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Mar. 07, 2008

Advantech has announced a fanless industrial computer claimed to operate in temperatures from -40 to 75 deg. C (-40 to 167 deg. F). The ARK-4180 features 600MHz or 1GHz Celeron processors, includes internal CompactFlash-based storage, and runs either Windows XP Embedded or Windows CE, Advantech says.

(Click here for a larger view of the Advantech ARK-4180)

The ARK-4180 is built around a single board computer that uses the PCI-104 form factor and expansion interface. It accepts one PCI-104 add-on card internally but, in addition, leverages the ability of PCI-104 modules to be stacked. By removing the bottom of the enclosure, users can attach another housing beneath the ARK-4180 (as shown at right), and add two additional modules to the stack.

Even without the added housing, the ARK-4180 features a variety of I/O. It has six USB 2.0 ports, two RS232 ports, a parallel port, and a 10/100 Ethernet port, all with standard PC-style connectors.

The system uses an Intel Celeron M CPU, clocked at 600MHz or 1GHz. Its aluminum housing employs embedded heatpipes and a large heatsink, accounting for the device's wide cited operating range of -40 to 75 deg. C (-40 to 167 deg. F).

On the 1GHz model, Intel's 855GME chipset is employed. The 600MHz model uses the 852GM chipset. Both have an ICH4 southbridge. Integrated graphics provides the unit with analog video output via an external VGA connector. LVDS LCD displays are supported internally via a pin header.

Finally, a single 200-pin SO-DIMM socket supports DDR memory. Advantech does not specify the maximum potential, but supplies the ARK-4180 with 512MB of "industrial" DRAM. The unit also comes with 1GB of storage, on an internal CompactFlash card.

Features and specifications cited by Advantech for the ARK-4180 include:

Processor -- Celeron M, clocked at 600MHz or 1GHz
Memory -- Single 200-pin SO-DIMM socket, with 512MB of DRAM
Display -- integrated graphics supports external VGA output, and LVDS LCD output via internal pin header
Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet via Intel 82551ER controller
Other I/O:
- 6 x USB 2.0
- 2 x RS232
- PS/2 keyboard/mouse
- audio line in/out
- 1 x parallel
Expansion:
- PCI-104 interface
- CompactFlash slot
Dimensions -- 6.7 x 6.45 x 1.9 inches (170 x 164 x 49mm)
Operating temperature -- -40 to 75 deg. C (-40 to 167 deg. F)

According to Advantech, the ARK-4180 comes with either Windows XP Embedded or Windows CE. Pricing was not cited, but the device is "ready for order now."

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