Beckhoff Industrial PCs (Box PCs) are compact, sturdy controllers built for automation work, offered across a range of Intel processor tiers and form factors. The Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5 family is the closest alternative: it offers Intel Core processors from Core i5 up to Core Ultra 5, up to 12 cores, and RAM options up to 64 GB, with 2 TB SSD storage and dual LAN.
Beckhoff Industrial PCs vs Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5
| Beckhoff Industrial PCs (Box PCs) | Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5, Intel Core i5 (1240P / 1335U) | Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5, Intel Core Ultra 5 125U | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Not stated | Intel Core i5-1240P / i5-1335U | Intel Core Ultra 5 125U |
| Cores/Threads | Not stated | 12 cores (1240P) / 10 cores (1335U) | 12 cores |
| RAM | Not stated | Up to 64 GB | 8 GB to 64 GB |
| Storage | Not stated | Up to 2 TB SSD | Up to 2 TB SSD |
| Form Factor | Box PC | Industrial PC | Industrial PC |
| Networking | Not stated | Dual LAN | Dual LAN |
| Wireless | Not stated | No WiFi or Dual Band WiFi | No WiFi or Dual Band WiFi |
| Operating System | Not stated | DOS | DOS |
Key differences
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Wider RAM range: Thinvent IPC5 models offer up to 64 GB of RAM, giving headroom for demanding control and data-logging tasks.
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Dual LAN as standard: Every Thinvent IPC5 listed includes dual LAN ports.
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Up to 2 TB SSD: Storage can be configured up to 2 TB on the IPC5 range.
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Choice of wireless: Buyers can choose between no WiFi and dual band WiFi.
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Processor range: The IPC5 family spans Intel Core i5 and Core Ultra 5 processors with up to 12 cores and a maximum frequency of up to 4.4 GHz (1240P) and 4.3 GHz (Ultra 5 125U).
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Trade-off: Beckhoff's own product line is organised by series such as the C60xx, C65xx, C69xx and C70xx, and its range details are published on its own site. Thinvent's options are presented as a single IPC5 family with the specifications above.
Which one should you choose?
Choose a Beckhoff Industrial PC if you are standardising on Beckhoff's own series and ecosystem. Choose a Thinvent IPC5 if you need a configurable Intel Core i5 or Core Ultra 5 industrial PC with up to 64 GB RAM, up to 2 TB SSD and dual LAN as a replacement or alternative for your automation controller.
