MEN Micro Releases Core i7 Single-Board Computer

Systems used in harsh environments need to be compact and rugged if they are to withstand them for long, and MEN Micro has once again proven its expertise in this field but presenting the G20 SBC computer.

Unlike PCs and business computers, industrial applications often need to built custom systems and come up with special-purpose installations.

This means that hardware makers have to create special-purpose components or, in the case of more complex products, implement compact form factors.

On that note, MEN Micro has put together the G20, its very first single-board computer, SBC for short, intended for harsh environments.

Essentially, it is intended for monitoring, test and measurement applications (like in automation, traffic, transportation and even multimedia markets) and vision and control systems.

The main piece of the newcomer is an Intel Core i7 64-bit central processing unit (CPU) which has a base clock speed of 2.53 GHz (3.20 GHz with Turbo Boost).

Its main asset is the high serial data transfer speed, in line with how the G20 was based on the newly ratified PICMG CPCI-S.0 CompactPCI Serial specification (it was announced at Embedded World 2011).

There are two Gigabit Ethernet, a bunch of USB 2.0, eight PCI Express links, a pair of DisplayPorts (can be used as HDMI or DVI via an external adapter) plus another one on the front (or HDMI) and six SATA connectors, among other things.

Still, there are also 8 GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, plus a CompactFlash and microSD card slot that uses the USB interface.

MEN Micro also decided to throw in a processor based on Intel's AMTAdvanced Management Technology and which is independent form the CPU.

This small chip lets one access the board PC remotely, via the built-in Ethernet, even in stand-by mode or soft-off. The G20 should sell for $2,097 (delivery in six weeks after receipt of order).