Taiwanese embedded PC and appliance specialist AR Infotek is shipping a fanless, x86-compatible Linux system with top-mounted I/O connectors and external PC/104 expansion. The Pipal 2025 lets users add PC/104 modules without changing the system chassis, the company says.

(Click for larger view of the Pipal 2025 with PC/104 stack)

AR Infotek says mounting the I/O connectors perpendicular to the board creates a more convenient work environment. The external PC/104 slot, meanwhile, lets users reconfigure their systems without changes to the underlying system chassis. Fanless for low noise and dust accumulation, and with support for DIN rail mounting, the Pipal 2025 targets automation, telecommunications, vehicle transportation systems, industrial control, surveillance, unmanned management or control, building automation, and other general embedded applications.

The Pipal 2025 supports DIN rail mounting
(Click to enlarge)

The Pipal 2025 is based on an AMD Geode LX-800 processor clocked at 500MHz. The processor has 64KB each of instruction and data cache, along with 128KB of L2 cache. It integrates typical northbridge features, such as display and memory controllers, and mates here as usual with AMD's CS-5536 southbridge chip.

The Pipal 2025 has a single SO-DIMM slot supporting 266/400MHz DDR memory cards from 128MB to 1GB. Storage options include a 2.5-inch hard drive and/or a CompactFlash card, with the option to choose which serves as master when both are present.

The Pipal 2025 offers an external VGA interface and internal 24-bit LVDS video connector. The former supports video resolutions up to 1920×1440, at 32bpp and 85Hz refresh rates. The latter provides 1600×1200 at 32bpp and 100Hz refresh rates.

The Pipal 2025 offers top-mounted real-world I/O
(Click to enlarge)

Real-world I/O connectors offer a full complement of PC-style I/O, including audio I/O, RS-232/485, USB 2.0, and 10/100 Ethernet. Expansion (in addition to PC/104) includes a mini-PCI slot suitable for 802.11a/b/g wireless cards.

The Pipal 2025 is “totally compatible” with Linux and Linux based operating systems, according to the company. Linux drivers are reportedly available for the watchdog timer hardware, and for controlling the three system status LEDs. Additionally, a driver is available for using the system's push button as an event trigger (it also suppports reset and power modes).

Supported ACPI modes include software power off (ATX mode), wake-on-lan (S5), wake-on-keyboard (S1), wake-on-ring (S1), and wake-on-RTC alarm (S1). Suspend to RAM (S3) is also reportedly supported.

AR Infotek lists specifications for the Pipal 2025 as follows:

• Processor: AMD Geode LX-800
• Chipset: AMD CS-5536
• BIOS: 512KB Award System BIOS
• Memory: 128MB to 1GB of 266/400MHz DDR, in single SO-DIMM slot
• Storage: 2.5-inch hard drive or CompactFlash
• External I/O connectors:
  • 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet, supportsMIDX, boot-from-LAN
  • 4 x USB 2.0
  • 2 x DB-9 RS-232/485
  • 1 x speaker Connector
  • 3 x status LEDs
  • Event Trigger Button
  • VGA
• Internal I/O connectors:
  • 1 x keyboard/mouse connector
  • USB 2.0
  • 2 x RS-232 with optional tranceiver
  • TTL-LCD 24-bit LVDS connector
  • 4/5 wire resistor type interface for touchscreen panel
  • IR connector
  • Digital I/O
• Operating temp: 0 to 40 degC
• Storage temp: -20 to 80 degC
• Relative humidity: 10% ~ 90% (non-condensing)
• Power: DC input 9-36V, with 5.0mm 1*4 DIN input connector
• 7.9 x 5.1 x 1.7 inches (200 x 130 x 43.5mm)

Availability

The Pipal 2025 appears to be available now, in two stock configurations. The 2025-142 comes with 256MB of RAM, while the 2025-145W has 512MB of RAM and an 802.11b/g card. Pricing was not disclosed. More details may be found here.

 
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