Single-board computers based on i7 processors

The MIC-5603 AdvancedMC and MIC-3395 6U CompactPCI single-board computers are designed to give OEMs a competitive advantage thanks to the performance enhancements and scalability of the second-generation Intel Core processor range.

The MIC-5603 AMC with the Intel Core i7 processor is targeted at a range of applications where network performance, graphics or vector processing and compute-intensive tasks are required.

For supervisory or control applications, an optional front-panel HDMI port connects to the processor’s on-chip controller, offering integrated Intel HD graphics DX10.1 and OpenGL 3.0 capabilities or simply replacing entry-level discrete graphics for a lower bill-of-material cost.

Up to 8Gb of DDR3 1,333MHz SDRAM with ECC support, in a dual-channel design, makes it ideal for mission-critical applications requiring low-latency, reliable memory access.

In addition, Advantech’s on-board fabric mezzanine interface enhances modularity for a wider range of fat pipes and input/output (I/O) choice with standard or custom modules.

External Ethernet connectivity is via two dedicated GbE front-panel ports from the Intel 6 series chipset and onboard Intel 82580 quad-port LAN controller, which in turn provides two additional GbE ports to the AMC base fabric and one to the fabric mezzanine.

The Intel 6 series chipset brings enhanced remote management capabilities with KVM over LAN as well as introducing faster I/O than previous-generation designs with Sata-III to AMC ports 2-3 and PCIe x4 gen.2 to the gold fingers.

An optional fabric mezzanine-based Intel 82599 connects dual 10 GbE to the fat pipes, positioning the AMC for cost-effective offload capabilities with excellent virtualisation and acceleration.

The MIC-3395 6U CompactPCI SBC follows the success of the MIC-3392 blade using low-power mobile processor technology and offers an upgrade path with higher levels of performance and richer features.

The board fits in a single 4HP slot and expands memory capacity to up to 4Gb onboard DDR3 with ECC support and one SO-UDIMM module for up to a further 8Gb.

I/O expansion is ensured via an XMC slot while mass storage is available with onboard 2.5in Sata-III support, onboard Compactflash and RTM-based SAS storage options.

Six independent Gigabit Ethernet ports cater for a range of integration options with dual GbE connectivity to front, rear and PICMG 2.16 ports.

The blade fits a range of markets in addition to telecom, in particular in semiconductor test and manufacturing equipment, transportation and industrial workstations, which will benefit from the integrated graphics controller.

The Intel Advanced Vector Extension Technology (Intel AVX) built in to the Intel Core i7 processor positions the MIC-3395 for image and signal processing in applications such as radar, sonar and imaging as well as for use in industrial controllers and video analytics where floating-point operations are key.

Both products will be available for OEM sampling in the first quarter of 2011 with software support from Advantech’s ecosystem alliance partners for Carrier Grade Linux and RTOS.