Ampro Computers, a supplier of standards-based computer systems and modules, demonstrated at the recent Embedded Systems Conference, a high-performance plug-compatible solution for hundreds of embedded system manufacturers who were faced with complete re-designs of their ETX baseboards to adopt new technology.
Intel's 2,0 GHz Core Duo processor (Yonah) that was introduced in January as the highest performance CPU for the embedded market, is featured on Ampro's new XTX 830 computer-on-module (COM). In addition to providing a path forward for existing ETX designers, this announcement means that other OEMs can switch to a modular architecture for their next-generation image processing, storage, advertising display, communications, and security applications.
"Since inventing the embedded PC in 1983, Ampro has continued to find ways of shrinking PC technology into the small form factors required by non-PC applications. By extending a popular form factor rather than imposing completely incompatible connectors and board sizes, Ampro has successfully merged this leading-edge technology with the migration and re-use needs of system manufacturers," said Joanne Mumola Williams, president and CEO of Ampro.
The XTX 830 module includes a 2 GHz Intel Core Duo CPU, which takes DDR2 SODIMM RAM up to 1 GB. The module also contains (6) USB 2.0 ports, IDE (Parallel ATA) as well as Serial ATA interfaces to cover both legacy and high-speed disk drives, four PCI Express lanes for up to 10 Gbps in both transmit and receive directions, 10/100 Megabit Ethernet, 32/33 PCI bus expansion, ACPI 2.0 support including S3 Suspend-to-RAM, the latest high-performance embedded graphics with CRT and LVDS LCD interfaces, and RoHS compliance. XTX 830 runs with Windows XP and Linux 2.6.
The XTX standard
XTX is a new industry standard (www.xtx-standard.org), supported by a worldwide consortium of embedded module manufacturers. XTX uses the same four baseboard connectors in the same locations as ETX, and the module holes and dimensions are identical for seamless migration from a mechanical standpoint.
There is one board size, the same as with ETX, so that OEMs are not designing to a moving target. Electrically, only the signals on one connector are different (ISA bus). For OEMs not using ISA, XTX modules plug directly into existing ETX baseboards, permitting the easiest possible access to the latest chipset technology, graphics, and processors and preserving investments in custom baseboards.
Unlike other COM architectures, XTX retains support for legacy peripherals such as serial ports, parallel port, floppy drive, Parallel ATA (IDE) and PS/2 keyboard and mouse.
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