AMD 3W G-Series SOC on a Q7 module: backplane signal problems probed
The AMD Embedded G-Series SOC in this configuration combines the improved processing power of the "Jaguar" processor with the graphics core of AMD Radeon 8000 technology. congatec currently offers three processors from the AMD Embedded G-Series SOC platform in the Qseven form factor. The AMD GX-210HA 1.0 GHz dual core (L2 cache 1MB) with 9W thermal design power (TDP) and the AMD GX-210JA 1.0 GHz dual core (L2 cache 1MB) with 6W TDP and an expected average power consumption of just 3W in a standard application will both be offered. For extreme environments, the module is also available in extended temperature range of -40°C to +85°C with the AMD GX-209HA 1.0 GHz dual core (L2 cache 1MB). This AMD G-Series SOC is designed to require 33% less power than previously available AMD G-Series processors.
The module offers multimedia performance, high performance-per-watt ratios and flexible task distribution between CPU and GPU. The fanless module design is suitable for cost-sensitive applications in the control and automation industry, digital gaming, communications infrastructures, and graphics-rich devices such as thin clients, digital information boards and medical-imaging equipment.
Thanks to on-board error-correction code (ECC) memory support, the module is also suitable for safety-critical situations and applications in harsh environments. It can be optionally equipped with up to 8 GB ECC DDR3L memory chips. The correction mode of this memory type can detect and correct both single and double bit errors. It therefore differs significantly from the so-called "parity bit", where errors can be detected but not corrected.
The integrated AMD Radeon graphics supports DirectX 11.1, OpenGL 4.2 for fast 2D and 3D imaging, plus OpenCL 1.2 to execute program code with the integrated GPUs. The dedicated hardware, Universal Video Decoder 4.2, for the seamless processing of BluRays with HDCP (1080p) decodes H.264, MPEG4, VC-1, MPEG-2 video streams. The available display interfaces include single/dual channel 18/24bit LVDS and DisplayPort 1.2, as well as DVI/HDMI 1.4a for the direct control of two independent displays. DisplayPort 1.2 also supports multi-stream transport (MTS) enabling the control of up to two displays per graphics port in daisy chain mode.
Up to four single (x1) PCI Express Gen 2 Lanes, one USB 3.0 and five USB 2.0 ports, up to two SATA 3 Gb/s ports and a Gigabit Ethernet interface allow for flexible system expansions with high data bandwidths. The congatec board controller, on-module SATA SSD up to 64 GByte, ACPI 3.0 CPU power management and high-definition audio complete the rich feature set of the conga-QG Qseven module.
congatec has also announced its intention to step up its activities in customer specific, full-solutions design work, providing complete systems as opposed to – or, in addition to – stand-alone modules. Alongside this expansion congatec will increase its services activities and included in that, is the capability to resolve customer issues around signal integrity on high-speed serial buses and backplane design. This work is being carried out in association with Hermann Ruckerbauer of EyeKnowHow (www.eyeknowhow.de).
Ruckerbauer created the card in the photograph; using the physical interface of a COM module, it brings all signal lines out to SMA connectors and allows the effect of a – possibly troublesome – backplane design to be fully characterised, The test card itself has known characteristics that can be de-embedded from measurements made with high-speed oscilloscope and BERT: Ruckerbauer comments that signal integrity issues around fast serial buses can be difficult to identify. Similarly, problems that arise from other causes may be suspected to be SI issues, and the true problem areas can be very difficult to identify without experience and the appropriate test environment.
Congatec; www.congatec.de
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