GE Intelligent Platforms Introduces High Performance Single Board Computer Featuring Intel’s Latest Processor for Optimum Performance/Watt

 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, JANUARY 07, 2010    GE Intelligent Platforms today demonstrated its commitment to, and leadership in, CompactPCI® platforms with the announcement of the CT12 6U CompactPCI high performance single board computer. Based on the latest 2.53 GHz Intel Core i7 (Arrandale) processor technology and featuring up to 8 GBytes of DDR3 memory, it is designed to bring high throughput computing and leading edge performance/watt to a broad range of applications including telecommunications, industrial control, test equipment, server blades, supervisor and monitoring systems, security and surveillance.

 “As well as being attractive to new customers,” said Wayne McGee, Commercial Operations Director, Embedded Systems at GE Intelligent Platforms, “the CT12 also provides an ideal upgrade path for users of the CT9 and CT11 single board computers. It has a more highly integrated processor with a faster clock speed; more performance per watt; more, faster memory; and more Ethernet ports than its predecessors while maintaining form, fit and function compatibility and providing optimum lifetime cost of ownership.”

At the heart of the CT12 is Intel’s latest Core i7 mobile processor technology, designed to deliver high performance with low power consumption and low heat dissipation. It is highly integrated, incorporating Northbridge components – memory controller, PCI Express™ for external graphics, integrated graphics and the DMI connector – which make it both faster and more compact. Its clock speed, dual core architecture and new performance features allow applications to be executed more quickly – or allow more tasks to be executed concurrently. Using TurboBoost technology, the CT12 can operate in single core mode – for applications where dual core operation is not necessary – at clock speeds of 3.33GHz, allowing some applications to execute even faster. The CT12 is designed to allow upgrade to faster Intel Core processors as these become available. 

The CT12’s high performance processor is complemented by up to 8 GBytes of soldered, DDR3 SDRAM. Compared to SO-DIMM solutions, soldered memory offers higher levels of mechanical shock and vibration immunity as well as a higher MTBF figure for the overall assembly, contributing to the high reliability of the CT12. Also provided is up to 16 GBytes of soldered non-volatile Flash memory which is able to hold complete operating systems or application code, substantially increasing overall system speed.

Four Gigabit Ethernet ports (two front, two rear) are provided by the CT12 to support intensive networking without the need to add mezzanine modules, reducing cost. Also provided are two PMC/XMC sockets, five USB 2.0 ports, two VGA and DVI ports, three COM ports, and three SATA interfaces, giving maximum connectivity and configuration flexibility. 

Supported operating systems for the CT12 include Linux® and Microsoft Windows®.

“The CT12 reaffirms our commitment not only to the CompactPCI architecture, but to leadership in CompactPCI products,” McGee said. “It is a proven platform in which countless customers have invested, and we believe it has a very bright future.”