The basic difference between regular, desktop PCs used in office environments and specialized industrial PCs is the construction.

Industrial PCs are built to be more rugged and reliable with protections from common environmental contaminants such as dust, debris and even water, as well as containing features to minimize effects from shock and vibration. They are also designed to handle extremes in temperature and humidity. PCs housed in such industrial enclosures can easily survive and function in factory environments and other areas where they’re exposed to harsh conditions.

PCs for general or office use are just not designed in the same way and to the same requirements. As a result, the more durable industrial PCs often cost more than regular PCs.

Industrial PCs achieve added ruggedness and durability by design. For instance, on the electronics side, PC board components will have broader temperature ratings. There may also be added protections from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) issues, which could affect signal integrity for data transmission. Even though EMI/RFI is present in an office setting, typically it isn’t as big an issue as a factory floor environment where the presence of electric motors and other sources of electrical noise makes EMI/RFI much more of a concern, warranting countermeasures such as special shielding and gasketing.

Other design touches can include heavy duty or sealed connectors to go along with more rugged enclosures made from heavier, thicker metal. Some industrial PCs also feature added cooling methods to eliminate heat from enclosures or even special air filtering.

What is an Industrial PC?

An industrial computer is a robust computer designed to be used in an industrial environment, often for applications like the manufacturing of goods, building automation, and logistics centers. An industrial computer typically has the following characteristics:

• Fanless and ventless design

• Ability to withstand harsh environments

• Highly configurable

• Extensive I/O options 

• Long lifecycle

With the incredible growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), and with more and more connected devices being installed in remote and inhospitable environments, reliable hardware is becoming increasingly important. An IT failure could have a direct and substantial impact on a company’s bottom line. With so much at stake, you need robust hardware. Industrial PCs are designed to be different from the average consumer PC, resulting in a reliable solution that is specially suited for harsh environments. 

Features of an industrial PC

Fanless design

Off-the-shelf commercial PCs are typically cooled with internal fans which are the most common failure point in computers. When a fan draws in air, it also draws in contaminants like dust and dirt which can accumulate and cause thermal issues that can result in system throttling or hardware failure. 

OnLogic industrial PCs, however, use a proprietary heatsink design that passively pulls heat away from the motherboard and other sensitive internal components into the chassis where it can be dissipated into the surrounding air. 

This is especially important in harsh environments that are subject to dust, debris, or other airborne particulates. Check out our whitepaper on the benefits of fanless computing for more information on fanless systems and how they operate. 

Industrial grade components 

Industrial PCs feature industrial grade components that are engineered for high reliability, with the goal of providing maximum uptime. Industrial grade components are designed to run 24/7, even in harsh environments where a consumer desktop PC could be damaged, or even destroyed.

Highly configurable

Industrial PCs can perform many different types of tasks including factory automation, remote data collection, and surveillance. OnLogic’s systems are highly configurable to suit your individual project needs. In addition to reliable hardware, we can provide OEM services such as custom branding, imaging, and BIOS customization. Check out our customer story on Singlewire® to see how they found success with our services. 

Superior design/performance

Industrial computers are engineered to endure harsh environments. These environments can include wider operating temperature ranges and airborne particulates. OnLogic industrial PCs are designed to run 24/7 to meet the demands of unique applications. 

We have an extensive portfolio of hardware from industrial fanless to our rugged computers, which offer even more protection in environments with wide operating temperature ranges as well as resistance to impact forces/vibration. Check out this article for more information about the difference between industrial and rugged computers. 

Extensive I/O options and additional functionality 

To effectively communicate with devices such as sensors, PLCs, and legacy equipment, industrial PCs come with extensive I/O options and additional functionality. Industrial PCs help eliminate the need for adapters or dongles because they offer the I/O feature set intended for applications outside of a traditional office environment. 

At OnLogic, our solutions are designed to be redesigned. You can customize systems to suit your specific application needs with features like 4G LTE modems, hot-swap drives, CAN Bus, GPUs, and other application-specific I/O like COM or DIO.

Long lifecycle 

Along with industrial PCs having higher reliability and more uptime, they also have an embedded lifecycle for long term availability. Industrial PCs allow businesses to standardize on a computer without any major hardware changes for up to five years. A long lifecycle means you can rest easy knowing your application is supported and available for years to come. 

Using the most current chip architecture is one of the best ways to ensure a long lifecycle. OnLogic works closely with the chip manufacturers such as Intel and AMD to ensure we can offer our customers the latest architecture and technology advances.

Check out our Helix Series which offers many options including HX500, HX600, HX610, and the newer HX401 and HX511.

What is the best industrial PC?

The ideal industrial computer for your application will vary depending on factors such as performance benchmarks, available power source, and the environment it’s being deployed in. Is your operating environment dusty? Does it feature an extreme operating temperature? 

Once you know your requirements, you can narrow down what kind of industrial fanless PC would best suit your needs. You can also read more about how to choose the best industrial computer on our blog.

Your OnLogic solution

Industrial PCs are engineered from the ground up with the features necessary to survive in the type of industrial automation environments that might destroy off-the-shelf computers. In short, they are designed to bring value to your organization no matter where you need powerful computing capabilities. 

If you’re looking for a long lifecycle solution with plenty of I/O options or have questions about how to best prevent damage from environmental factors, contact a Hardware Solutions Specialist today!

Note: This blog was originally posted on January 8th, 2021. It was updated for content on September 26th, 2023.