I've just switched from using LinuxCNC running on an old PC with a parallel port and using a cheap Chinese breakout board to UCCNC running on a windows 10 laptop and an AXBB-E controller card. If you are on a tight budget then a reclaimed WXP computer, an equally cheap parallel breakout board and the free LinuxCNC software will certainly get your machine up and running for the lowest possible cost.

I was very happy with the LinuxCNC software and mainly changed because the dedicated but rather old Linux PC was becoming unreliable as well as electrical interference problems which may have been associated with the parallel interface. Rather than spend money on a new dedicated computer I decided on a complete change to the forum's current favorite equipment. Moving to an Ethernet interface and having the flexibility of driving the router with any Windows computer, especially a laptop, is a plus for the AXBB-E as is the better pulse timing that results from a dedicated controller rather than the somewhat variable timing from the old set-up. Whether the new software/hardware combination proves more reliable will take time to asses (it's just worked perfectly so far, but I've yet to do any long cuts) but I hope to do some tests soon to see if the maximum acceleration and/or rapid speeds I can use have been improved by the more accurate pules timing.

Kit