Product category:
Embedded Computing and Control
News Release from: Kontron UK | Subject: X board GP8 eval kit
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 28 November 2005
Module is cool choice for fanless
systems
A new kit helps developers of fanless miniature computers evaluate the business-card-sized X board-GP8 computer-on-module based on the Xscale technology Intel 80219 processor.
Kontron has created a new evaluation kit for developers of fanless miniature computers It is based on the business card-sized computer-on-module X board-gp8, which is equipped with a highly integrated Xscale-based Intel 80219 processor
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 30 Jun 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The starter kit contains everything developers need, right down to the power cord for the power supply, so evaluation can begin immediately.
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The evaluation baseboard for the X board-gp8 offers the following interfaces: three USB, one LAN, two serial UART interfaces, two PCI interfaces for expansion cards, AC97 sound, plus a slot for vibration-free CompactFlash cards, and a SODIMM slot for more RAM.
Up to 128Mbyte onboard DRAM and up to 32Mbyte onboard Flash are already integrated on the X board-gp8.
The Windows CE operating system is pre-installed.
The Linux board support package is included on CD-ROM.
The X board-gp8 also supports VxWorks and QNX.
The Kontron X-board-gp8 COM with an Intel 80219 general purpose PCI processor is available with either 400 or 600MHz processing power and carries up to 128Mbyte of onboard DRAM and up to 32 Mbyte of onboard Flash.
It combines the Intel XScale core with an integrated PCIbus bridge and smart peripheral interfaces on a surface area only 67 x 49mm.
In addition, the new COM features the AC97 audio codec, 16Mbyte of onboard graphics memory, CRT and LCD/TFT display support providing outstanding graphics and video capabilities with resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 pixel and all of the interfaces needed for mobile multimedia devices.
10/100 Base-T Ethernet, USB 2.0 and the other standard interfaces on the X-board form factor complete the feature set.
Prototypes of the X-board-gp8 COM and starter kits for Windows CE and Linux are now available so it can be used for testing applications on target platforms immediately, even before the series design has been developed.
Pricing for the X-board-gp8 starts around Eur 175 for small lot sizes (prices vary according to volume).
Kontron not only developed X-board COMs but also the ETX, ETXexpress, DIMM-PC and E2Brain standards and all the other major COM form factors, thus demonstrating its leading position in this high-growth segment of embedded computer technology.
No other manufacturer has yet been able to introduce alternative designs with long-term success.
COMs (computer-on-modules) are particularly attractive because they can be implemented in embedded systems as add-on components to lower development costs and shorten time-to-market.
Only the application-specific peripherals need to be developed - the computer's brain is already in place.
X board modules resemble business cards in size (67 x 49mm) and are fully PCI- and LPC-compatible.
They provide all the relevant current interfaces, including USB, LAN and serial interfaces as well as sound and LCD.
Because the so-called legacy interfaces (PS/2, floppy and parallel interfaces and ISA bus) are already on their way out, they are not provided for in X-board modules.
This means that not only x86 processors but also ARM or MIPS processor architectures can be used for the first time ever and results in a multitude of new application options for the computer-on-module standard.
The X-board design closes the gap between DIMM-PC and ETX.
OEMs, requiring more power than a DIMM-PC can offer and needing fewer features than an ETX provides, are hence perfectly served by the new X-board.
For further information on the X-board standard please contact Kontron directly. Request a free brochure from Kontron UK ...
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