IEI Technology has released an EPIC single board computer (SBC) featuring the Intel HM55 Express chipset paired with an Intel Core i7/i5/i3 or Celeron processor. The Nano-HM551 supports 1080p video, offers dual display capability with its VGA, LVDS, and HDMI ports, and USB, serial, and SATA I/O.

Adhering to the EPIC form-factor, the Nano-HM551 is equipped with a Socket G1, supporting Intel Core i7/ i5/ i3 processors, as well as an Intel Celeron CPU, says IEI. The SBC is said to support up to 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM.

Nano-HM551

The Nano-HM551 stands out with its use of the Mobile Intel HM55 Express chipset, whose only other appearance we've covered to date is on VXL's Itona TL412 portable thin client, where it was paired with a dual-core, 1.86GHz Intel Celeron CPU.

Intel Core processor connections with HM55 chipset
(Click to enlarge)

Here, the Intel HM55 chipset enables the Nano-HM551 to support HDMI connections, delivering uncompressed HD video up to 1080p resolution and uncompressed multi-channel audio in a single cable, says IEI.

The Nano-HM551 supports dual displays in various combinations, including VGA with dual-channel 18/24 bit LVDS, LVDS with HDMI, or VGA with HDMI, says the company.

A Mini-PCI-Express (Mini-PCIe) slot with SATA signal capability supports an IEI mini-DOM (disk on module) for storage, says the company. The Nano-HM551 is said to offer dual gigabit Ethernet ports, five serial ports, and eight USB 2.0 ports, with four of them available on the coastline. Other I/O includes dual SATA connections and a keyboard/mouse connector.

Nano-HM551, showing front (left), back (upper right), and coastline (lower right) views
(Click to enlarge)

The Nano-HM551 offers an Intel TPM 1.2 hardware security function, as well as IEI's One Key Recovery system recovery feature, says IEI. One Key Recovery can create a full system backup on demand, and restores to a previously made backup with a single click, says the company.

Features and specifications listed for the Nano-HM551 include:

• Processor — Socket G1 for Intel Mobile Core i7/ i5/ i3, and Celeron processor (Socket 988)
• Chipset — Intel HM55
• Memory — up to 4GB DDR3 SDRAM via 204-pin 800/1066MHz SODIMM
• Expansion — 1 x Mini-PCIe card slot (PCIe + USB + SATA signal), supporting IEI mini DOM
• Display:
  • VGA connector (2048 x 1536 pixels)
  • 18/24-bit dual-channel LVDS (1600 x 1200)
  • HDMI (1080p, 1920 x 1080)
  • Dual simultaneous displays
• Networking — 2 x gigabit Ethernet ports (Realtek RTL8111E); LAN1 with ASF 2.0 support
• Other I/O:
  • 8 x USB 2.0 (4 x coastline ports)
  • 3 x RS-232
  • RS-232/422/485 (COM3) with auto flow control
  • TTL COM (COM5)
  • 2 x SATA II with SATA power connector
  • KB/MS 6-pin pin header
  • 8-bit digital I/O, 4-bit input / 4-bit output
• Audio — Realtek ALC888 HD codec
• Other features — watchdog timer; Intel TPM 1.2 (2 x 10-pin header); One Key Recovery
• Power — 12V only, AT/ATX support; [email protected] consumption (Core i3 @ 2.13GHz with 1GB DDR3)
• Operating temperature — 14 to 140 deg. F (-10 to 60 deg. C)
• Dimensions — 6.5 x 4.5 inches (165 x 115mm); EPIC form-factor

Availability

The Nano-HM551 appears to be available now, at an undisclosed price. Operating system support was not listed, but the SBC should support any major x86 compatible OS. More information may be found here.

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