Evaluating COM Express and COM-HPC for Your Projects

This sponsored article is delivered to you by Kontron.

When the
COM-HPC customary was first mooted in 2019, there was, understandably, some preliminary concern available in the market over its potential impression on COM Categorical Sort 6 and seven modules. This shortly dissipated as soon as the specification turned clear. In any case, they have been at all times supposed to be complementary requirements and clearly differentiated with respect to efficiency, general characteristic units, and worth degree.

However with the rising selection of COM-HPC merchandise now obtainable, how do you select between these and people based mostly on the
long-established COM Express COM standard?

COM Categorical is likely nonetheless the appropriate platform to make use of when:

• The efficiency degree and reminiscence capability match the applying necessities – processor TDP as much as 60 W – reminiscence capability as much as 128 GB
• A smaller footprint and thermal restrict are essential
• Extending the longevity of an current COM Categorical resolution to avoid wasting funding and guarantee continuity
• There’s a low to medium price range consideration

COM-HPC, then again, is extra prone to be viable when:

• Processor energy is required past 60 W TDP
• Reminiscence capability should transcend the restrict of 128 GB
• Quicker interfaces similar to USB 4.0, PCIe Gen 4/5 or 25Gbit Ethernet (permitting 100GbE interfaces) are required
• To accommodate the above, a bigger footprint and worth degree are accepted

Which Client Module?

COM-HPC /Client modules are positioned above
COM Express Sort 6 for a variety of embedded purposes – the place the priorities are elevated processing and graphics capabilities, sooner information transmission, and community connectivity.

• Energy envelope as much as 150W
• As much as 48 + 1 PCI Categorical Gen4/5 lanes
• As much as 4 graphics interfaces
• As much as 2x 25 Gb Ethernet interfaces
• Module sizes: A: 95 x 120 mm; B: 120 x 120 mm; C: 160 x 120 mm

For instance,
COM-HPC Client Modules Sort A and C can be utilized successfully in a spread of high-end embedded consumer merchandise requiring a number of shows. Typical makes use of are in networking, automation, measurement, and AI purposes for medical gear, high-end instrumentation, industrial gear, on line casino gaming gear, ruggedized subject PCs, transportation, and protection methods.

Deciding between COM Categorical and COM-HPC in your embedded tasks? Whereas COM Categorical fits purposes with particular efficiency and price range constraints, COM-HPC excels in high-performance situations, particularly in AI, Machine Studying, and 5G.

COM Categorical Sort 6 addresses many embedded shoppers’ wants by providing a broad vary of I/O interfaces for graphics, Digital Show Interfaces (DisplayPort, HDMI, LVDS, or eDP), and super-fast USB 3.1. It’s due to this fact outfitted to serve many utility necessities throughout varied market segments. Embedded options producers have helped this by providing important purposes pre-integrated on provider boards and customized interfaces.

All essential performance is available on the single board degree. COM Categorical Sort 6 additionally provides vast scalability with compact and primary measurement type elements and a confirmed capacity to make use of processors with a TDP (thermal design energy) of fifty watts or extra.

What about Server Modules?

COM Categorical Sort 7 is a well-liked selection to be used in server-grade edge platforms the place excessive information throughput is important. The pin-out is a complementary specification to the prevailing Sort 6 pin-out, changing graphics help with a number of 10GbE-KR ports and defining 32 PCIe lanes.

COM-HPC Server modules A and D., then again, provide even greater scalability, compute, and communications efficiency. These are supposed for very high-performance edge server-class purposes with monumental information volumes at stake, requiring real-time evaluation and transmission.

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Studying, and Deep Studying are typical examples, together with autonomous driving and 5G. That is the place COM-HPC servers’ elevated processing efficiency and better connectivity come to the fore.

• Energy envelope as much as 300W
• As much as 64 + 1 PCI Categorical Gen4/5 lanes
• No graphic interfaces
• As much as 8x 25 Gb Ethernet interfaces enabling 100Gb Ethernet
• Module sizes: D: 160 x 160 mm; E: 200 x 160 mm

To be taught which COM is correct in your subsequent embedded undertaking, go to Kontron.com