EBX SBC offers replacement for end-of-life boards.
Press Release Summary:
Using Via Mark CoreFusion CPU, Hercules II SBC provides smooth migration path for end-of-life EBX and EPIC form factor SBCs which utilized Via Eden processors or Intel Celeron®/Pentium® III processors with Via Twister-T chipset. Solution retains existing footprint, mounting holes, I/O, connectors, connector locations, and pin definitions of original product while changing only CPU and chipset to achieve 800 MHz performance and offer 256 or 512 MB memory.
Original Press Release:
New SBC Restarts Lifecycle for Popular Embedded Board Families Decimated by End-of-Life Announcements
Hercules update extends life through 2010 and provides cost efficient migration for
end-of-life SBCs based on VIA Eden or Intel Celeron / Pentium III CPUs with the
Twister-T chipset
April 2, 2007. Mountain View, CA. Diamond Systems Corporation, a leading supplier of PC/104 I/O modules and highly integrated single board computers (SBCs) that include on-board data acquisition today announced an upgrade to the popular Hercules EBX Single Board Computer, extending the life of the product through 2010 and providing the most cost efficient migration path for end-of-life EBX and EPIC SBCs which utilized Via Eden processors or Intel Celeron / Pentium III processors with the Via Twister-T chipset. Recent end of life announcements for Via Eden processors based on the Samuel and Nehemiah cores and the ubiquitous Via Twister-T chipset have rippled through the embedded computer industry causing dozens of single board computers from virtually every manufacturer to prematurely end production during 2006 or 2007. Most manufacturers have responded by prompting customers to migrate to Intel Celeron M or Pentium M based solutions.
"Unfortunately, the Celeron M / Pentium M solutions typically cost 50% more than the cost of the Via Eden solution being replaced", said Jonathan Miller, President of Diamond Systems. "Since these end-of-life products are also not being transitioned to RoHS compliance, customers are faced with a double whammy of rapidigration to a much more expensive solution. Our Hercules upgrade actually increases performance and feature content while reducing cost and meeting the RoHS directive. And it is fully hardware and software compatible with the original Hercules SBC."
Using the Via Mark CoreFusion CPU intended by VIA as a primary migration path for the Eden / Twister-T combination, the new Hercules II SBC provides an outstandingly smooth migration path for EBX form factor SBCs, retaining the footprint, mounting holes, I/O, connectors, connector locations and pin definitions of the earlier model. Only the CPU and chipset have changed, increasing performance to 800MHz and memory to 256MB or 512MB. All software and expansion hardware used with earlier models should work with the upgraded version without change.
About Hercules II
Hercules II is a high performance, EBX form factor (5.75" x 8" or 146mm x 203mm) single board computer integrating a Pentium III-level CPU with data acquisition and a DC/DC power supply on a single board. Hercules II uses a highly integrated, low power 800MHz VIA Mark CoreFusion(TM) processor with either 256MB or 512MB RAM and a broad set of system I/O including 10/100BaseT Ethernet, 4 RS232 ports (two with RS422/485 capability), 4 USB 1.1 ports or 4 USB 2.0 ports, dual IDE controllers (with IDE FlashDisk capability), PS/2 keyboard / mouse, an advanced 2D / 3D video controller supporting both CRT and LVDS flat panel displays and AC '97 audio with amplified speaker output.
Hercules II data acquisition section includes 32 16-bit analog inputs with a 250KHz sample rate and a 2K-sample FIFO along with 4 12-bit analog output channels. Autocalibration on both A/D and D/A ensures maximum accuracy over time and temperature. Hercules II also includes 40 digital I/O lines with programmable direction, as well as two counter / timers.
The variable range 5-28VDC power supply enables Hercules II to be used in a wide range of applications without requiring a separate add-on power module.
Hercules II is extremely rugged, featuring soldered DRAM and optional hardwired jumpers for increased resistance to shock and vibration. Hercules II operates at its full 800MHz clock speed from -40°C to +85°C without a fan.
Price and Availability
Hercules II is available now. Prices start under $600 in moderate quantities.
About Diamond Systems
Founded in 1989, Diamond Systems was an early adopter of PC/104 technology and today is one of the leading worldwide suppliers of PC/104 I/O modules and highly integrated single board computers combining CPU and data acquisition on a single board. Diamond Systems' extensive product line includes A/D, D/A, digital I/O, serial communications, multifunction networking, and power supply modules as well as single board computers and enclosures. Diamond Systems also offers a full range of system solutions, including the capability to customize a board or system to meet the needs of a particular application. Privately held Diamond Systems is based in Mountain View, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley.
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