CPU module offers RoHS-compliant Geode replacement

The ETX-LX with the energy-saving 0.9W/500MHz AMD LX800 processor is a RoHS-compliant added-value alternative for designs that have previously used the Geode GX1.

New from Kontron, the ETX-LX with the energy-saving 0.9W/500MHz AMD LX800 processor is a RoHS-compliant added-value alternative for designs that have previously used the Geode GX1.

For the first time in this performance class, the EMI-tolerant ETX-LX offers four USB 2.0 ports, graphics integrated in the AMD Geode CS5536 chipset, and support for economical DDR SODIMM storage modules.

The Kontron ETX-LX module performs better but is still as reasonably priced as its predecessor.

The passively cooled COM with heat spreader consumes just 4W and is extremely compact - a mere 10mm high.

Of course, as is usual with ETX, PCI and ISA are fully supported.

Conversion from the ETX-gmx with Geode GX1 to ETX-LX with 500MHz AMD LX800 processor is possible without any need to redesign or adapt of software.

The components, CompactFlash slot, and memory slot are positioned in exactly the same places.

However, genuine RoHS designs also require an upgrade of the baseboard, for which Kontron provides support and also optional development resources.

Besides the highly sought-after four USB 2.0 ports, the baseboard interface of the new ETX-LX module also offers a 10/100Base-T Ethernet port and two serial TTL interfaces.

Thanks to the onboard CompactFlash slot, nonrotating storage media can be integrated, currently up to 8Gbyte.

Additional Ultra66 DMA storage media are connected via two IDE ports.

For graphics, CRT (SXGA), LCD (UXGA) and TV-out are supported.

The other pinouts on the board are keyboard, mouse, AC97 sound, and parallel port.

Application-specific interface variations are controlled via PCI and ISAbus.

Up to 512Mbyte of DDRAM is available.

Software support is offered for all previously supported operating systems as well as Linux, Windows XP embedded, and Windows CE.Net.

Like all other Kontron ETX modules, the Kontron ETX-LX module is fanless and cools the processor using an innovative concept: a heat spreader thermally couples the ETX module to the target system identically in each board variant.

Thus, mechanical redesigns are not necessary when modules are exchanged.

The ETX concept offers free scalability without mechanical changes.

In order to vary performance smoothly, Kontron's ETX modules are optionally available with VIA, AMD and Intel processors.

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