D Motherboard Details and Product Specifications - Epinions.com
Intel D945GCLF2 Motherboard Details and Product Specifications - Epinions.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/tech-data/B0049MN7ZA]Amazon.com: Intel Atom Dual-Core D525/Intel NM10/DDR3/A&V&GbE/Mini-ITX Motherboard BLKD525MW, Bulk: Electronics
Intel BOXD425KT Desktop Board BGA559 Mini-ITX Motherboard Atom D425 NM10 Express Chipset GMA 3150 Onboard Video-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

[coherent]

As already stated, a smoothstepper board is the way to go. Also remember Mach3 won't work with a x64 bit operating system via a parallel port even you you can find a new computer that has one. The smoothstepper is connected via USB, then it has a couple of parallel connection out to your driver or breakout board. So, you can use a 64 bit OS or even a laptop to control your system. There are other motion control boards out there, but folks are happy with the smoothstepper for use with Mach it seems, so I'd stict with something proven to work well.

[ger21]

Rumor has it that a new Ethernet Smoothstepper may be available in about a month, and I've heard it works much better than the USB version.

There are also several other non parallel port Mach3 options, but they start at about $250 and can go up to about $1000.

K-Flop
CSMIO
PureLogic
Centipede

[AiR_GuNNeR]

My biggest complaint about the smooth stepper is the slow updates on the driver. ASAIK, backlash compensation still has not been fixed yet, an you can't home X and Y axis at the same time.

[Claude Boudreau]

You can install a parallel port card, use a smooth stepper, of find a motherboard that does still include a parallel port. I bought an Atom based motherboard last year with a Dual Core Atom 1.2 GHz and it does great running MACH3.

Here are a few:

Intel D410PT Motherboard Details and Product Specifications - Epinions.com
Intel D945GCLF2D Motherboard Details and Product Specifications - Epinions.com
Intel D945GCLF2 Motherboard Details and Product Specifications - Epinions.com
Amazon.com: Intel Atom Dual-Core D525/Intel NM10/DDR3/A&V&GbE/Mini-ITX Motherboard BLKD525MW, Bulk: Electronics
Intel BOXD425KT Desktop Board BGA559 Mini-ITX Motherboard Atom D425 NM10 Express Chipset GMA 3150 Onboard Video-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

Just wondering how much RAM does 32 bits system permits? can I improve my 2.5gig?

[mcphill]

Just wondering how much RAM does 32 bits system permits? can I improve my 2.5gig?

You can stuff in 4 GB, but 32-bit many systems won't recognize more than 3 GB. You won't be gaining much if anything over the 2.5 GB you have already - probably not worth the time and money.

Memory Limits for Windows Releases

[Claude Boudreau]

[QUOTE=mcphill;1028285]You can stuff in 4 GB, but 32-bit many systems won't recognize more than 3 GB. You won't be gaining much if anything over the 2.5 GB you have already - probably not worth the time and money.

Could this prevent the use of the 3gb switch?

[mcphill]

Sorry, don't know enough to answer your question...