News

  • Home > News

        Signage PC has three video outputs, surround sound

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Jun 25, 2010 | Comments: 1


        Ibase announced a signage PC that's available with AMD Athlon, Athlon X2, and Sempron processors. The CM1200-952F includes DVI-I, DVI-D, and HDMI video outputs, six 3.5mm jacks for 7:1 surround sound, six USB ports, and a 2.5-inch drive bay, the company says.

        Ibase's CM1200-952F is, the company acknowledges, based on the previously released MI952 Mini-ITX motherboard. The complete device merely packages that board with a case and power supply, adding little that's new -- but that's far from a criticism.

        When the MI952 was announced, Ibase listed target markets such asindustrial automation, test and measurement, digital signage, andsurveillance applications. Citing the board's HDMI output, DVI-I andDVI-D ports, and 7:1 surround sound via eight 3.5mm jacks, we suggestedthat it could also form an interesting basis for a home media server.


        Ibase's MI952
        (Click to enlarge)

        Ibase nominates the built-up CM1200-952F (below) for digital signage applications. The box uses AMD's 780E northbridge and SB710 southbridge, gaining DirectX 10-compatible graphics with 128MB of dedicated DDR3 RAM, as well as support for a range of processors using the chipmaker's AM2 socket.


        Ibase CM1200-952F
        (Click to enlarge)

        Possible CPUs for the CM1200-952F include the AMD Sempron, Athlon 64, and Athlon 64 X2, with clock speeds up to 2.2GHz and TDPs ranging from eight Watts to 65 Watts, the company says. Twin DIMM sockets accept up to 4GB of DDR2 memory, and there's room for a 2.5-inch hard disk drive that can plug into one of the CM1200-952F's two SATA ports, adds Ibase.


        Ports on Ibase's MI952
        (Click to enlarge)

        The coastline of the MI952, pictured above, gives the CM1200-952F the audio and video outputs already mentioned, plus six USB 2.0 ports, two gigabit Ethernet ports, and a PS/2 port.

      • The MI952 was said to have a PCI Express expansion slot that accepts either x16 or x8 devices, but this isn't listed as being available on the CM1200-952F. However, the CM1200-952F does have an accessible DB9 serial port, which has been connected to one of the MI952's headers and given its own bracket on the computer's rear panel (below).


        The rear panel of Ibase's CM1200-952F
        (Click to enlarge)

        Features and specifications listed by Ibase for the CM1200-952F include the following:

        • Processor -- AMD CPUs with AM2 socket, including Athlon 64 X2, Athlon 64, and Sempron, with clock speeds up to 2.2GHz
        • Chipset -- AMD 780E northbridge and SB710 southbridge
        • Memory -- Up to 4GB via two DIMM slots
        • Storage -- 2.5-inch bay for hard disk drive
        • Networking -- 2 x gigabit Ethernet
        • Other I/O:
          • 1 x PS/2
          • 1 x DVI-I
          • 1 x DVI-D
          • 1 x HDMI
          • 8 x USB 2.0 (6 ports, 2 headers)
          • 7:1 surround sound output via 6 3.5mm jacks
          • 1 x RS232
        • Power -- 180W AC power supply accepts inputs from 47 to 63Hz
        • Operating temperature -- 32 to 113 deg. F (0 to 45 deg. C)
        • Dimensions -- 11 x 7.28 x 1.96 inches (280 x 185 x 50mm)
        • Weight -- n/s
        Further information

        Ibase did not provide information about pricing, availability, or operating system support for the CM1200-952F. More information may be found at the company's product page for the device, here.

        Related stories: