64-bit PCI board suits real-time, embedded systems
By Warren Webb -- EDN, January 10, 2002
Cyclone Microsystems' 64-bit SB-923 PCI system board targets designers of embedded and real-time systems (Picture). The Mini ATX-form-factor board features eight slots that can accommodate off-the-shelf 64-bit PCI I/O cards on two independent buses. Intel's i960RN I/O processor hosts the two 64-bit PCI buses. The PCI bus supports peak transfer rates of 264 Mbytes/sec and supplies PCI-configuration resources, such as interrupts and mailbox and doorbell registers.
The SB-923 also comes with as much as 128 Mbytes of SDRAM and 2 Mbytes of sector-programmable flash ROM. You can boot the board directly from the flash ROM, eliminating the need for rotating disk drives. Unlike most PC motherboards, the SB-923's design guarantees product availability for seven years.
For a complete packaged system, the SB-923 also comes in a rack-mounted industrial-PC enclosure. The UL-listed, FCC-certified BX-923 includes the SB-923 system board, a 100W power supply, eight PCI I/O-card locations, mounting locations for 3.5- and 5.25-in. peripherals, and reset and power switches.
The SB-923 offers the Tornado/VxWorks, Tornado/IxWorks, and Cyclone's Breeze Development Environment software-development options for system integration. The SB-923 and BX-923, with 128 Mbytes of SDRAM, are currently available for shipment to customers. Prices start at $821 and $4421 (1000), respectively.
Cyclone Microsystems Inc, 1-203-786-5536, www.cyclone.com.
