Kontron ETX® 3.0 Computer-on-Module with 45nm Intel® Atom™ processor N270

The long-life ETX^® 3.0 Computer-on-Module family of products (95 x 114mm) has a 45nm newcomer: The new Kontron ETX-DC Computer-on-Module, based on the 1.6 GHz Intel^® Atom™ processor N270 that Intel^® today incorporated into the Embedded Roadmap, thereby ensuring 7 years long lifecycle support.

Based on the Intel^® Atom™ processor N270, the Kontron ETX^®-DC Computer-on-Module delivers an optimal balance between excellent performance and very low power: With 2.5 watts TDP for the processor, 6 watts TDP for the Intel^® 82945GSE Graphics Memory Controller Hub and 1.5 watts TDP for the Intel^® I/O Controller Hub 7-M (ICH7-M), the Kontron ETX-DC Computer-on-Module requires a maximum TDP of 12-15 watts. Thus, it is the perfect fit for POS and industrial control applications as well as for use in harsh environments that require passive cooling and completely sealed housings. The new module also makes it easier to implement applications with high demands for MTBF and/or EMC. OEMs in the POS, Kiosk, digital signage, infotainment and gaming markets as well as industrial HMI and measurement and control sectors also benefit financially from the best-in-class MIPS per cent ratio of the new Kontron ETX^® Computer-on-Module.

The new Kontron ETX^®-DC with the 45nm Intel^® Atom™ processor N270, which is also targeted at “netbooks” (small notebooks), is a good match for designs based on ETX^® Computer-on-Modules because it is based on proven chipset technology and offers the highest degree of hardware and software compatibility, all of which make the ETX^®-DC easy to implement.

“The ETX^®-DC Computer-on-Module surpasses all previous price-sensitive ETX^® solutions in terms of performance-per-watt and MIPS per cent. With the Intel^® Atom™ processor N270, Kontron offers the latest 45 nm silicon technology on the established ETX^® module standard. Additionally, the ETX^®-DC provides ETX^® 3.0 compatibility that offers prevalent interfaces such as SATA and USB 2.0”, says Dirk Finstel, VP for Global Research and Engineering at Kontron. “This means that ETX^® continues to be attractive for new designs. Moreover, Kontron’s dedication ensures the availability of the world’s most widely accepted Computer-on-Module standard for at least another seven years.”

“Netbooks have similar requirements as many embedded applications and our platform for both enables a cost-effective balance between performance and energy consumption,” said Jonathan Luse, director of marketing, Low Power Embedded Products Division, Intel^®. “The Intel^® Atom™ processor N270 and the 945GSE chipset provide a great platform with superior performance-per-watt advantages for embedded customers developing digital signage, interactive clients and industrial control applications.”

The new ETX^® 3.0 Computer-on-Module based on the 45nm Intel^® Atom™ processor N270 has a 533 MHz FSB and supports up to 2GB of DDR2-SDRAM SO-DIMM. In terms of interfaces it offers 2 x SATA II in accordance with the AHCI standard (AHCI = Advanced Host Controller Interface) including Native Command Queuing (NCQ) and staggered spin up as well as hot plugging, USB 2.0 and PCI extension bus along with all the other ETX^® 3.0 standard interfaces. There is also continued ISA support for older applications. New applications with performance requirements similar to ISA mostly use LPC. The Kontron ETX^®-DC also supports this bus alternative. The optional onboard Trusted Platform Module (TPM 1.2) provides enhanced data security. Integrated graphics offer SDVO and support resolutions up to QXGA (2048 x 1536) via CRT, dual screen via LVDS for resolutions up to UXGA (1600 x 1200) as well as TV-out with HD resolution. There is also onboard HD Audio conforming sound for multimedia support. With the S0/S3(cold&hot)/S4/S5 suspend modes, the latest Kontron ETX^® 3.0 Computer-on-Module offers maximum energy savings.

The Kontron ETX^®-DC Computer-on-Module integrates all of these features on a footprint of just 95 mm x 114 mm. A comprehensive range of software add-ons as well as design guides and sample layouts (supplied with all Kontron Computer-on-Modules) simplify the development of customer specific carrier boards.

The new Kontron ETX^®-DC Computer-on-Module is available now and supports Windows Vista^®, Windows^® XP, Windows^® XPe, Windows^® CE as well as Linux and VxWorks.

More about ETX^®
The ETX^® 3.0 specification
More about Computer-on-Modules