Arm based COM

Express type 7

Arm COM Express type 7 Family

efficient & scalable network computing

Arm COM Express type 7 – efficient & scalable network computing

The COM Express® type 7 form factor was defined by PICMG to offer a standard and easily scalable computer-on-module. The type 7 is a recent addition to the popular COM Express standard with a heavy emphasis on networking and powerful computing, designed for a wide range of vertical embedded markets including mini servers, edge computing devices and high-end networking gateways.

What is COM Express type 7

COM Express is a standardized family of embedded modules introduced and defined by PICMG, they vary in a number of standard sizes and in a number of application defined “types”. The four sizes include Mini (84x55mm), Compact (95x95mm), Basic (95x125mm), and Extended (110x155mm).

All together, since its inception in 2005, eight types have been defined. Out of the current three active types (type 6, type 7 and type 10), type 7 is the most recent and was developed as a module specialising in high-end networking, suited for edge computing, NFV, NAS, mini servers and more. COM Express type 7 replaces the display interfaces (such as LVDS and VGA) found in the other types, with a higher number of PCIe lanes (up to 32) and 5 x LAN ports including 4 x 10GbE.

Systems based on the COM Express specification require the implementation of an application-specific Carrier Board that accepts the Module. User-specific features such as external connector choices and locations and peripheral circuits can be tailored to suit the application. The OEM can focus on application-specific features rather than CPU board design. The OEM also benefits from a wide choice of Modules providing a scalable range of price and performance upgrade options.

Arm architecture on the COM Express module

SolidRun’s COM Express type 7 family truly stands out as it is the world’s first type 7 family to harness Arm architecture, with powerful Arm based processors including NXP’s LX2160A and Marvell’s CN9132.

Arm architecture offers superior energy efficiency properties over x86 based processors, allowing SolidRun’s embedded COM modules to provide more computing and networking power for much less energy and heat. These properties make the CEx7 family optimal for embedded solutions and applications in a wide range of environments.