AMD has posted a reference design for an EPIC form-factor single-board computer (SBC) on its website, available free to Geode LX processor customers. The production-ready design, based on a Geode LX [email protected], dissipates a mere 5.3W and supports passive cooling at industrial temperatures between -40 and +85 degrees C, according to the company.

The reference design, known as the AMD Geode LX EPIC RDK, includes schematics, layout, drivers, and full documentation, the company said.

Reference designs showing developers an example of a working system based on a processor or chipset are commonly offered by chip vendors. However, complete, production-ready designs including schematics, BOMs (bills of materials), and layout documentation are rare in the embedded market. By giving away a working design for a popular form-factor SBC, AMD evidently hopes to seed the market with SBC designs based on its Geode LX processor.

Features of the SBC design, according to AMD, include:

• Processor:
  • Geode LX [email protected], clocked at 500 MHz; or, Geode LX [email protected] clocked at 433 MHz
  • AMD Geode CS5536 companion device
• Memory:
  • 64-bit DDR SDRAM — 1 SODIMM slot (2GB max)
  • 8MB SPI flash
• Display:
  • CRT — up to 1920 x 1440 @ 85Hz refresh rate
  • LVDS interface — up to 1600 x 1200 @ 60Hz refresh
• ATA 100 interface
• Other I/O ports:
  • 2-channel audio
  • High-speed data port
  • 4x USB 2.0 ports; 1 configurable as client
  • RS232/RS422/RS485 serial ports
  • IEEE1284 parallel port
  • PS2 keyboard/mouse ports
  • Digital PWM
  • 8-bits digital I/O
  • 6-channel analog I/O
  • RS422/RS485
• Other onboard functions:
  • Hardware watchdog timer
  • JTAG debug interface
  • Advanced power panagement
• Expansion buses:
  • Mini-PCI slot
  • PC/104-Plus expansion connectors (ISA, PCI buses)
• Mechanical:
  • EPIC form-factor
  • 4.5 x 6.5 in. (115 x 165 mm)
  • 6-layer board design
• Supported OSes — Linux 2.6, Windows XP, Windows XP Embedded, Windows CE 5.0

Obtaining the design

Those wanting to obtain access to the reference design kit, are asked to first register on AMD's website, here. Next, “there is a selection process,” according to an AMD spokesperson. “Pending approval, registrants will gain access to the information.”

Off-the-shelf option

For those who don't want to roll their own, an off-the-shelf implementation of the design is available as the Hurricane-LX800 from Lippert Embedded Computers, pictured below.

Lippert Hurricane-LX800
Lippert's Hurricane-LX800 off-the-shelf implementation is based on a 500 MHz AMD Geode LX processor, and is optionally available in a compact, rugged enclosure. Pricing for the board, without RAM, starts at $363 each in 100-unit quantities.

Further details the AMD Geode LX EPIC RDK are available on AMD's website, here.

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