System-On-Module Built Using 64-Bit Architecture

With the Blazor, the electronics industry reportedly has its first system-on-module (SOM) based on 64-bit PCI architecture. The module is designed to support both 64-bit/66-MHz PCI 2.2 and 133-MHz PCI-X systems with either single- or dual-processor configurations. The architecture integrates a complete Intel x86 host subsystem with CPU, chipset, DRAM expansion, PCI buses, hardware monitoring, and RAS (reliability, availability and serviceability) BIOS. It supports Pentium III processors or later with a L2 cache of 512 Kb or 1 MB and either SDRAM or DDR DRAM of up to 4 GB. Other features of the SOM include an I/O bandwidth of 2.1 or 4.2 GB/s via RAM, optional CRT and LCD support, an optional AGP 4x link, a wide range of operating system support, and an overall size of just 216 x 121 x 32 mm in a single CPU configuration. Memory RAS features includes 2-bit error correction, 1-bit ECC, and IBM's Chipkill Correct and memory scrubbing. In terms of system RAS, the module employs a CPU monitor and an optional intelligent platform management interface (IPMI) slave controller for extended monitoring and control. The first two Blazor modules to be introduced contain on-board a CPU starting at 933 MHz, two 64-bit PCI buses, and a 32-bit PCI bus, with one of the SOMs also offering 2D and 3D graphics support and an LCD/CRT controller. The modules range in price from $1,200 and $1,500 each, with the exact price depending on volume, configuration, amount of memory, etc. For more details, contact PFU SYSTEMS INC., Santa Clara, CA. (408) 327-1750.