Last updated: 10 May 2010


There's a revolution happening in industrial and networking PCs. Prices have fallen to the point where many industrial applications can be developed faster using standard Linux or Windows tools such as VFX Forth running on low-cost PCs rather than dedicated hardware.

Low volume applications that do not require specialised I/O are particularly suitable for this approach.


Ebox2300SX PCs

We bought ourselves a couple of Ebox 2300SX PCs just to play with. We now use them regularly for building and energy management systems. What a fabulous piece of kit! Plug in a CompactFlash card with Xlinux (console mode) or Puppy (with a full GUI if you want it) and VFX Forth for Linux, and you have a very capable machine for the money. You can also run DOS, WinCE and Windows XP. See the manual. Please note that these PCs do not have an FPU/NDP coprocessor.


Ebox front
Ebox2300 front
Ebox back
Ebox2300 back

Specifications:

  • CPU - Vortex86SX, 300MHz
  • RAM - 128Mb
  • BIOS - AMI
  • Bootable from Compact Flash or USB
  • Video - up to 1280x1024 with 32 Mb RAM
  • I/O - 10/100 Ethernet, 3 x USB host, 2 x RS232, keyboard/mouse, CompactFlash slot (type I/II)
  • 24 bit GPIO
  • Internal - IDE 44, Mini-PCI
  • Power consumption - 6w
  • Size 115 x 115 x 35 mm, weight 505g
  • Boxed with wall-wart PSU with UK plug


Ebox3300DX PCs

Where the application needs more performance and/or a floating point unit, choose the Ebox3300 in the same case as the Ebox2300SX above.

  • CPU - MSTI-PDX-600, 1GHz
  • RAM - 256Mb
  • BIOS - AMI
  • Bootable from Compact Flash, SD or USB
  • Video - up to 1024x768 with 32 Mb RAM
  • Audo - AC97
  • I/O - 10/100 Ethernet, 3 x USB host, 2 x RS232, PS2 keyboard/mouse, CompactFlash slot (type I/II)
  • Internal - IDE 44, Mini-PCI
  • Power consumption - 10w
  • Size 115 x 115 x 35 mm, weight 505g
  • Boxed with wall-wart PSU with UK plug