IEI announced a 1080p-ready, Mini-ITX digital signage and surveillance board that supports Intel's Core i7 and i5 processors. IEI's Kino-QM57A is equipped with an Intel QM57 Express chipset with Intel Active Management Technology 6.0, and offers dual gigabit Ethernet ports and dual HDMI ports, among other I/O.

Intel's 32nm-fabricated Core i7 and i5 processors continue to march through the embedded market like they own the place, having appeared in a variety of new Linux-ready modules, boards, and systems since their announcement on Jan. 7. However, the only other Mini-ITX boards supporting the two processors that we know of to date are the Advantech AIMB-270 and AIMB-280 boards.

IEI Kino-QM57A (detail)
(Click to enlarge)

The Kino-QM57A is aimed at high-resolution digital signage, surveillance security monitoring, and public infotainment applications, says IEI. The 6.7 x 6.7-inch Mini-ITX board incorporates Intel's Socket G, supporting either of the Core i7 models, which range from 1.06GHz to 2.8GHz base clock speeds, as well as the Core i5 variants, which clock from 2.4GHz to 3.33GHz base speeds. The Kino-QM57A accepts up to 4GB of DDR3 memory via dual SODIMMs.

The board also includes the Intel QM57 chipset, from which it derives its name. The chipset offers an integrated graphics engine that supports up to 1080p HD video playback, and can support two grouped video signals on two sets of displays, or the same signal broadcast over all four outputs, says IEI. The QM57 also supplies an on-board Intel 82577LM gigabit Ethernet LAN controller that offers Intel Active Management Technology 6.0, and enables remote control and monitoring functions over the network, says the company.

Kino-QM57A coastline
(Click to enlarge)

The QM57's graphics capabilities are played out via the board's two HDMI ports, VGA port, and 18/24-bit dual channel LVDS option. Expansion capabilities include a PCI-Express (PCIe) Mini card extension, as well as a PCIe x16 interface that can both for graphics and I/O duty.

For storage, the Kino-QM57A offers six SATA II connectors, with three SATA power connectors powering two SATA drives each, says IEI. Additional I/O is said to include dual gigabit Ethernet ports, four RS-232 serial ports, eight USB 2.0 ports, and an SPIDF pin header. IEI supplies an external 12 VDC power input, as well as an internal 2×2-pin power connector.

Specifications listed for the Kino-QM57A include:

• Processor — Socket G (PGA989), supporting Core i7 and i5 processors; Intel QM57chipset
• Memory — Up to 4GB DDR3 (800/1066MHz) via 2 x 204-pin SODIMMs
• Expansion — 1 x PCIe Mini card; 1 x PCIe x16
• Display
  • VGA (in QM57)
  • 18/24-bit dual-channel LVDS
  • 2 x HDMI ports
• Audio — Realtek ALC888 HD codec
• Networking — 2 x gigabit Ethernet ports (1 x Intel 82574L controller and 1 x on-board Intel 82577 controller with iAMT 6.0 support)
• Other I/O
  • SPIDF (1 x 5pin header)
  • 4 x RS-232
  • 8 x USB 2.0
  • 6 x SATA II with 3 x SATA power connector
  • 1 x 6-pin pin header for KB/MS
  • 8-bit digital I/O (4-bit in, 4-bit out)
  • Super I/O (Fintek F81865)
• Other features:
  • Watchdog timer (soft-programmable 1~255 sec. reset)
  • 1 x 4-pin CPU fan connector
  • 1 x 3-pin system fan connector
• Power:
  • Single voltage 12V DC input
  • 1 x external DIN 4-pin DC jack
  • 1 x internal 2×2-pin power connector
  • Supports AT/ATX mode
  • Typically consumes [email protected] (2.66GHz Core i7 with 2GB DDR3 RAM)
• Operating temperature — 32 to 140 deg. F (0 to 60 deg. C)
• Dimensions — 6.7 x 6.7 inches (170 x 170mm); Mini-ITX format

Kino-QM57A

Availability

IEI did not provide pricing or availability information on the Kino-QM57A, nor did it mention operating system support. However, other Core i7/i5 boards typically support Linux and various Windows flavors, among other platforms.

More information can be found on this datasheet posted in a Comp-Mall.net PDF, here, and more info should eventually show up on IEI's own site, here.

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