Kontron ETXexpress®-AI: COM Express™ Computer-on-Module with improved graphics and performance plus dependable ECC RAM

Efficient 32 nm processor technology with higher bandwidth and advanced graphics capabilities for best performance

Eching, Germany, March 2, 2010 – The new Kontron ETXexpress®-AI COM Express™ Computer-on-Module offers OEMs a new level of design flexibility thanks to its 32 nm Intel® Core™i7 / Core™i5 processor technology, high energy efficiency, wide graphics support, customizable PCI Express configuration and ECC dual channel RAM to ensure data accuracy. Kontron’s new Computer-on-Module offers improved computing and graphics performance in the high-end performance sector.

The Kontron ETXexpress®-AI in the COM Express™ Basic form factor features the processor-integrated 45nm Intel® HD graphics with DisplayPort support. Especially graphics-intensive applications benefit from Open GL 2.1 support and accelerated DirectX 10 capabilities through better and faster visual display. Thus, the new Computer-on-Module is able to achieve up to 2.6 times the graphics performance in comparison to Mobile Intel® GM45 and GS45 Express based solutions (according to 3DMark 2006). For safety-critical applications, the Kontron ETXexpress®-AI integrates up to 8 GB of ECC system memory and an optional Trusted Platform Module (TPM). The performance of the new Computer-on-Modules is scalable right from the start with a choice of four different Intel® Core™ i7 or Core™ i5 processors. By integrating the latest 32 nm processor technology for power use efficiency, higher bandwidth, and greater integration, the Kontron ETXexpress®-AI COM raises the performance bar compared to solutions based on embedded Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors. The new module not only speeds up multiprocessing tasks via hyper-threading technology (HTT), but also processes single-threaded tasks much faster thanks to the new Intel® Turbo Boost technology. Depending on the processor, this allows individual cores to operate between 25% and 100% above the nominal clock speed without exceeding the defined TDP. OEMs in markets such as gaming, digital signage, network/telecommunications, automation, medical and MAG (military, aerospace, government) who require application-specific customization continue to take advantage of optimized time-to-market and now have an even more secure upgrade path to grow their application’s capabilities today and onto future generations.

Overview of the feature set
The Kontron ETXexpress®-AI is available with the 1.06 GHz Intel® Core™ i7 620UE, the 2.00 GHz Intel® Core™ i7-620LE, the 2.40 GHz Intel® Core™ i5-520E, and up to the fast 2.53 GHz Intel® Core™ i7-610E Processor. All versions support up to 2 x 4 GB of dual channel DDR3 SO-DIMM modules with ECC and offer a comprehensive range of interfaces via the COM Express™ COM.0 Type 2 connector: 1x PCI Express Gen 2 graphics (PEG) (also configurable as 2x PCIe x8), 6x PCI Express x1, 4x Serial ATA, 1x PATA, 8x USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, dual-channel LVDS, VGA and Intel® High Definition Audio. Additionally, older non-PCI Express-compliant components can be incorporated via the integrated PCI 2.3 interfaces. The integrated Intel® AMT 6.0 Active Management Technology enables out-of-band remote management. An 8V–18V universal power supply for simplified power distribution rounds out the feature set.

Operating system support is offered for Windows 7®, Windows XP, Linux (including Red Hat Enterprise, SuSE, Red Flag and Wind River Linux) and VxWorks. Evaluation samples of the new Kontron ETXexpress®-AI Computer-on-Module are now available. Series production will begin during the first half of 2010.

For more information on the Kontron ETXexpress®-AI COM Express™, please visit: http://www.kontron.com/products/computeronmodules/com+express/etxexpress/etxexpressai.html

For more information on Com Express™ Computer-on-Modules, please visit: http://www.kontron.com/comexpress

For more information on Computer-on-Modules, please visit: http://www.kontron.com/COM