Are there any disadvantages to using Mesa ethernet boards over using a PCI board?

[Clive S]

relative advantages and disadvantages of using ethernet Mesa boards - I was thinking of the 7i76e - over PCI based set ups - 5i25 with a 7i76. The former set-up seems more straightforward and more flexible to me, but I'm just wondering if it's more problematic in some way.

Both of the above will give you the same results. 5i25+7i76 is for pci for the pcix you would use a 6i25+7i76 these two setups require a DB25 cable to connect the two cards together. ie quite a short distance.
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The Ethernet versions means you can have the PC any distance (less than say about 90mtrs) from the control box with a cat5 cable.

Ethernet versions are 7i76e with spindle control, 7i96 without spindle control ie. no 0-10v, These two cards don't require another BOB.


Ethernet 7i92 does require another BOB as there are no opto's on it but a cheap bob can be plugged into it.

I have used all of the above apart from the 6i25.

If you decide to use servos in the future you can plug another card like a 7i77 for analogue or 7i85 step/dir both with encoder feedback, into any of the above cards.

Edit: TheLinuxcnc version to go for is 2.8 or 2.9 as 2.7 is getting to EOL and things have changed a bit from 2.7 to 2.8

Please note Linuxcnc is a learning curve, I am no expert but I have done a few conversions with Lcnc.