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        Core i7 SBC's available in rackmount PC, too

        Eric Brown | Date: Jun 18, 2010 | Comments: 1


        Eurotech is readying a 5.25-inch single board computer based on Intel Core i5 or i7 processors up to 2.53GHz. The Antares -- also available inside an industrial rackmount PC called the Antares Ice -- supports up to four independent displays, and offers dual gigabit Ethernet ports, extensive USB and serial connectivity, PCIe and SATA expansion, plus extended temperature support.

        The Antares single board computer (SBC) is aimed at applications including multimedia infotainment, communications control, media servers, machine control, digital signage, HMI, and asset monitoring, says Eurotech.

        Like a number of embedded boards announced this year, the Antares supports Intel's Core i5 and Core i7 processors, which were announced earlier this year along with Core i3 and Xeon models. The device's Intel QM57 Express chipset also supports Celeron CPUs, Eurotech adds.

        The Antares supports Core I7 features including Intel hyperthreading and Intel's AT-d disk encryption, says Eurotech. It also supports remote system management via Intel's AMT feature, which is available even if the supported operating system has crashed, says the company.


        Eurotech Antares
        (Click to enlarge)

        Equipped with up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, the Antares offers memory expansion via an SD/MMC card socket, says Eurotech. Four SATA connectors with hot-swap and RAID support are provided.

        There is also a standard PCI Express (PCIe) x4 slot, plus dual PCIe MiniCard sockets with SIM support for WiFi, Bluetooth, or cellular modems, Eurotech adds. The Antares is said to support concurrent connection of up to four video outputs, including HDMI 1.3 (DVI with cable adapter).

        Antares I/O includes dual gigabit Ethernet ports, and support for up to 10 USB ports total, with four external ports, four internal, and support for two more via PCIe, says Eurotech. Four serial ports are said to be provided, as well as GPIO and an SMBbus interface.

        The Antares supports temperatures ranging from -4 to 140 deg. F (-20 to 60 deg. C), says the company. A fanless option is said to be available when using the ultra low power Core i7-620UE processor.


        The Antares coastline
        (Click to enlarge)

        The SBC is said to be available with pre-ported images for Windows Embedded Standard and Fedora Linux, and the board also supports Windows 7.

        Specifications listed for the Antares SBC include:

        • Processor -- Intel Core i5 520E (2.4GHz); Intel Core i7 610E (2.53GHz); i7 620LE (2GHz); i7 620UE (1.06GHz); Celeron P4505 (1.86GHz)
        • Chipset -- Mobile Intel QM57 Express
        • Memory -- Up to 8GB DDR3 RAM
        • Flash expansion -- SD/MMC card socket for up to 32GB
        • Expansion -- 1 x PCIe x4; 2 x PCIe MiniCard sockets with SIM support
        • Storage:
          • 4 x SATA connectors
          • BIOS support for host swap and eSATA connection
          • RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 support
        • Display -- Supports LVDS, CRT, HDMI 1.3 (DVI with cable adapter) with up to 4 simultaneous independent displays (with IEGD driver)
        • Networking -- 2 x gigabit Ethernet ports
        • Other I/O:
          • 4 x USB front-panel connectors
          • 4 x USB (internal)
          • 2 x USB on PCIe MiniCard sockets
          • 3 x RS232
          • 1 x RS232/RS485/RS422 (software selectable)
          • 16 x GPIO (5V) with 8 inputs, 8 outputs
          • SMBus interface
        • Other features:
          • HD audio codec
          • Watchdog timer
          • Software monitoring for temp. and voltage
          • TPM 1.2 (Atmel AT97SC3204) factory fit option
          • Fanless option
        • Operating temperature -- -4 to 140 deg. F (-20 to 60 deg. C)
        • Operating system -- Windows Embedded Standard; Windows 7; Fedora Linux
        Antares Ice

        The Antares is also available at the heart of a 1U, 19-inch rackmount industrial PC called the Antares Ice, says Eurotech. Standard PC peripherals are broken out via the rear panel, together with the power connector for the universal AC or optional DC PSU, says Eurotech. There is also said to be an expansion card bay for the device's two PCIe slots.


        Antares Ice

        Front-panel I/O includes dual USB ports, a recessed reset button, and a 256 x 64-pixel monochrome LCD display, says the company. The system is said to provide bays for DVD and optional removable hard drives. (More details may be found in the link below.)

        Availability

        The Antares SBC is available for pre-order now, with delivery expected in July. More information may be found here. More information on the Antares Ice 1U rackmount PC may be found here. Pricing was not available.

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