[rescue] off-topic but advice needed for the involuntary hardware upgrade for Win 11?

[Joshua Boyd]

On 12/18/24 17:22, Lionel Peterson via rescue wrote:
> If you choose to build a system for Win 11, almost anything current 
> should suffice, with a few caveats:
>
> - quad core or better
> - 16 Gigs RAM
> - SSD for boot device (NVMe for the win, but SATA SSD fine)
>
> I run integrated graphics, either AMD or Intel, I'm not a gamer/CAD 
> user, you're on your own there.
>
> Parallel ports will be rough - PCI card may be needed, but maybe USB 
> to parallel will work:
>
> https://www.microcenter.com/product/417095/vantec-1-port-parallel-pcie-host-card
>
> https://www.microcenter.com/product/384854/manhattan-usb-11-(type-a)-male-to-db-25-parallel-female-printer-converter-cable-6-ft-black
>
> I agree with Joshua, a refurb mini/micro form system may present the 
> best value, IF you can get the I/O ports you need.

I was actually thinking mini tower rather than small form factor.  For 
the Dell Precision 3630, that it is a mini-tower is encoded in the 
number.  I guess Z2 G4 could be multiple form factors.

For a CNC device, a USB->Parallel is unlikely to work (at least not with 
Mach3 or Mach4).  A PCIe parallel port might work, but reportedly are 
finicky.

It might be time to either update the CNC's controls a bit (for instance 
a Mach3 USB interface board), or give the CNC a dedicated machine (of if 
it were me, probably both because I hate parallel ports and who wants 
windows for a CNC machine).