Shortly thereafter, Radisys announced a Type 6 COM Express module called the Procelerant CEQM67 that supported the i7-2715QE, (2.1GHz clock speed, 3GHz TurboBoost frequency, four cores, 6MB of cache, 35-Watt TDP). The module also supported two embedded-focused Core i5 processors. 

Over a year later, the company has spun off a similar, but more aerospace- and defense-focused CEQM67HD module, pictured here by Radisys in minimal resolution (lest the enemy catch a glimpse of its solder connections?) Designed for applications such as portable field basestations, the device was developed using Highly Accelerated Lifetime Test (HALT) and Highly Accelerated Stress Screening (HASS) technology, says the company.

This new HD version, which loses the Procelerant name, still supports the quad-core i7-2715QE, but swaps out the i5 processors for the 2.2GHz i7-2655LE and the 1.5GHz i7-2610UE. (Radisys now says the i7-2715QE has a 45-Watt TDP instead of the originally claimed 35 Watts, while the i7-2655LE and i7-2610UE are said to 25- and 17-Watt TDPs, respectively.)

The CEQM67HD offers more than just a processor swap, however -- the new module is ruggedized with shock and vibration resistance, as well as support for an industrial temperature range of -40 to 185 deg. F. As a result, the company claims the CEQM67HD is the first ruggedized COM Express module with quad-core Intel Core i7 processing. Along the way, the 4.9 x 3.7-inch module seems to have switched one of its dual LVDS interfaces for a VGA port, as well as added a serial port and a speaker out port.

Otherwise, the modules appear to be pretty much identical. Like the previous version, Radisys' latest COM Express module features a Type 6 pinout, which means that PCI Expansion is sacrificed but there's the potential for up to three DDIs (digital display interfaces).

The CEQM67HD includes all three DDIs (supporting DisplayPort, HDMI, or SDVO devices), fed by an Intel QM67 chipset. Expansion includes seven PCI Express x1 ports and a PCI Express x16 interface, the company adds.

RadiSys says the CEQM67HD supports up to 16GB of DDR3 memory in two DIMM slots, plus RAID storage (levels 0, 5, and 10) courtesy of four SATA ports. Also cited are a gigabit Ethernet port and eight USB 2.0 ports via the Type 6 pinout.

Other interfaces are said to include LPC, SMbus, I2C, and eight GPIOs. The module offers both a watchdog timer and an Atmel AT97SC3204 trusted platform module, which replaced an earlier Nuvoton (Winbond) version. Intel Advanced Management Technology (AMT) is also said to be available.

Specifications offered by RadiSys for the CEQM67HD include:

• Processors:
  • Core i7-2715QE -- 2.1GHz clock speed, four cores, 6MB of cache, 45-Watt TDP
  • Core i7-2655LE -- 2.2GHz clock speed, 3, two cores, 4MB of cache, 25-Watt TDP
  • Core-i7-2610QE 1.5GHz, two cores, 4MB of cache, 17-Watt TDP
    
• Chipset -- QM67 Express
• Memory -- up to 16GB of DDR3 memory
• Storage -- 4 x SATA ports (support both 1.5 and 3.0Gbps operation; RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10)
• Display interfaces:
  • 3 x DDI
  • VGA
  • LVDS (18-bit or 24-bit)
• Expansion -- 7 x PCI Express x1; 1 x PCI Express Graphics x16
• Networking -- gigabit Ethernet
• Other I/O:
  • 8 x USB 2.0 ports
  • SMbus
  • I2C
  • 8 x GPIO
  • serial port
  • LPC
  • speaker out (HD audio)
• Power -- +12 power rail; supports 9~16.8VDC
• Operating temperature -- -40 to 185 deg. F (-40 to 85 deg. C)
• Shock resistance -- 40G, half sine shock pulse, 11ms duration, 3 times per face
• Vibration resistance -- random 5Hz to 2KHz, 12.07 grms, 1hour in each of 3 axes
• Dimensions -- 4.9 x 3.7 inches (125 x 95mm); COM Express Type 6

Further information

CEQM67HD product samples are available now, and are expected for general availability later this month. Operating system support is said to include Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows XP Embedded, and Linux (Red Hat Enterprise and Fedora). More information may be found at the Radisys CEQM67HD product page.

Eric Brown can be reached at eric.brown@ziffdavisenterprise.com.

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