Performance

The CPU is the heart of every industrial computer, and it is responsible for the overall performance of the industrial computing solution that you choose. As such, it is essential to select a processor capable of handling any of the tasks and workloads that you throw at it.

People often want to cut corners when it comes to the CPU to save on an industrial computer’s overall cost. However, choosing a processor that is not powerful enough can result in sluggish performance, slowing down your workflow and causing downtime. So, when choosing the CPU that’s right for your industrial PC, you should select an option that is powerful enough to ensure a steady and uninterrupted workflow.

Environments

The industrial PC that you choose will depend on the environment in which the PC will be deployed. Some choose to deploy regular desktop PCs in environments that are exposed to extreme temperatures, shocks, vibration, dust, and debris and then wonder why the PC failed so quickly. Such environments require an industrial computer that can handle the volatile environment in which the system will be deployed.

Embedded industrial computers are designed and built with ruggedness in mind, enabling them to be deployed in environments that experience extremely hot or extremely cold temperatures, vibrations, shocks, dust, and debris.

Application

Choosing the right industrial PC depends on the applications that you need your industrial PC to perform. For example, industrial computers are often deployed in industrial settings as workstations and HMIs (human-machine interface) in manufacturing plants, food processing plants, farms, warehouses, transportation nodes, medical institutions, hazardous locations, and a variety of other locations.  

The industrial computer you choose will depend on the intensity and number of applications you want your system to perform. The greater the applications and the more demanding the software, the more compute power you will need to ensure that the system runs smoothly and reliably.

Connectivity

After you’ve figured out the compute power that you need, the environment in which the industrial computer will be placed, and the applications you want to run, it’s time to consider the connectivity options you want to configure your system with.

Operating System

Many people often do not consider the OS until they have the system in hand, but it is extremely important to test all the parts to ensure they work together harmoniously. As such, we work very diligently with our customers to ensure that the systems work flawlessly when they receive them.

Power

Rugged industrial computers are able to run in remote locations where stable power is not always available. This is due to the ability of industrial computers to run on DC power. Premio industrial computers can operate on a wide power range between 9 – 50 VDC, enabling industrial computers to be deployed in a wide variety of power-efficient applications. Some of the industrial computers also have a feature to toggles between pc or car mode in order to run off the 12/24VDC battery of a vehicle.

Storage, Memory, and Expansion

The last item that you should consider when choosing an industrial PC is the storage solution that your workload requires. Industrial computers can be configured with standard hard drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). If you need to run regular applications that do not require real-time access, you can configure your system with mechanical drives.  

However, if you require high-speed access to localized storage, you should equip your system with an SSD. SSDs offer extremely fast data transfer speeds, enabling real-time data processing and decision making. Additionally, equipping a system with an SSD vs. an HDD makes the system more reliable and more resistant to frequent shocks and vibrations because there are no moving platters in SSDs that can be damaged.