Extend Your ETX-based System’s Life Cycle with A New Intel-based ETX Module

 Mannheim, Germany – ADLINK Technology, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of products for embedded computing, test & measurement, and automation, demonstrates with the ETX-BT module its continued commitment and support to customers who have designs based on the ETX® computer-on-module form factor.

ETX is one of the earliest computer-on-module form factors. After more than two decades, its popularity is only second to COM Express® when it comes to installed user base. With the recent discontinuation of the hugely popular Intel Atom® processor N270, many customers are searching for an ETX module replacement to keep their systems up and running. They are in need of an ETX drop-in solution at both hardware and software levels (Intel-to-Intel) with equivalent or improved performance and a better thermal envelope to simplify the transition. The problem is that customer’s current module suppliers may not have ETX on their roadmaps anymore. Since ETX is no longer a viable choice for completely new designs, many earlier manufacturers have moved on and dropped out of the ETX market.

ADLINK’s business model has always been to support legacy designs as long as customers need it. This is why ADLINK has the right product for those who want to migrate to a new long-life ETX module for their existing systems. ADLINK’s solution is the ETX-BT, based on the Intel Atom® processor E3800 series SoC (formerly Bay Trail).  This Intel Atom® product family is possibly the last processor that can fully support all ETX legacy interfaces: PATA IDE, ISA bus, PCI bus, serial/parallel ports, VGA and LVDS (Hsync/Vsync mode). The ETX-BT is available in both commercial (0°C to 60°C)  and Extreme Rugged (-40°C to +85°C) versions and has a life cycle of 10 years, keeping in line with Intel’s warranted life cycle for the Intel Atom® processor E3800 series of 15 years from release.

“ETX-BT is possibly the last ETX module you will ever need,” explained Alex Wang, Product Manager for both ETX and COM Express at ADLINK. “ADLINK has already supported many of its customers making a successful transition from another vendor’s EOL’d ETX module to the ETX-BT. We go out of our way to support customers with system bring-up, backporting of software, BIOS modifications and whatever is needed to make the changeover to this new module as smooth as possible.

So far, we have seen many refresh projects in industrial automation, transport, medical and test and measurement. One customer, heavily invested in several ETX designs, went as far as designing a new ETX carrier board to keep their module supply line as simple as possible. Their combined production is projected grow to requiring around 40,000 ETX modules per year,” said Mr. Wang.

ADLINK was a pioneer in the ETX form factor computer-on-module market, and continues to support its users in sustaining and extending the life of their existing ETX-based system. Please contact your local ADLINK representative to find out how we can help rejuvenate and upgrade your ETX products.

For more information, please visit: https://emb.adlinktech.com/en/Computer_on_Modules_ETX.aspx