Specifications
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IBASE IB750
SBC: Single board computer with embedded Crusoe
processor. Features:
TM3400 400MHz Crusoe 1 PCI, 1 Micro PCI slot 1 DIMM expansion
slot 2 10/100 Fast Ethernet conn. Technical
Specs: 64MB onboard SDRAM Expandable to 320MB RAM 66Mhz system
bus 2 EIDE connectors Lynx3D Graphics board Win2k, Linux OS
capable Chipset: VIA VT82C686A/B Dimensions: 5.75"x8.0" (w x
d) Approximate
Price: Unknown
USD
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SUMMARY The Transmeta TM3400 offers Code Morphing technology that reduces the CPU's power consumption without sacrificing performance. Touting a low-heat Crusoe processor, IB750 does not require a CPU fan and is a good solution for POS, kiosks, Panel PCs, Firewall, security systems and book size PCs. |
With the mass of mobile devices entering the market which use Crusoe, it
has become alarmingly evident that Transmeta's chip may never enter the build-your-own computer arena. Part
of the appeal with AMD processors has always been the ability to buy the
processor, and necessary components such as the motherboard, to make a fully customizable system. Crusoe on the
other hand, has since its' inception been destined for mobile devices
which by their very nature are not well suited to customization by
end users.
That was the case at least, until early this year. A Taiwanese company
called IBASE Technology have recently announced the IB750, a 5.25-inch SBC
(single board computer) based around Transmeta's TM3400 Crusoe processor. The processor
is soldered onto the board so it is not an upgradeable system, but still, the
unit marks the first ever system component available to the end user which is
based upon Crusoe technology.
The complete system on a board is designed to comply with the
5.25-inch SBC form factor ultimately destined for POS, kiosks, Panel PCs, Firewall, security systems and book size PC's. Unfortunately the SBC form factor means
the system board is not be compatible with current ATX case layouts
- some modifications would be required to mount it in a typical mid-tower
case.
The IB750 comes with 64MB SDRAM of onboard memory, 1 DIMM expansion slot, 1
PCI slot, dual Intel 82559 based 10/100 Fast Ethernet RJ-45 connectors,
simultaneous dual independent display, 2 parallel ports, 2 USB ports, 4 COM
ports. PC/104 extensions, DiskOnChip support, Digital I/O and a MicroPCI socket
for various upgrades. The TM3400 chip shows off its' low power capabilities with
power consumption ranging from 0.5 watts to ~ 2.2 watts with Transmeta's Long
Run power management technology. A small heatsink is strapped onto the TM3400
but no fan is necessary for cooling.
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The heatsink on the TM3400 Crusoe processor is quite small, and has
had a portion of the fins removed. The offset in the fins is to allow the
MicroPCI card to properly seat itself in the socket. The card locks in
directly over top of the processor. No cooling fan is apparently
required. |
The single 168-pin DIMM slot sits parallel to the PCI slot and can accept a
maximum of 256MB SDRAM. Two EIDE ports will allow for four UDMA / 33 hard drives
or IDE devices to connect to the system.
The TM3400 is a 400Mhz - 533Mhz variant from the TM3XXX series of Crusoe
processors. Based on 0.18 Micron technology and 128bit VLIW architecture, the
processor has 64Kb of Level 1 Cache and 256Kb of Level 2 Cache according to
Transmeta's documentation. Unlike the TM5XXX series of Crusoe, the TM3400 is
compatible with only SDRAM, and not DDR RAM. It is also the only processor from
the TM3XXX series to support LongRun power management.
Using the VIA VT82C686A/B chipset which has
integrated SouthBridge, the IB750 uses a Lynx3D chipset to handle graphics and
video output via a card which plugs into the MiniPCI slot, situated directly
above the Crusoe processor. Emphasizing again the low heat output the Crusoe
processor produces.