Pico-ITX board, PC-104/Plus module get AMD G-Series processors
May 3, 2011 — by LinuxDevices Staff — from the LinuxDevices Archive — 3 viewsKontron announced two devices featuring AMD G-Series processors, with integrated “discrete-class” Radeon graphics on board. The Microspace MSM-eO is a PC/104-Plus single board computer (SBC) with a single-core, 1.2GHz T44R processor, while the KTA55/pITX is a Pico-ITX motherboard with either the T44R or a dual-core, 1.0GHz T44N on board, the company says.
In March, Kontron cast an early vote of faith in AMD's embedded-specific G-Series APUs ("accelerated processing units") when it came up with the microETXexpress-OH, a COM Express Compact module. Now, Kontron is adopting AMD APUs in a PC/104-Plus module and a Pico-ITX motherboard.
The PC/104-Plus module, known as the Microspace MSM-e0, uses the single-core T44R, which has a 1.2GHz clock speed, a 9-Watt TDP, and Radeon HD6250 graphics, according to AMD. The Pico-ITX motherboard, the KTA55/pITX, is offered with either the T44R or the dual-core, 1.0GHz T44N, according to Kontron.
The T44N, incidentally, is new to us and does not appear to have been announced by AMD, either. The table below summarizes the information about the G-Series product line — including "headless" versions announced at the beginning of March — that's currently available on AMD's website (product brief in PDF format).
| Graphics | Clock speed | Cores | TDP | |
| T56N | Radeon HD 6310 | 1.6GHz | 2 | 18W |
| T52R | Radeon HD 6310 | 1.5GHz | 1 | 18W |
| T48N | Radeon HD 6310 | 1.4GHz | 2 | 18W |
| T44R | Radeon HD 6250 | 1.2GHz | 1 | 9W |
| T40N | Radeon HD 6250 | 1.0GHz | 2 | 9W |
| T48L | n/a | 1.4GHz | 2 | 18W |
| T30L | n/a | 1.4GHz | 1 | 18W |
| T24L | n/a | 800MHz | 1 | 5W |
Embedded G-Series processors as listed by AMD
Microspace MSM-e0
According to Kontron, the Microspace MSM-eO (right) is intended as an upgrade to existing PC/104-Plus designs that need more graphics performance while retaining low power consumption. It is "ideal for extremely compact multimedia applications, such as mobile infotainment systems, vending machines, and mobile battery-operated systems," the company adds.
Kontron says the Microspace MSM-eO combines its T44R processor with AMD's A55E I/O controller, while a single SODIMM slot accepts up to 4GB of DDR3 memory. The device has two onboard SATA ports, with support for RAID levels 0 and 1, the company adds.
As usual for PC/104-Plus SBCs, the MSM-eO has PCI and ISA expansion connectors. The device's other I/O, made available via the usual pin connectors, includes VGA and LVDS video outputs with respective maximum resolutions of 1920 x 1200 and 1400 x 1050 pixels, according to Kontron.
The connectors also provide access to two gigabit Ethernet interfaces, four RS232 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, and eight configurable GPIOs. Audio (line out, line out, S/PDIF out) is on tap too, Kontron says.
Kontron's release further cited a microSD slot on the Microspace MSM-eO. However, this was neither pictured nor confirmed on the company's data sheet, so we have not included it in the list below.
Specifications listed by Kontron for the Microspace MSM-eO:
- Processor — 1.2GHz, single-core AMD T44R
- Chipset — AMD A55E
- Memory — up to 4GB DDR3 via single SODIMM
- Expansion — PC/104-Plus (ISA and PCI)
- Networking — 2 x gigabit Ethernet
- Other I/O:
- 2 x SATA
- 4 x RS232
- VGA
- LVDS
- 4 x USB 2.0
- 8 x GPIO
- audio — line in, line out, S/PDIF out
- Power requirements — n/s
- Operating range — 32 to 140 deg. F
- Dimensions — 4 x 3.54 inches
- Operating system support - Linux, Windows, and VxWorks
KTA55/pITX
Kontron touts its Pico-ITX format KTA55/pITX (right) as "the fastest and most cost-effective entry into the development of graphics-intensive small form factor applications." Measuring 3.93 x 2.83 inches, the little motherboard is also said to be the company's smallest AMD G-Series device.
As noted earlier in this story, the KTA55/pITX comes with either the single-core T44R, which has a 1.2GHz clock speed and a 9-Watt TDP, or the new-to-us, dual-core T44N, which has a 1.0GHz clock speed and an unstated TDP. The A55E I/O controller is again specified, as is a single DIMM slot accepting up to 4GB of DDR3 memory.
The KTA55/pITX has two SATA ports, and real-world connectors on the board's coastline provide gigabit Ethernet, a DVI-I connector (allows connection of DVI or VGA monitors), two USB 2.0 ports, and a 5VDC power input. Onboard connectors, meanwhile, provide four more USB 2.0 ports, an LVDS output, and eight configurable GPIOs, Kontron adds.
This time, both press release and data sheet agree that the KTA55/pITX has a bootable microSD slot. Presumably, this is tucked out of sight on the bottom of the board.
Specifications listed by Kontron for the KTA55/pITX include:
- Processor — 1.2GHz, single-core AMD T44R, or 1.0GHz dual-core T44N
- Chipset — AMD A55E
- Memory — up to 4GB DDR3 via single SODIMM
- Expansion — microSD slot
- Networking — 1 x gigabit Ethernet
- Other I/O:
- 2 x SATA
- DVI-I
- LVDS
- 6 x USB 2.0
- 8 x GPIO
- audio — n/s
- Power requirements — 5VDC
- Operating range — 32 to 140 deg. F
- Dimensions — 3.93 x 2.83 inches (Pico-ITX)
- Operating system support — Linux, Windows, and VxWorks
Further information
According to Kontron, the Microspace MSM-eO will begin sampling in August, and production quantities will be available during the fourth quarter. More information may be found on the Microspace MSM-eO product page.
The KTA55/pITX, meanwhile, will sample in August and enter series production in the late third quarter. More information may be found on the KTA55/pITX product page.
Jonathan Angel can be followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.
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