Advantech Announces Smaller, Less Power-Hungry Pentium MMX-Class Single-Board Computer; First Vendor Authorized to Offer Win CE in a Board-Level Product.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 1999--

Advantech Co. Ltd. Friday introduced its PCM-5820 Cyrix-based single-board computer for space-critical applications.

The new product packs a Pentium MMX-class processor with a VGA/LCD interface, audio, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, a CompactFlash card socket and a connector for up to 64MB of RAM onto a 3.5-inch platform. Major advantages include:

  -- Low power consumption leading to a smaller, fanless design
  -- A 2-chip processor using less real estate than an Intel
     architecture
  -- Optional bundled Windows CE to significantly reduce licensing and
     development time and cost

The 2-chip Cyrix GXM processor accomplishes what an Intel architecture would require 4 or 5 chips to do, allowing for a more compact design. Since both chip carriers attach to the board through Ball Grid Arrays, power consumption and heat generation are low enough that a fan is not required for their cooling; this both reduces size and increases MTBF.

CompactFlash cards can be used to provide various amounts of storage and there's a parallel port, two serial ports, two USB connectors, a keyboard connector, infrared port and support for two Enhanced IDE devices and two floppies. Expansion is accommodated through 16-bit PC/104 module connectors. And everything fits into a 3.5-inch high space.

The PCM-5820 is seen as a ready-made solution for harsh environments where solid state storage and a small footprint are required. With Win CE, the system runs $527 in 100-unit quantities.

About Advantech

Advantech is a multinational PC automation company with headquarters in the United States and Taiwan, and subsidiaries in Germany, Italy, Benelux, Hungary, Japan, China and Singapore. Advantech produces embedded PCs, Panel PCs and industrial automation products, and is best known for its industrial computers. The company's quality systems are ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certified.

For more information about the company, its embedded computers and other products, Advantech can be contacted at 15375 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, Calif., 92618, 949/789-7178, fax [phone], or at its Web site www.advantech.com.

Note to Editors: Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corp. Cyrix is a registered trademark of Cyrix Corp. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Any other tradenames used are the property of their holders.