Which Processor Should You Choose for an Industrial PC?
The right processor for an industrial PC should be determined by what job the computer will do rather than where it will be used. Simple machine control, a comprehensive SCADA system and AI-assisted image analysis require different amounts of processing power.
When choosing a processor, the following criteria should be evaluated together:
- Application: HMI, SCADA, data acquisition, machine control or image processing.
- Software requirements: The minimum and recommended processor specifications stated by the software vendor.
- Workload: The number of applications running at the same time and the amount of data to be processed.
- Single-core and multi-core performance: How the software uses processor resources.
- Power consumption and cooling: Especially important in compact and fanless computers.
- Connectivity and expansion needs: Required ports, video outputs and additional hardware.
- Product life cycle: Long-term supply, operating system support and maintenance needs.
For example, a low-power processor may be sufficient for a basic HMI application. An image analysis system that processes many camera streams may need higher CPU performance and, where necessary, a separate GPU.
Processor selection should not aim solely for the highest benchmark score. The goal is to provide sufficient performance to run the application reliably, with suitable power consumption and total cost.