German single-board computer vendor Lippert is shipping a passively cooled version of its Centrino-like Thunderbird mini-ITX board based on an Intel Pentium M running at 1.3GHz. An actively cooled version running at 1.6GHz has been available since… mid-December, 2003. Additionally, Lippert is readying a number of mini-PCI expansion devices and PCI riser cards for the boards.

(Click for larger view of passive-cooled Thunderbird)

Lippert specializes in single-board computers for embedded applications, and the Thunderbird targets gaming, entertainment, and other high-end applications. However, the company will also sell the boards in single units to hobbyists and enthusiasts. Be warned, though, that hobbyist kits are fairly expensive.

“Currently we sell an Thunderbird board with 1.6 GHz Pentium M and 512 MByte DRAM and low noise active cooler to end users for 875 Euro,” notes Lippert founder Peter Lippert. “The passive version with 1.1 GHz Pentium M and 512 MByte DRAM costs 895 Euro. We hope that we can reduce the price in the future when Intel reduces the CPU prices or when the cheaper Celeron M is available (512 MB L2 cache instead of 1 MB in the PM [Processor Module]).”

Without processor or RAM, suggested retail for the board is €379.

Front view (above); rear view (below)

Both active- and passively-cooled versions of the boards feature a graphics subsystem based on the Intel 82855GME GMCH (graphics and memory controller hub), and both deliver the same graphics performance, according to Peter Lippert, despite the slightly lower clocking of the passively-cooled version. The 855GM is well-supported under Linux by GPL kernel drivers and recent versions of X.

If bought in quantity, available options include a 5V only power supply, extended temperature range, Compact Flash slot (as shown on bottom of board in photo above), and more.

The PCI slot supports only 3.3V PCI cards, but Lippert has designed two riser cards that broaden the options and will be available in February, 2004. “We have developed two 3.3V PCI riser cards with two PCI slots on each board,” said Alfred Glass, a Lippert support engineer. “The first one uses level shifters to expand on two 5V PCI slots. So 5V PCI boards (older designs) can be used on Thunderbird. The second type of this PCI riser card routes the 3V3 PCI slot onto two 3.3V PCI slots.”

The Thunderbird's 32-bit mini-PCI slot (Type IIIA) is “capable to hold all types of mini-PCI modules,” according to Lippert, including Centrino wireless cards, modems, and more. Lippert has designed several mini-PCI cards of its own, including Firewire, Disk-On-Chip, and a four-port serial card.

Lippert lists the following specifications for its Thunderbird motherboards:

• Pentium M processor at 1.3GHz/1.6GHz
• 400MHz FSB
• Core Logic: i82855 GME, i82801 DB (ICH4), Super I/O: NSC PC87364
• 1024 Mbyte DDR SDRAM (PC2700) One slot available
• 200 / 266 / 333 MHz RAM clock
• Unifed Memory Architecture (UMA) graphics, up to 1280 x 1024 x 24 bpp at 85 Hz or 1600 x 1200 x 16 bpp
• Analog VGA
• Dual channel 24-Bit interface for LCDs
• up to 2.88 Mbyte floppy drive
• 2 x RS232C with hardware handshake
• IrDA (SIR, Consumer IR) with TTL level to connect an external infrared transmitter
• 6 x USB 2.0 compliant
• 1 x 100/10 BaseT MAC within the i82801DB with 82562ET PHY. 1 x 1000 BaseT with i82541ER
• PS/2 or USB
• Multi-ModeTM bi-directional Parallel-Port IEEE 1284 compliant with EPP/EPC modes
• 4 independent drives, Primary and Secondary ports, Ultra ATA 100/66/33 Mbyte/s, PIO modes
• AC97 2.3 (Line-in, Line-out, Mic-in)
• RTC backup battery on board
• Software configurable, 1s…255s watchdog
• Standard: -0°C … +60°C, extended temperature range on request
• Power, Ethernet, IDE status LEDs onboard, plus connectors
• 1 x Standard PCI slot, 3.3V, V2.2 compliant
• 1 x Mini-PCI slot, V1.0 compliant
• ATX, a +5 V only supply can be used optionally. All necessary voltages are generated on-board.
• Phoenix FirstBIOS, BIOS parameters are also saved in FEPROM
• Supports Linux, Windows XP, Windows XPE, Windows CE

More technical details are available on the Lippert Website.

 
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