Kontron announced a PICMG 1.3 single board computer (SBC) that supports Intel's Core i7/i5/i3 and Pentium processors while accepting up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM. The PCI-761 provides PCI and PCI Express expansion, six RAID-enabled SATA connectors, dual gigabit Ethernet connectors, 12 USB 2.0 ports, and an optional 8GB flash module, the company says.

Kontron's new PCI-761, measuring 13.3 x 4.8 inches, follows the PICMG (PCI Industrial Manufacturers Group 1.3 standard, which adapts PCI and PCI Express to passive backplane implementations. Generally found in telecom, industrial automation, military, and medical applications, PICMG 1.3 defines four backplane connectors, labeled A through D in the photo below.

PICMG 1.3 backplane connectors

From right to left, they're:

• A — 164 pins — PCI Express up to 16 lanes
• B — 98 pins — PCI Express up to 8 lanes
• C — 164 pins — SATA, USB, IPMB, SMBUS, Geographic addressing, Power management
• D — 98 pins (optional) — PCI or PCI-X parallel bus

As the photo below suggests, Kontron's PCI-761 uses all four of these connectors. The device's expansion interfaces include one PCI Express x 16 graphics port (also supporting SDVO or PCI Express x1 devices), a PCI Express x4 interface (also supporting four PCI Express x1 devices), and four 32-bit PCI bus masters, according to the company.

Kontron's PCI-761
(Click to enlarge)

Kontron says two SATA ports and four USB 2.0 ports are also routed over the backplane. Meanwhile, onboard expansion includes eight further USB 2.0 ports and four more SATA ports (with RAID functionality), the company adds.

According to Kontron, onboard connectors also serve up: two serial ports (RS232 and RS232/422/4485); an LPT port; a floppy disk interface; and a SMbus interface. The SBC's mounting bracket, meanwhile, provides access to two more USB 2.0 ports, a VGA port, and two gigabit Ethernet ports.

Employing Intel's Q57 Express chipset and an LGA1156 processor socket, the PCI-761 is said to accept Pentium processors or Core i3/i5/i7 CPUs, topping out with a 3.06GHz version with quad cores. Fixed storage may be added to the SBC via a "robust," USB-interfaced flash module, says Kontron.

According to Kontron, the PCI-761 includes a TPM (trusted platform module) and supports Intel's AMT (active management technology). The SBC supports Linux, Windows Embedded Standard 7, and other Windows versions, the company adds.

Features and specifications provided by Kontron for the PCI-761 include:

• Processor — LGA1156 socket supports Pentium or Core i3/15/i7 at up to 3.06GHz
• Chipset — Q57 Express
• Memory — up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM via two DIMM slots
• Storage — 8GB USB flash disk module (optional)
• Networking — 2 x gigabit Ethernet
• Expansion and other I/O:
  • Real-world ports on mounting bracket:
    • 1 x VGA
    • 2 x USB 2.0
  • Onboard via headers or connectors:
    • 4 x SATA
    • 2 x PS/2
    • 1 x LPT
    • 1 x RS232/422/485 and 1 x RS232
    • 8 x USB
    • 1 x SMbus
  • Via backplane connectors:
    • 1 x PCI Express x16
    • 1 x PCI Express x4
    • 4 x PCI
    • 2 x SATA
    • 4 x USB
• Operating range — 32 to 140 deg. F (0 to 60 deg. C)
• Dimensions — 13.3 x 4.8 inches (338 x 126mm)

Further information

Pricing was not stated, but the PCI-761 is available now, according to Kontron. Further information may be found on the device's product page.

---

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.