2 Introduction
2.1
Product Description
The microETXexpress®-DC brings latest 45nm performance generations of Intel® Atom™ N270 processor with 1.6 GHz and
the Intel® 945GSE and ICH7M chipset to a compact 95 x 95 mm module, which is fully compatible to the new COMexpress
„compact“ form factor. Kontron’s new high-efficient power-off state S5 Eco enables ACPI features and lowest power-
consumption in soft-off state – less than 1 mA. Compared to the regular S5 state this means a reduction by at least factor
200! Battery uptime therefore goes up dramatically. Like all Kontron microETXexpress® modules, it is fully compatible to
the COM Express™ Pin-out Type 2. Therefore, upgrading existing carrier boards originally designed for COM Express™ basic
gets easy and minimizes redesign efforts.
2.2
Naming clarification
COM Express® defines a Computer-On-Module, or COM, with all components necessary for a bootable host computer,
packaged as a super component. Interfaces will provide a smooth transition path from legacy parallel interfaces to LVDS
(Low Voltage Differential Signaling) interfaces. These include the PCI bus and parallel ATA as well as PCI Express and
Serial ATA.
» ETXexpress® modules are Kontron's COM Express® modules in basic form factor (125mm x 95mm)
» microETXexpress® modules are Kontron's COM Express® modules in compact form factor (95mm x 95mm)
» nanoETXexpress modules are Kontron's COM Express® modules in mini form factor (55mm x 84mm)
2.3
Understanding COM Express® Functionality
All Kontron microETXexpress® and ETXexpress® modules contain two connectors; each of it has two rows. The primary
connector has two rows called Row A and Row B. The secondary connector has two rows called Row C and Row D. On
nanoETXexpress® modules only the primary connector Row A and Row B is used.
The primary connector (Row A and Row B) feature the following legacy-free functionality:
» Ethernet
» Serial ATA (SATA)
» USB 2.0
» LVDS/VGA and dual display video
» High Definition Audio (Azalia)
» LPC (low pin count) Bus
» PCIexpress
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