Cheetah

The Cheetah single board computer reaches a new level of sophistication for embedded product technology, integrating very high performance with an expanded feature set on the compact and rugged PC/104-Plus form factor. The advanced design of the Pentium M processor makes it suitable for a wide range of higher-end applications such as security systems, telematics, UAVs, and sophisticated communications equipment.

An impressive amount of functionality is packed into the 2-board set, including 10/100 Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, two COM ports, LPT, IDE, audio, and high-resolution video output. It includes a CompactFlash socket for on-board bootable media storage, TVS devices on the user I/O for enhanced ESD protection, and a watchdog timer to control application run-away conditions. The Cheetah accommodates up to 1 GB DDR system RAM in a high-retention SODIMM socket.

Like all VersaLogic products, this small, powerful SBC is designed to support OEM applications where high reliability and long-term availability are required. From application design-in to 5+ years production life, its quality and longevity provide a cost-effective, long-term solution. The Cheetah is manufactured and tested to the highest quality standards and is backed by a two year limited warranty. Customization is available in as few as 100 pieces.

Details
The Cheetah’s Pentium M processor provides outstanding performance of up to 1.8 GHz while drawing less than 25 watts of power, or about half the power of desktop processors offering similar performance. The processor and chipset solution relies on three separate chips: the processor, a graphics and memory controller hub that provides fast RAM access and video output, and an I/O hub that provides PCI, IDE, USB, and audio functionality.

The Extreme Graphics 2 video built into the chipset offers outputs for LVDS flat panels and analog (CRT) monitors at resolutions up to 2048 x 1536. It supports 24-bit color, very fast rendering, and MPEG-2 decoding for full motion video. Video RAM is allocated from system memory (up to 64 MB).

With two COM ports, two USB ports (2.0), 10/100 Ethernet, LPT port, and IDE interface, the Cheetah offers more I/O options than other similar-sized SBCs. In addition, PC/104 and PC/104-Plus connectors provide support for many off-the-shelf expansion boards for added system functionality with minimal space requirements. The Cheetah also includes a number of reliability-enhancing features such as a watchdog timer and TVS devices.

The Cheetah features a General Software Embedded BIOS with OEM enhancements. The field-reprogrammable BIOS supports custom defaults and CMOS settings. Optional firmware and firmbase applications for security processes, remote booting, and other pre-OS software functions are supported. The Cheetah is compatible with a variety of popular operating systems, including Windows, QNX, VxWorks, and Linux.