This week, embedded PC pioneer Ampro Computers will announce a trio of new single-board computers (SBCs) in its compact (100mm x 145mm) Encore SBC family. The new products mark the departure of Ampro — the company that invented the PC/104 and EBX SBC form-factors — from a purely “wintel architecture” focus. A key element of Ampro's architecture diversification is the availability of Embedded Linux as one of two standard operating system platforms that will span all of Ampro's Encore SBCs.

Last year, Ampro rolled out a new form-factor with the introduction of its Encore family of compact SBCs, and stated its intention to move into non-x86 territory. The Encore family products being announced this week include a pair of x86-based PC-compatible SBCs, along with a third one based on Alchemy Semiconductor's 400 MHz Au1000 MIPS32-based system-on-chip processor. The use of the Au1000 RISC processor marks the first non-x86 processor used by Ampro since the introduction of the Little Board/186 back in 1985.

Ampro's new M2 extends the Encore family beyond x86
According to John Bourgoin, Chairman and CEO of MIPS Technologies, Inc., MIPS has selected Ampro's new EnCore M2 as its primary reference platform for the development of MIPS32-based application software and tools.

“Each Encore module includes a processor, system and Flash storage memory, plus a set of standardized peripheral interfaces (IDE, floppy, Ethernet, serial, parallel, USB, and sound), while some also provide graphics controllers for CRTs and flat panels,” said Paul Rosenfeld, Ampro's CTO.

Here are brief overviews of each of the new Encore SBCs being introduced this week by Ampro . . .

• Encore M2 — based on an Alchemy Semiconductor 400 MHz Au1000 MIPS32-compatible system-on-chip processor, the module includes up to 256MB SODIMM SDRAM along with 2MB Flash memory. I/O controllers include two 10/100 BaseT Ethernet controllers, AC97 audio interface, two serial ports, two USB ports, IDE and floppy disk controllers, PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, IrDA, ECP/EPP bidirectional parallel port. The module also has a 33 MHz PCI expansion bus. Typical power consumption is under 2W.

• EnCore 400 — based on a 133 MHz ST Microelectronics STPC Atlas system-on-chip processor, the module includes up to 128MB of onboard SODIMM DRAM, and provides a 33 MHz PCI expansion bus. I/O controllers include two serial ports, EPP/ECP parallel port, two USB UHCI ports, PS/2 keyboard and mouse interfaces, floppy and Ultra/DMA 33 IDE controllers, 10/100 BaseT Ethernet interface, an AC97 audio interface, and a 2D CRT/LCD graphics controller.

• EnCore 700 — based on a choice of either a 500 MHz Mobile Celeron or 850 MHz Mobile Pentium III CPU, the module supports from 16MB to 512MB SODIMM DRAM, and provides a 33 MHz PCI expansion bus. I/O controllers include two serial ports, EPP/ECP parallel port, two USB ports, PS/2 keyboard and mouse interfaces, floppy and Ultra/DMA 33 IDE controllers, 10/100 BaseT Ethernet, AC97 audio, and a 2D/3D CRT/LCD graphics controller.

Unlike the earlier Ampro-developed PC/104 and EBX standards, “everybody who uses an Encore module has to design a board to plug in into,” explained Rosenfeld. According to Rosenfeld, the modules communicate with customer-developed “custom logic boards” via a combination of PCI bus and standardized I/O signals, without regard to processor architecture. “Since all modules in the EnCore family have consistent feature-sets, physical dimensions, and interface connector locations, a single custom logic board design can support multiple processor architectures simply by exchanging Encore modules,” he added.

Beta units of all three new modules are immediatley available and production modules will ready within 60 days, according to Ampro. Pricing in OEM quantities will be under $300 for both the EnCore M2 (Au1000 based) and Encore 400 (STPC based), and under $500 Encore 500 (Pentium III based). By comparison, the Encore 500 (mobile Pentium based) introduced last year has an under-$400 price point.

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