Dedicated Computer for JMRI use with Digitrax

[cedarwoodron]

I was in a pawn shop the other day and saw a lot of laptops available at relatively inexpensive prices- compared to retail. As I am almost ready to wire my layout for DCC (Digitrax), it got me to thinking about buying one of these laptops to use as a dedicated machine for the layout. So, some questions: Can I get by with a very cheap 32 bit system or should I get a 64 bit computer to anticipate future software upgrades(Digitrax)? Most of these laptops seem to have at least 250-500GB drives with 4GB or more memory, so those aspects are not a big issue. Would I be able to integrate other future uses- lighting, signals, sound and switch controls into computer operations alongside or in combination with the Digitrax JMRI interface as I proceed? Cedarwoodron

[rrinker]

A 32 bit OS will be fine for a long time, I don;t see JMRI going 64 bit any time soon. And the Digitrax programs are DOS, except for Soundloader, and that's 32 bit and not likely to change any time soon either.

 For JMRI, you can even just run Linux. I haven't tried using any of the Digitrax progams in a DOS emulator so see if they work, the only one of any consequence to me at the moment is DigiIPL to update the firmware on the newer stuff, since I don;t have radio to need the others.. So my layout computer is an inexpensive Atom processor system running Linux. It's a small box, smaller than a toaster.

 Which brings my other point - if it's going to be dedicated in you train room, I'd recommend a desktop system, not a laptop, for more repairability, better display potential, better keyboard, and better mouse. And potentially more ports for connecting interface devices.

            --Randy

 

 

[Stevert]

Some folks have reported issues using the Digitrax PR3 with the 64-bit version of Win7, so you might actually be better off with a 32-bit machine. 

I have an older ThinkPad (not my primary layout computer) that is not 64-bit capable, and has been upgraded from it's original 32-bit XP to 32-bit Win7.  JMRI, my PR3, and the Digitrax utilities all work fine with it.

As for future layout uses, everything you mention can be handled through a single LocoNet interface and controlled with JMRI.

[Eric97123]

I am running JMRI throught the PR3 on our old stting the closet computer that is running Windows XP that is dedicated to the layout and it works just fine.   I tried test the JMRI on our main computer at home which is running 64 bit Windows 7 and it kept getting a Java error.  That error does seem to be hit and miss with people and I am sure the more computer savvy folks are the ones not having Windows 7 issues.  

[Train Modeler]

We have a dedicated laptop from about 10 years ago.  It runs XP on I think a pentium 3 with 1GB Ram, no problems with JMRI or Microsoft Word, etc.    It's also wirelessly connected and so opening webpages with lots of graphics can slow it down a bit.     If the computer can handle today's web pages, then it will be fine.    After reading your post, I might go upgrade to what you're looking at, thanks!

Richard

[dano99a]

BrianinBuffalo

I would try and find the cheapest working desktop and install Linux.  You can run Linux from the DVD or CD player and if it works for you you can install it on the hard drive.   www.distrowatch.com has over 100 free different versions of Linux to try.  I might suggest Ubuntu or Mint.  I believe these distributions are as easy to install as Windows or Mac.  Linux is Unix based (so is Mac for that matter) so it is rock solid.

I agree with Brian, the cheaper the better, on ebay I found an old mac G5 tower for under $200. and it runs JMRI great. Really any machine will work (Windows, Linux, Mac) I choose mac mainly for it's stability (and always devoid of viruses). I even went as far to get an extra video card for it and connected up 3 monitors to it so I can have my throttles on one screen and my CTC controller on the others. Granted I had 2 extra flat screen monitors laying around collecting dust but yes the key is cheaper the better. JMRI does a good practice of keeping older versions around for older machines.

If you want a mac, search ebay for "mac G5", there are several on there, or you can run it from a mac laptop, search "macbook pro 2007" these are the cheaper ones

As a side note, if you have a wifi router that the machine (any machine) can connect to I'd highly recommend doing it if you have an iPhone or iPad. There is an app the interfaces with JMRI's withrottle functionality so that your phone or ipad can become a wireless throttle. Ever since I got this turned on I only use my digitrax throttle for consisting.

[stilson4283]

You can currently run JMRI on a Raspberry PI project board which is much smaller and basic than what you are looking at.  

http://www.raspberrypi.org/

Chris

[cedarwoodron]

I have upgraded, then disposed of two desktop systems (recycled to young nieces and nephews) over the past several years. My oldest desktop is an old Dell 2300 that has been upgraded to the extent of its margins. I have a small layout on a table with foldable legs, so the thought of taking up valuable garage shop space with a fixed tower, LCD monitor and keyboard (and attendant cabling) is not appealing. While I can easily make my way around the insides of a tower, the fact that the keyboard, monitor, hard drive and DVD read/write are all in one smaller package is more appealing. The question about 32 vs 64 bit systems stems from recent experience with my daughter's 64 bit laptop, where none of my old graphics programs would install on her Windows 7 OS. ( yes, I know about the XP emulator program, but that is her university and personal computer). I also ran up against that with my training lab at work, when we traded up to 64 bit desktops this last fall. I just don't want to get things set up, then fall behind too far. Cedarwoodron

[mfm37]

I'm running JMRI on an old Gateway laptop with a Pentium III and Windows 2K..Connection is with a serial Locobuffer.

[rrinker]

 Interesting that there is still software that does not like 64 bit. Nothing I have ever tried has had a problem, even lots of open source projects. In fact, the latest releases of some of the Adobe suite are 64 bit ONLY and will no longer work on 32 bit OSes.

 Also interesting that some of those really old systems are acceptable. I guess as long as there's a full gigabyte of RAM. My laptop at the time I first started playing with JMRO back when I got my Zephyr was a pentium II processor with only 384MB RAM - not totally behind the times then, but with XP it was hidously slow to load JMRI, mainly trying to get Java started. The slowest computer I have now is the Atom machine, but even that has 4GB RAM, since it's too cheap not to put it in (my newest machine has 16GB RAM - and it was only $10 more than 8GB), and while it's SUPPOSED to be capable of running Windows, even Win 7, I put Ubuntu Linux on it, and stuff loads very fast. Besides small, it's also ultra low power - the power supply is the size of my laptop brick. So in keeping with the low power, I installed one of my old 'green' hard drives - they spin at a slower speed to use less power, but that also means they tranfer data a lot slower than a typical desktop drive. Still, all is fine, JMRI snaps open, system boots very quickly, etc. This all only cost a couple hundred dollars, all brand new - part of the savings is in using Linux, instead of paying $100 for a Windows license. That was 2 1/2 years ago I built that, haven't checked prices lately, but I bet something similar and more than adequate could be done for under $300. Less if you have an extra monitor - I have a 24" LCD that cost less than the 19" one I got for that computer. And building a computer is fun and easy - probably easier than doing a wired DCC decoder install, because "building a computer" is really just mechanical assembly and plugging in a few plugs. Unlike my first computer that I built - which was literally building a computer, in the box was a circuit board and a pack of parts to solder together.

                    --Randy

 

[jrbernier]

  I have run JMRI Decoder Pro(3.0) on an 'old' desktop system(600 mhz/.5 GB of RAM/ XP Pro) - A little 'slow, but it runs.  Our club now has a 1.6 Ghz/1 GB of RAM/XP Home eMachine computer and runs the current JMRI with NO problem.

  At home, I have a 2.4 Ghz dual core laptop with WIN7(64 bit) with the JMRI Decoder Pro installed(3.3.2).   Make sure you have the current Java for your installed OS.  I also have an UltraBook with WIN8 and with JMRI installed - No problems.

  If you are looking to pick up an old 'junker' - XP/1 GB of RAM and a 1 Ghz processor should do a fine job.  Remember, you can buy a brand new computer for $300-400, so weigh that against any money you think you are saving with an old beater.  

Jim