ABB is a brand name that covers a wide range of automation products, including PLCs, controllers and I/O modules. The facts we have on ABB products describe the AC 800M PM858 and PM860AK01 controllers, which are process controllers, not general-purpose PCs. Thinvent does not make PLCs or process controllers. The closest Thinvent alternatives are our Industrial PC (IPC1) and Treo Mini PC lines, which run general computing and industrial software on Windows or Linux.
ABB PM860AK01 vs Thinvent Industrial PCs
| Feature | ABB PM860AK01 (AC 800M) | Thinvent IPC1, AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | Thinvent Treo Mini PC, Intel Core Ultra 5 125U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | MPC860, 48 MHz | AMD Ryzen 5 7000 Series 7530U | Intel Core Ultra 5 125U |
| Cores | Not confirmed | 6 | 12 |
| RAM | 16 MB RAM, 16 MB SDRAM (up to 8 GB DDR3L memory expansion) | Up to 64 GB | Up to 64 GB |
| Storage | 4 MB flash PROM | Up to 2 TB SSD | Up to 2 TB SSD |
| Form Factor | Controller module, IP20 | Industrial PC, fanless | Mini PC |
| Operating System | Not applicable (controller firmware) | Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 IoT Value, Ubuntu Linux, Thinux™ Embedded Linux, DOS | Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 IoT Value, Ubuntu Linux, Thinux™ Embedded Linux, DOS |
| Ethernet | 2 Ethernet ports | Not confirmed | 2 Ethernet ports, 1000 Mbps |
| Serial | 2 RS-232C | Not confirmed | RS485 option |
| Power | 24V DC | Not confirmed | 12V DC, 5 A adapter |
Key differences
-
The Thinvent IPC1 and Treo support up to 64 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of SSD storage. The PM860AK01 has 16 MB RAM and 4 MB flash PROM, which is designed for controller firmware rather than general computing.
-
The Thinvent Treo Mini PC includes two Ethernet ports at 1000 Mbps and an RS485 option, and has Windows 11 Pro or Ubuntu Linux as the operating system.
-
The ABB PM860AK01 is a dedicated process controller with 2 Ethernet ports and 2 RS-232C serial ports, built for automation control tasks. Thinvent products are general-purpose industrial computers and do not replace a PLC or process controller.
-
The ABB AC 800M and AC500 families are designed for direct control of automation processes. If your application needs a PLC, keep the ABB controller. If it needs a computer to run HMI, data logging or engineering software, a Thinvent industrial PC is the alternative.
Which one should you choose?
Choose an ABB PM858 or PM860AK01 controller if you need a dedicated process controller for an AC 800M automation system. Choose a Thinvent IPC1 or Treo Mini PC if you need a compact computer with large memory and storage to run HMI, supervisory or data software alongside your automation hardware.
