ARBOR Technology has presenting the COMX-A300 module. This event deserves special attention, as the model is the manufacturer's first solution implemented in the COM-HPC (Size A) standard. The transition to this format opens up architectures for engineers that were previously extremely difficult to implement within classic modular concepts.
The release of the COMX-A300 is aimed at tasks requiring colossal bandwidth and complex data processing in real time, where the capabilities of existing standards have reached their physical limits.
Architectural features: Intel Core Ultra platform
The module is based on Intel Core Ultra processors (U and H-series Arrow Lake and Meteor Lake architectures). The supported chipset lineup is extremely broad: from the energy-efficient Ultra 5 125U with a base power consumption of 15W to the high-performance Ultra 7 255H with 24 MB cache and a power consumption of 28W. Support for two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots allows for up to 96 GB of RAM with a frequency of 6400 MT/s.
The full list of supported processors is provided in this table:
|
CPU model |
Turbo boost (GHz) |
Cores / Threads |
TDP (W) |
|
Ultra 7 255H |
5.1 |
16 / 22 |
28 |
|
Ultra 5 225H |
4.9 |
14 / 18 |
28 |
|
Ultra 7 155H |
4.8 |
16 / 22 |
28 |
|
Ultra 5 125H |
4.5 |
14 / 18 |
28 |
|
Ultra 7 255U |
4.8 |
12 / 14 |
15 |
|
Ultra 5 225U |
4.4 |
12 / 14 |
15 |
|
Ultra 7 155U |
4.8 |
12 / 14 |
15 |
|
Ultra 5 125U |
4.3 |
12 / 14 |
15 |
COM-HPC vs. COM Express: key differences
For a specialist accustomed to the COM Express standard, the transition to COM-HPC means not just changing the connector, but gaining access to new physical data transfer levels.
- USB4 and USB3.2 interfaces: the COMX-A300 features two USB4 ports, providing data transfer rates of up to 40 Gbps, as well as two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports and eight USB 2.0 ports. Support for USB4 was virtually impossible under older specifications.
- PCIe Gen 5: H-series processors feature one PCIe x8 Gen 5 lane, delivering incredible speeds for external GPUs or dedicated data acquisition boards. Up to 11 PCIe Gen 4 lanes are also provided, some of which can be configured for NVMe storage.
- Networking and audio: The device features two Intel i226LM Gbps controllers with support for time synchronization (TSN) and WOL.
- The audio subsystem has also been updated: in addition to the classic HD Link, it now supports Soundwire and I2S interfaces. Interface: The COM-HPC standard uses 800 contacts (versus 440 in COM Express), allowing for better power distribution and signal integrity at ultra-high frequencies/
Industrial operation and reliability
Despite being the first product in the COM-HPC series, the COMX-A300 retains all the hallmarks of ARBOR's professional equipment. The module is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 60°C. The system can be powered over a wide voltage range from 8.5V to 20V, making it versatile for a variety of deployment scenarios..
Additional management tools include:
- Built-in TPM 2.0 security module.
- 12-bit GPIO, UART ports, and SMBus interface.
- Support for modern operating systems: Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise and Linux (Ubuntu 20.04).
Conclusion
The release of the COMX-A300 marks a significant milestone for ARBOR Technology. As the company's first module in the COM-HPC format, it offers professionals a ready-to-use platform for working with PCIe Gen 5, DDR5 memory, and ultra-high-definition video analytics. This solution is ideal for projects where not only current performance is crucial, but also interface availability for years to come.
