Dual Core Demonstration at ESC Creates a New Breakthrough for Processing and
I/O Scalability
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Ampro Computers, Inc., a leading
supplier of standards-based computer systems and modules, demonstrates this
week at the Embedded Systems Conference a high-performance plug-compatible
solution for hundreds of embedded system manufacturers who were faced with
complete re-designs of their ETX baseboards to adopt new technology. Intel's
2.0 Gigahertz Core(TM) Duo processor ("Yonah"), introduced in January as the
highest performance CPU for the embedded market, is featured on Ampro's new
XTX 830 Computer-on-Module (COM) that will begin sampling this quarter. In
addition to providing a path forward for existing ETX designers, this
announcement means that other OEMs can switch to a modular architecture for
their next-generation image processing, storage, advertising display,
communications, and security applications. For product information, visit
http://www.ampro.com/html/XTX_FormFactor_830.html, or stop by ESC booth 1610.
"Since inventing the embedded PC in 1983, Ampro has continued to find ways
of shrinking PC technology into the small form factors required by non-PC
applications. By extending a popular form factor rather than imposing
completely incompatible connectors and board sizes, Ampro has successfully
merged this leading-edge technology with the migration and re-use needs of
system manufacturers," said Joanne Mumola Williams, president and CEO of
Ampro.
The XTX 830 module includes a 2GHz Intel Core Duo CPU, which takes DDR2
SODIMM RAM up to 1GB. The module also contains (6) USB 2.0 ports, IDE
(Parallel ATA) as well as Serial ATA interfaces to cover both legacy and high-
speed disk drives, (4) PCI Express lanes for up to 10 Gigabit per second in
both transmit and receive directions, 10/100 Megabit Ethernet, 32/33 PCI bus
expansion, ACPI 2.0 support including S3 Suspend-to-RAM, the latest high-
performance embedded graphics with CRT and LVDS LCD interfaces, and RoHS
compliance. XTX 830 runs with Windows(R) XP and Linux 2.6.
Pricing and Availability
RoHS-compliant XTX 830 modules begin shipping by June, 2006. Prices
starting in the low $500s in moderate quantities.
For a product photo, please use the following link:
http://www.ampro.com/html/XTX830.gif .
About XTX
XTX is a new industry standard, supported by a worldwide consortium of
embedded module manufacturers. XTX uses the same four baseboard connectors in
the same locations as ETX, and the module holes and dimensions are identical
for seamless migration from a mechanical standpoint. There is one board size,
the same as with ETX, so that OEMs are not designing to a moving target.
Electrically, only the signals on one connector are different (ISA bus). For
OEMs not using ISA, XTX modules plug directly into existing ETX baseboards,
permitting the easiest possible access to the latest chipset technology,
graphics, and processors and preserving investments in custom baseboards.
Unlike other COM architectures, XTX retains support for legacy peripherals
such as serial ports, parallel port, floppy drive, Parallel ATA (IDE) and PS/2
keyboard and mouse. For more information about the new module standard, visit
http://www.xtx-standard.org .
The new XTX standard provides a "bridge to the future" by replacing the
ISA bus signals in the ETX standard with four PCI Express lanes, two Serial
ATA ports, two additional USB ports and the new desktop-standard Low Pin Count
(LPC) bus. All other ETX signals remain unchanged. The LPC bus has already
replaced the ISA bus in desktop and notebook PCs and chipsets, and is used
primarily for BIOS flash and legacy Super I/O devices. Access to both the PCI
bus and the LPC bus at the XTX baseboard interface gives OEMs two options for
generating the ISA bus if needed for simple I/O expansion: Through a
PCI-to-ISA bridge, or through an LPC-to-ISA bridge placed on the baseboard.
With this "bridge to the future" that does not sacrifice the present,
baseboards can implement PCI Express and Serial ATA when it is convenient for
each OEM, not when forced upon them by the supply chain. Other new module
standards use completely different connectors, signals, locations, and board
sizes, with inconsistent and optional pinouts for the module types, which
necessitates a substantial baseboard re-design to access new processors and
chipsets, even when PCI Express and SATA are not required by the application
in the short term.
About Ampro Computers, Inc.
Ampro Computers, Inc. is the leading global provider of modular embedded
computing solutions for OEM applications. Ampro's mission is to provide time
saving solutions for embedded systems designers that accelerate the product
deployment process. Ampro pioneered the embedded PC industry creating the
popular PC/104 and EBX standards, and recently co-invented the new EPIC and
EPIC Express standards. Ampro offers the ReadySystem Computer as a complete
turnkey industrial computer solution, the ReadyPanel Computer as a touch-
screen Panel PC solution, ETX and XTX Computer-on-Modules, PC/104-compatible
CoreModule CPUs and MiniModule I/O expansion products, EBX form factor
LittleBoard single-board computers (SBCs), EPIC form factor ReadyBoard SBCs,
and Mini-ITX form factor MightyBoard SBCs. For more information about Ampro
Computers, please visit http://www.ampro.com .
NOTE: AMPRO is a registered trademark and CoreModule, LittleBoard, Little
Board, MightyBoard, MiniModule, ReadyBoard, ReadyPanel and ReadySystem are
trademarks of Ampro Computers, Inc. All other trademarks and registered
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Ampro Computers, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.ampro.com
CONTACT:
Victoria Kostka of Ampro Computers, Inc.,
+1-408-360-4324, or vkostka@ampro.com
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