Embedian announced a computer-on-module (COM) that includes an ARM Cortex-A8 processor and uses the MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module) format. The MXM-V210 includes a 1GHz Samsung S5PV210X processor, 512MB of RAM, and 256MB of flash, while the EVK-V210 baseboard provides HDMI output, a five megapixel camera module, a seven-inch touchscreen, and two SD slots, the company says.

Embedian's new MXM-V210, touted as the company's first ARM Cortex-A8 based COM, joins a number of other modules using a MXM (Mobile PCI Express Module) "golden finger" connector. Embedian's first such offerings were the MXM-7110 and MXM-7114, which employed ARM9-based Samsung S3C2440A processors. These were later joined by the MXM-8110 and MXM-8310, with Marvell PXA320 CPUs, and in February Embedian announced the MXM-6410, sporting a ARM11-based Samsung S3C6410 processor.

Embedian's MXM-V210

According to Embedian, the MXM-V210 steps up to the 1GHz Samsung S5PV210X SoC, first announced last September. According to Samsung, this 45nm chip includes a 3D graphics engine, a HDMI 1.3 interface, and the ability to record or play back 1080p HD video. (For more details, see our earlier coverage, here.)

Embedian says the S5PV210X's Multi Format Codec (MFC) co-processor supports encoding and decoding of MPEG4/H.263/H.264 and decoding of VC1 and Divx. The MFC supports real-time videoconferencing and offers digital and analog output in both NTSC and PAL modes, the company adds. Meanwhile, it's said the SoC's 3D graphics accelerator supports OpenGL ES 1.1 & 2.0 and OpenVG 1.0 rendering.

In addition to the S5PV210X, the MXM-V210 is supplied with 256MB of flash storage and either 512MB or 1GB of RAM, Embedian says. Interfaces, all of which reach the outside world via the 242-pin MXM connector, include two USB 2.0 hosts, one USB 2.0 client, four RS232 ports, and 10/100 Ethernet, the company adds.

Other interfaces on the MXM-V210 are said to include audio, CompactFlash, I2C, JTAG, SD, and SPI. The module supports touch panels, VGA displays with resolutions up to 1024 x 768 pixels, analog TVs, and HDMI output, Embedian adds.

Embedian's EVK-V210
(Click to enlarge)

Embedian's EVK-V210 evaluation kit (above) consists of a baseboard (dimensions not cited) that houses and powers the MXM-V210, as well as adding a variety of real-world interfaces. According to the company, the kit comes with a 800 x 480 touchscreen display, 802.11b/g wireless networking, Bluetooth, and a five megapixel camera module.

Ports on the EVK-V210 include an RJ45 Ethernet jack, microphone and earphone jacks, a DB9 serial debug port, two USB 2.0 hosts, and one USB 2.0 client. Available with an optional cellular modem, the kit also includes two SD slots and an HDMI port, according to Embedian.

A block diagram of Embedian's EVK-V210
(Click to enlarge)

Features and specifications listed by Embedian for the EVK-V210/MXM-V210 combo include:

• Processor — Samsung S5PV210 clocked at 1GHz
• Memory — 512MB or 1GB of RAM and 256MB of flash storage
• Expansion — 2 x SD slots
• Display — seven-inch touchscreen with resolution of 800 x 480 pixels
• Camera — five megapixel
• Networking:
  • LAN — 10 x 100 Ethernet with RJ45 connector
  • WLAN — 802.11b/g
  • PAN — Bluetooth
  • WAN — 2.5/3.5 module (optional)
• Other I/O:
  • 2 x USB 2.0 host
  • 1 x USB 2.0 device
  • HDMI
  • Audio — mic in, headphone out (also includes microphone and speaker)
• Power — 12VDC input to baseboard, 5VDC to module, via AC adapter or battery pack
• Dimensions (module only) — 2.6 x 1.97 inches (66 x 50mm)

Background

Established in 2004 by Nvidia and a number of notebook vendors, MXM is an open, graphics interconnect standard commonly used in laptops. Nvidia created MXM with the goal of making laptop graphics cards more standardized and user-upgradeable.

However, Embedian has since pressed MXM's board edge connector into use as a CPU module interconnect, in much the same way that the SODIMM interface standard for laptop memory modules was re-purposed by CPU module vendors like Strategic Test, Toradex, Cogent Computer Systems, Arcom, and others.

Embedian's 2.60 x 1.97-inch MXM-based boards maintain roughly the same dimension as the SODIMM module format, says the company. Instead of SODIMM's 200 pins, however, MXM uses a 242-pin "golden finger" connector. The result, says Embedian, is more design flexibility and expandability.

Further information

According to Embedian, the MXM-V210 and EVK-V210 support both Windows CE 6.0 and Ubuntu Linux 9.1. Pricing was not cited, but the devices appear to be available now.

More information on the MXM-V210 and EVK-V210 may be found on the Embedian website, here and here.

This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.