Pico-ITX Boards

The PICO-ITX is an incredibly versatile embedded single-board computer (SBC) based on the 100mm x 72mm form factor, having been introduced as a more compact alternative to the larger Mini-ITX motherboard with the aim of maintaining a wide variety of interfaces on a more easily deployed board.

Attempts to bring high-performance embedded CPUs to smaller SBCs traditionally ran into issues regarding the high thermal design point of such CPUs, resulting in the necessity of system fans to prevent overheating and limiting the expandability of small boards. The installation of additional storage modules and graphics cards, while beneficial for performance, can lead to the undesirable consequence of an SBC running hot.

Therefore, one of the most common features found across PICO-ITX product lines is either fanless operation or discreet, efficient fans powered by internal connectors. An increasingly common advancement is the ability of embedded solutions providers like AAEON to offer SKUs that specifically cater to industrial markets requiring wide-temperature operation.

In today’s embedded computing landscape, there is also a demand for powerful embedded processing capacity with even small SBCs such as PICO-ITX boards. This demand has been met by exceptional innovation in the types of processors that PICO-ITX boards can accommodate, which have shifted from efficient CPUs with low power consumption to processor platforms from the likes of Intel and AMD that offer performance on par with larger, system-level solutions such as box PCs.

The emergence of PICO-ITX boards equipped with embedded Intel® Core™ i level processors has revolutionized what project developers and system integrators can do when bringing products to market. Today’s PICO-ITX boards can leverage the latest processing technology while retaining comprehensive I/Os. These boards feature multiple USB, HDMI, DP, and serial interfaces through both physical ports and internal connectors. This enables the development of more sophisticated applications across domains like edge computing, smart cities, retail, and healthcare.

At AAEON, there are several things considered when introducing a new PICO-ITX board to market. However, a great deal of emphasis is placed on integrating the newest technologies from premier chip providers, ensuring PICO-ITX boards are efficiently designed to grant users faster, more flexible interfaces, and improving the durability of products.

The first of these key factors is achieved by taking advantage of AAEON’s close relationship with world-leading chip providers such as Intel and AMD to integrate the most sophisticated processors possible, while tailoring the design of its PICO-ITX boards to ensure compatibility with the graphics and security features that these components offer. An excellent example of this is the PICO-V2K4, which brought AMD Ryzen™ Embedded V2000 Series Processors with Radeon™ graphics to the 100mm x 72mm form factor. Designing the PICO-V2K4’s PCBA with a configuration of HDMI, DP, LVDS, and eDP meant that it could fully utilize the advanced AMD Radeon 7 graphics package for four simultaneous displays – ideal for deployment in applications such as healthcare imaging.

Illustrating AAEON’s focus on leveraging the strengths of embedded components and enhancing the durability of its PICO-ITX range is the PICO-TGU4, which is equipped with 11th Generation Intel® Core™ processors. Considering the processor line’s relatively efficient operation, given its hyperthreading-enhanced performance, the PICO-TGU4 prioritized interfaces suitable for industrial automation and edge AI applications. This came in the form of multigigabit ethernet ports alongside an intricate pin header outlay for RS232/422/485, SMBus, and GPIO functionality. To ensure reliable operation in various deployment settings, the board was made available in both standard 0°C ~ 60°C and wide-temperature -20°C ~ 70°C SKUs, boosting overall board durability.

As the functionality and durability of PICO-ITX boards become more advanced, their deployment potential does too. Newer offerings from AAEON’s PICO-ITX range provide complete flexibility, with full function I/Os, expansion slots for additional storage, and exceptional processing power growing the market potential of the form factor, despite its incredibly compact size.