Embedded CPU gains cool Pentium options

Kontron is now offering its popular ePCI-101 CPU board with two new Pentium M based processors.

Kontron is now offering its popular ePCI-101 CPU board with two new Pentium M based processors.

The newest Pentium M generation is manufactured on 90nm process technology.

Pentium M processors are part of the Intel Centrino Mobile Technology package and the new variant, codename Dothan, combines up to 1.6GHz performance with 2Mbyte of dual cache and a very low power consumption.

Two Pentium M based Celeron M processor variants that are clocked at 1.3 and 1.4GHz and feature a 512Kbyte cache, are also offered for cost-sensitive applications.

The new processors enable Kontron to extend the application range of the ePCI-101 CPU board to include high-performance, as well as budget-oriented applications.

This offers OEMs further performance scalability, since ePCI-X technology (PICMG 1.2) is substantially faster than ISA/PCI based solutions.

The 1.1 or 1.6GHz midrange "traditional" Pentium M variant, which is manufactured on 130nm technology and features 1Mbyte of cache will remain in Kontron's product offering.

All ePCI-101 boards hosting Pentium M processor versions combine the highest level of performance with low power consumption and are therefore ideal for embedded applications that require high-performance with passive cooling.

The performance of a traditional Pentium M processor approximates that of a Pentium 4, while its power consumption is equivalent to that of a Pentium III.

As this performance is delivered with Pentium M processors that are clocked at a much lower frequency than the Pentium 4 (eg 1.6GHz compared with 2.4 to 2.7GHz), they are able to remain comparatively cool, even during periods of heavy usage.

The ePCI-101 CPU board includes the 855 GME chipset and the Pentium M processor can be selected as required by the application.

The board also provides extensive connectivity options: Six USB 2.0, two 10/100Mbit Ethernet, two serial and a parallel interface enable the ePCI-101 to communicate effectively with both its immediate and remote environments.

The maximum memory capacity is 1Gbyte of DDR-SDRAM.

Storage media interfaces include one Ultra DMA/33/66/100, one CompactFlash and two floppy disk drive connectors.

Support for Intel Extreme Graphics II is included in the chipset.

A mouse and keyboard are attached via a traditional PS/2 interface.

Kontron's ePCI-X half-size boards with Pentium M processors are designed for use in embedded applications such as point-of-sale terminals, network security devices, measurement and control, and automation solutions.

Together with the ePCI-102 CPU board that hosts a VIA Eden processor, they provide an evolutionary development path for users of Viper boards and comparable half-size ISA products, which enables migration towards higher performance ePCI-X systems, should the need arise.

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