Way back in 2010, Intel introduced the Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) defining mechanical and electrical parameters for players to be integrated into digital signage displays, with the goal of providing an easier upgrade path. Even if it was defined by Intel we’ve seem some Arm based OPS digital players such as the ones offered by ZidooLab.
If you’ve checked out the latter link, you’ll know OPS players normally come with a case, and measure 180 x 119 x 30mm to comply with the specifications. But it turns out Intel also introduced a more compact card format for digital signage / displays with Intel SDM (Smart Display Module) available as SDM-S (Small: 60 mm x 100 mm x ~20 mm; up to ~10W TDP) or SDM-L (Large: 175 mm x 100 mm x ~20 mm; up to ~45W TDP)
Axiomtek made one of those module with their SDM300S SDM-S module equipped with an Apollo Lake processors.
Axiomtek SDM300S specifications:
- SoC (one of the other)
- Intel Pentium N4200 quad core processor with Intel HD graphics 505; 6W TDP
- Intel Celeron N3350 dual core processor with Intel HD graphics 500; 6W
- System Memory – 4GB LPDDR4 (8GB optional)
- Storage – 32/64GB eMMC onboard
- SDM Edge connector – 98-pin standard PCIe x8 with
- 1x USB 3.0
- 1x HDMI 1.4 up to 3840×2160 @ 30 Hz, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 up to 4096×2304 @ 60 Hz
- 1x Serial TX/RX, 2x I2C
- Connectivity – 1x 10/100/1000 Mbps (Intel i211-AT) Ethernet
- USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports
- Expansion – M.2 Key E 2230 socket for optional Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module
- Misc – Watchdog Timer 255 levels, 1 ~ 255 sec./min.
- Power Input – +12V & +3.3V
- Dimensions – 100 x 60 mm (as per SDM-S requirements),
- Temperature Range – 0ºC ~ +55ºC
- Humidity – 10% ~ 95% relative humidity, non-condensing
Beside digital signage, the card can be used for public kiosks, professional monitors, point-of-sale, hospitality, and more.
You’ll obviously need to have a host display or evaluation board for the card, and Axiomtek does provide SDB100 SDM-S evaluation board, but so far the company did not give any details about the board. Once in the field the SDN-S module would have to be inserted into a compliant display such as Litemax ISDM-4302 43″ display pictured above supporting for SDM-S and SDM-L modules.
Axiomtek SDM300S is still shown as coming soon, and pricing is not available.. You can find a few more details and/or inquire the company via the product page. The video below give a general overview about Intel SDM solutions and use cases.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress
how does this compare with Intel’s Compute Card initiative? that also seems to have become a footnote in the modular computer space 🙁
Those cards include the connectors, so if there are new interfaces like 10GbE or (the yet to be developed) USB 4.0, then those could be fitted to the SDM card, while with the Compute Card you’d need to change the whole device.
Handling cooling is probably a bit easier too since you can fit a large heatsink on the module/card.