Kontron launches COM Express® Computer-on-Modules with 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors in numerous variants

Highest scalability for state-of-the-art high-end embedded applications with up to three independent digital displays

Eching, Germany, June 5, 2012 — Today, Kontron has announced to support the new 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors on 14 COM Express® basic Computer-on-Module variants. The new Kontron COM Express® basic COMe-bIP# modules – available in both the Type 2 and Type 6 pin-outs each with numerous different processors – offer long-term availability, an unprecedented level of graphics and processing performance, support of three independent displays, USB 3.0 and fast PCI-Express Gen 3.0. Design engineers of high-end intelligent embedded computer systems, such as those for medical and digital signage solutions, who have to efficiently balance out performance, watts and costs, benefit from Kontron’s highly scalable range of 3rd generation modules which is set to be further extended in the near future.

Applications with tight thermal restrictions in medical, digital signage, infotainment, point of sale and unmanned aerospace and defense applications also benefit from the up to 40% increased performance per watt ratio of this new benchmark processor series. This increased efficiency is just one result of the innovative 22nm 3-D Tri-Gate manufacturing process. Additionally, the 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processor-based modules possess up to 20% enhanced computing capability and integrated HD graphics with 30% more graphic execution units. Furthermore, the improved Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions (Intel® AVX) and SSE floating point instruction sets for signal processing as well as OpenCL 1.1 support provide developers an ideal platform to deliver increased computing capabilities for high performance embedded computing applications in markets such as military, avionics and medical. Vision systems benefit from the supported USB 3.0 interface: the new cost efficient bandwidth king for plug & play devices that delivers up to ten times more performance over previous USB 2.0 interfaces. With integrated support for the latest PCI Express technology, solutions that feature the Kontron COMe-bIP# will have the ability to enable fast wireless connectivity through cutting-edge 3G/4G add-on modems and other communications devices. These features serve the market for connected intelligent platforms that deliver optimized up-time via remote manageability and native system security.

The feature set in detail
Kontron’s latest modules are available in COM Express® pin-out type 6 as well as pin-out type 2. Based on the Intel® QM77 express chipset, they support seven new 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors with a performance bandwidth ranging up to the 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel® Core™ i7 processor 3615QE. The modules support up to 16 GByte of DDR3 RAM system memory. Compliant with the latest COM Express® specification, they offer up to seven PCI-Express Gen 3.0 lanes in the pin-out type 6 configurations and also implement the parallel PCI bus in pin-out type 2 variants. With the fully supported PCI-Express and PCI lanes, a wide range of extended system capability, including integration of connectivity devices are possible.. They host up to four USB 3.0 interfaces, one Gigabit Ethernet port as well as four SATA ports (2x SATA 3 and 2x SATA 2) to connect storage media. Compared to its predecessors, the integrated Intel® GMA HD 4000 iGFX graphics processor provides an extensive performance boost to applications and supports three independent displays. With the support of 3D Blu-ray, AVC/H.264, VC1 and WMV9 as well as OpenGL 3.1 and DirectX® 11, the integrated graphics engine delivers state-of-the-art embedded graphics performance. A wide variety of standard interfaces - ranging from legacy VGA and SDVO up to latest specifications such as HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort and eDP – are available through which the three independent displays can be connected. The wide range of power supplies (8.5 to 20 VDC) supported by the modules are in full compliance with the recommendation of the Open Pluggable Standard (OPS) that serves the modern generation of digital signage solutions.

The Kontron COM Express® basic Computer-on-Modules COMe-bIP# supports different Linux variants and VxWorks as well as the entire Windows OS range. Support for Windows 8 is planned.

For more information on the Kontron COM Express® basic Computer-on-Modules COMe-bIP#, please visit: http://www.kontron.com/products/computeronmodules/com+express/com+express+basic/comebip.html

Want to know the difference between the COM Express® type 2 and type 6 pin-out? Then please visit:
http://www.kontron.com/mysafechoice

For more information on COM Express®, please visit:
http://www.kontron.com/COMExpress


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About Kontron
Kontron is a global leader in embedded computing technology. With more than 40% of its employees in research and development, Kontron creates many of the standards that drive the world’s embedded computing platforms. Kontron’s product longevity, local engineering and support, and value-added services, helps create a sustainable and viable embedded solution for OEMs and system integrators. Kontron works closely with its customers on their embedded application-ready platforms and custom solutions, enabling them to focus on their core competencies. The result is an accelerated time-to-market, reduced total-cost-of-ownership and an improved overall application with leading-edge, highly-reliable embedded technology.

Kontron is listed on the German TecDAX stock exchange under the symbol "KBC". For more information, please visit: http://www.kontron.com/


Media Contacts

EMEA
Norbert Hauser
Kontron
Tel: +49 (8341) 803-0
norbert.hauser@kontron.com

Michael Hennen
SAMS Network
Tel: +49 (2405) 45267-20
michael.hennen@samsnetwork.com

Americas
Richard Pugnier
Kontron
Tel:+1 (858) 623-3006
richard.pugnier@us.kontron.com

Annette Keller
Keller Communications
Tel:+1 (949) 640-4811
annettekeller@sbcglobal.net

APAC
Richard Pugnier
Kontron
Tel:+1 (858) 623-3006
richard.pugnier@us.kontron.com

Michael Hennen
SAMS Network
Tel: +49 (2405) 45267-20
michael.hennen@samsnetwork.com


All rights reserved. Kontron is a trademark or registered trademark of Kontron AG. Intel® and Intel® Core™ are trademarks of Intel® Corporation in the US and other countries. PICMG® and COM Express® are trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computers Manufacturers Group. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks or copyrights by their respective owners and are recognized. All data is for information purposes only and not guaranteed for legal purposes. Subject to change without notice. Information in this press release has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate; however, no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies.