Ampro Introduces Core(TM) 2 Duo Modules with Intel's

Ampro Introduces Core(TM) 2 Duo Modules with Intel's "Santa Rosa" Launch Rugged COM Express and industrial grade XTX computer-on-modules usher in a new computing era SAN JOSE, CA, August 10, 2007. Ampro Computers, Inc., a leading supplier of standards-based computer systems, single board computers (SBCs), and computer-on-modules (COMs), supported Intel's "Santa Rosa" embedded launch with a pair of high-performance Core(TM) 2 Duo embedded PC modules. Ampro's rugged COM 840 product offers dual core processors with the Intel 965 chipset in the Type 2 pinout of the official PICMG COM.0 COM Express form factor up to Core 2 Duo L7500 CPU at 1.6 GHz, along with 4 MB of on-chip L2 cache, powerful 800 MHz FSB (front side bus), and two SODIMM sockets for up to 4 Gb of RAM. The COM 840 provides the enormous bandwidth of the PCI Express(TM) x16 ("by 16") interface to the baseboard. The XTX 840 is an industrial grade module with the same chipset, processors, and a single RAM socket for up to 2 Gb of RAM for easy upgrades to existing ETX and XTX baseboards. XTX provides PCI Express x1 lanes, additional USB ports, LPC bus, and Serial ATA (SATA) to the baseboard so that new system designers can locate peripherals and connectors where they prefer. Together, these two advanced technology pluggable modules enable a brand new class of embedded systems with ACPI power management for next-generation portable computing, imaging, gaming, signage, and streaming media applications. "Ampro collaborated closely with Intel on these designs in order to support the initial launch of the Santa Rosa platform for the embedded market," said Joanne Mumola Williams, president and CEO of Ampro. "Ampro is also pleased to support PICMG's efforts to promote the official COM.0 specification as well as the complementary COM Express Plug-and-Play Initiative to ensure true interchangeability of modules for the benefit of system OEMs and integrators." At a mere 95 x 125 mm (3.7" x 4.5"), the rugged COM 840 contains all of the PC-compatible subsystems short of I/O connectors themselves. The I/O and bus signals are passed through high-density surface-mount connectors to a custom carrier board, according to the official COM.0 Type 2 pinout. I/O includes (2) Serial ATA (SATA) ports, (8) USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, (1) legacy IDE channel, and AC'97 audio. Southbridge PCI Express(TM) x1 ("by one") lanes and the Northbridge x16 lane are brought to the baseboard for additional I/O and external graphics controller expansion, respectively. In addition, the x16 lanes can be configured as (2) SDVO channels for dual displays. High performance DDR2 667 RAM is supported with (2) SODIMM sockets, providing up to 4 Gb total RAM. Ampro uses AMI BIOS with ACPI 2.0 support, including S3 suspend-to-RAM for fastest resume time with long battery life. For product information, please visit the COM 840 product page on Ampro's Web site. To learn about the COM Express Plug-and-Play Initiative and supporters, visit www.comexpress-pnp.org/. The official COM.0 Specification is managed by PICMG (http://www.picmg.com/). The XTX 840 is a mechanically-and electrically-compatible upgrade for hundreds of thousands of ETX baseboards in production, without having to redesign power supply circuits from 5-12 V and change connectors and baseboard signal routing. For new designs, XTX offers a lower-cost approach with legacy peripherals such as serial ports for customers who do not need PCI Express x16 lanes on the baseboard. Both products are fully RoHS compliant. QuickStart Kits for these products include a reference design COM Express baseboard with baseboard schematics and bill of materials, heatspreader and 1 Gb DDR RAM installed, plus device drivers and Board Support Packages (BSPs) for Windows® XP, Windows XP Embedded, Windows CE, and a full Linux® 2.6 distribution. Availability COM 840 and XTX 840 samples will be available within 90 days. About Ampro Computers, Inc. Ampro Computers, Inc. is a leading global provider of modular embedded computing solutions for OEM applications. Ampro's mission is to provide time saving solutions for embedded systems designers that accelerate the product deployment process. Ampro pioneered the embedded PC industry creating the popular PC/104 and EBX standards, and recently co-invented the EPIC standard. Ampro offers the ReadySystem, ReadyPanel, and MightySystem Computers as complete turnkey industrial computer solutions, ETX®, XTX and COM Express Computer-on-Modules, PC/104-compatible CoreModule CPUs and MiniModule I/O expansion products, EBX form factor LittleBoard single-board computers (SBCs), EPIC form factor ReadyBoard SBCs, and Mini-ITX form factor MightyBoard SBCs. For more information about Ampro Computers, please visit www.ampro.com.