(Click here for a larger view of the Axiomtek CEM820)

The CEM820 supports Socket M-based Pentium M and 1GHz Celeron M processors. Axiomtek did not cite what clock speeds the Pentium M can be run at, but noted that the COM offers a 400MHz or 533MHz frontside bus. The board has two 200-pin SODIMM slots that support up to 2GB of DDR2 PC2-3200/4200 RAM.

The device uses Intel's 915GME/910GMLE chipset, originally designed for mobile devices, and an 1CH6M southbridge. Integrated graphics cater for CRT resolutions up to 2048 x 1536 pixels and LVDS LCD resolutions up to 1600 x 1200, Axiomtek says.

As with other COM Express modules, all I/O signals are mapped here to two high-density, low-profile connectors on the bottom side of the module. The CEM820 offers an impressive eight USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, four channels of GPIO in/out, and two SATA-150 interfaces. It also includes SMBus and I2C ports.

Expansion possibilities on the CEM820 include one 16-lane PCI Express interface, intended for a discrete graphics card if desired, and four 1-lane PCI Express interfaces for other add-on peripherals. It also supports up to four bus-mastering 32-bit 33MHz PCI interfaces.


Axiomtek's CEB94000 development baseboard

Recommended by Axiomtex for development purposes is the CEB94000 development baseboard, pictured above. It fits into a standard ATX case, and brings the CEM820's interfaces out to standard PC-style connectors. It also adds the following expansion possibilities:

• One 16-lane PCI Express slot
  
• 4 x 1-lane PCO Express slots
  
• 2 x 32-bit 33MHz PCI slots
  
• 1 x ExpressCard slot
  
• 1 x miniPCI socket

Features and specifications listed by Axiomtek for the CEM820 itself include:

• Processor: Intel Pentium M or 1GHz Celeron M, with 400MHz or 533MHz frontside bus
  
• Memory -- 2 x 200-pin SODIMM slots support up to 2GB of DDR2 PC2-3200/4200 RAM
  
• Display:
  • Integrated in Intel 915GME/910GMLE
    
  • Up to 128MB frame buffer sharing system memory
    
  • CRT: 2048 x 1536; LVDS LCD: 1600 x 1200
    
  • CRT for DAC output through interface connector
    
  • LVDS LCD through interface connector
• Networking -- Realtek RTL8111B for Gigabit Ethernet
  
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x PATA-100 IDE
    
  • 2 x SATA-150
    
  • LPC interface
    
  • AC '97 HD audio interface
    
  • 8 x USB 2.0
    
  • 1 x SMBus
    
  • 1 x I2C
• Expansion:
  • 1 x 16-lane PCI Express
    
  • 4 x 1-lane PCI Express
    
  • 4 x 32-bit 33MHz PCI interfaces
• Operating temperature -- 0 to 60 deg. C
  
• Size -- 4.9 x 3.75 (125 x 95mm)

Axiomtek provided no pricing details, but said the CEM820 will be available at the end of this month. The CEB94000 baseboard is already available, the company added.

Axiomtek did not specify what operating systems the board supports. However, the company has in the past typically supported Windows XP, Windows XP Embedded, and Linux on all of its board-level products.

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