Industrial PC or Consumer based PC?

Let Use Cases Dictate the Right PC for You.

In general, all computers have the same features and functionality that enable them to process data, run business and personal applications, store high-value content, and view information electronically on a screen. The “basics” included that enable them to do these things are the processor, memory or RAM, and graphics chip or card. So, they don’t overheat, an included fan or fans turns on when triggered by a temperature variable. However, even though these “basics” allow people like you and me to do our jobs as accountants, lawyers, graphic designers, and engineers, use cases for industrial computing require more than the standard laptop or MacBook that you can purchase at your local computer warehouse or electronics store. As you consider your needs for industrial computing, think about the use cases for which an industrial strength computer is necessary.

One of the meanings of industrial, as defined by Merriam Webster, is “used in or developed for use in industry. Also: HEAVY-DUTY.” Therefore, if you picture an industrial strength computer, you’d probably picture it to look quite different than the laptop you used to write college essays on, or play your favorite video game with. In most cases, that is going to be true as industrial computers may come with shock-resistant cases making them look bulkier or even futuristic, by some design standards. What makes an industrial PC truly industrial, however, is what it has inside. The “guts” or all the electronic components contained in the frame have been chosen and assembled based on specific use cases for such computers in industrial settings. Here are some of the use cases where industrial computers are necessary and are going to outperform personal or consumer-based PCs:

1. Environments with Temperature Variances: If you’ve been on a factory floor, you’ve probably experienced firsthand how hot it can be. Running machines can kick out a lot of heat, and that heat can quickly degrade the performance of consumer PCs. If you need a computer terminal on the shop or factory floor, or you are a field engineer servicing or testing products in extreme environments, you need a computer that can perform under all weather conditions. Industrial PCs are built to operate in higher temperature conditions because of a fanless designs the dissipates heat more effectively.
2. Shock and Vibration: Perhaps you need to mount a PC on a forklift, or near an assembly line on the shop floor. If you do, you are going to need a PC rated to resist shock and vibrations that will most definitely occur. Ratings are going to vary based on PC make and model, but in general industrial PCs are going to be able to tolerate high shock occurrences and rapid vibrations.
3. Air Particulate and Dirt: A fanless design is the best choice in areas where air particulate and dirt are present. Industrial PCs with a fanless thermal design can efficiently cool the hard-working electrical components inside. The enclosures are designed to keep dust and other fine particulates out of the internal controls, preventing them from causing havoc on the wired connections that keep all your data processing smoothly.
4. Moisture Resistance: Industrial PCs will have an applicable IP (International Protection Marking) code rating for moisture (water) resistance. This means they’ve been tested under moisture or humidity conditions and have been rated to continue to perform at a high level based on their IP rating. Industrial PCs may feature touch screens with wet-touch capabilities. This design enables the user to continue operating the touch screen even when droplets of water are present on the screen. Choosing the appropriate ingress protection (IP Rating) on the industrial PC should be based on the specification environment of use.
5. Interference: Using computers in a setting where other computers are being used, as well as other machines with electrical components, is going to cause interference. This interference may appear as flickers or blips on the display or may result in an all-out system crash due to a voltage spike. Industrial PCs are built to withstand such interference, enabling the computer to perform as needed on the assembly line, within a specific manufacturing process, or in the hands of a mobile worker on a forklift moving product from a warehouse to the dock door.

These use cases outline typical scenarios where an industrial PC is going to outperform a personal or consumer-based PC. You may have expected industrial PCs to come with a higher price.  However, this is not always the case as the entire computer industry has seen a shift in component cost reductions. If you decide to use a consumer-based PC where the use cases above are in play, you can expect frequent issues to occur leading to higher service costs overall. Even if you only need an industrial PC to satisfy one of the above use cases, you will have peace of mind knowing your PC can stand up to environment variables and shouldn’t require frequent service.

As you consider your use cases for industrial computing, Comtronix is ready to help you determine the best computers for your industrial automation needs. Our consultative selling approach motivates us to seek to understand your use cases and business problems before proposing the best computer solutions for you. We design, manufacturer and support, Industrial Embedded Computers, Industrial Panel Computers, Industrial Rackmount Servers, Industrial Touch Monitors, Rugged Tablet Computers and Industrial Barcode Scanners. Check out our Product Builder and start customizing your solution today!