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Embedded framework brought to motherboard product

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Mar 30, 2005

Utilising the Mini-ITX form factor, Apro's MightyBoard 800 addresses the need for a low cost, embedded quality product with the advantages of an industry standard motherboard form factor.

Ampro Computers, the inventor and leading supplier of PC/104, EBX and EPIC single board computers (SBCs), today announced the MightyBoard 800, Ampro's first entry into the cost-sensitive embedded motherboard market.

Utilising the popular new Mini-ITX form factor, MightyBoard 800 addresses the need for a low cost, embedded quality solution with all the advantages associated with an industry standard motherboard form factor.

These advantages include access to thousands of cost-effective PCI bus expansion I/O cards and compatibility with dozens of low cost off-the-shelf ATX enclosures.

"For years, embedded designers have coveted the low cost interoperability of desktop motherboard solutions but shied away from selecting these products due to a number of factors".

"These factors include the large size of motherboard products, frequent unannounced product changes, short product lifecycles and complex, problematic thermal solutions used with desktop CPUs," said Joanne Mumola Williams, president and CEO.

"Ampro's MightyBoard product line directly addresses these issues, bringing a proven embedded framework to a motherboard style product." MightyBoard 800 uses the smallest motherboard form factor, Mini-ITX, measuring a mere 170mm x 170mm (6.75in x 6.75in).

Like Ampro PC/104 and EBX products, MightyBoard 800 is revision controlled to ensure product consistency and reliability.

Customers can expect the same high quality product order after order, year after year and will always get advanced notification on any product changes that affect product form, fit, or function.

And MightyBoard 800 uses the same ultra low power Pentium M and Celeron M processors used on Ampro ReadyBoard, CoreModule, LittleBoard and ETX products, offering fanless operation from 0 to 60 deg C.

MightyBoard 800 developers now have an alternative to bulky and unreliable CPU coolers.

To meet differing customer price and performance requirements, Ampro MightyBoard 800 is available with three different Pentium M/Celeron M CPUs: Pentium M 738 (Dothan core, operating at 1.4GHz with 2MB L2 cache and a TDP rating of 10w), Celeron M 373 (Dothan core, operating at 1.0GHz with 1MB L2 cache and a TDP rating of 5w), and 600 MHz Celeron M (Banias core, with 512KB L2 cache and a TDP rating of 7w).

All models have 400 MHz front side bus or (3.2GB/s data transfer rate between CPU and chipset), support up to 1GB DDR DIMM memory, 4 USB 2.0, dual Ethernet (one 10/100BaseT and one Gigabit Ethernet), support for both CRT and LVDS flat panels, 4 RS232 serial ports (2 with RS422/485 capability) and AC-97 audio.

All boards have operating temperature range of 0-60 deg C.