ADLINK Technology, Incorporated makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents of
this manual or of the associated ADLINK products, and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. ADLINK shall under no circumstances be liable for
incidental or consequential damages or related expenses resulting from the use of this product, even if it has
been notified of the possibility of such damages. ADLINK reserves the right to revise this publication from
time to time without obligation to notify any person of such revisions. If errors are found, please contact
ADLINK at the address shown at the bottom of this page.
TRADEMARKS
CoreModule and the Ampro logo are registered trademarks, and ADLINK, Little Board, LittleBoard,
MightyBoard, MightySystem, MilSystem, MiniModule, ReadyBoard, ReadyBox, ReadyPanel,
ReadySystem, and RuffSystem are trademarks of ADLINK Technology, Inc. All other marks are the
property of their respective companies.
REVISION HISTORY
RevisionReason for ChangeDate
1000Initial ReleaseJan/13
1010Revised PCIe confiuration settings on page 21; changed battery
voltage from 3.3 to 3.0 in Tab le 3- 17 ; added header
manufacturer P/Ns to Tables 2-2 and 2-3; changed descriptions of J6
in Figure 2-4 and J5 in Figure 2-6 from PCI/104-Express to
PCIe/104; and made other minor changes
3.0Revised mechanical dimension drawing on page 29; changed
revision of this manual from 1010 to 3.0
This manual provides reference only for computer design engineers, including but not limited to hardware
and software designers and applications engineers. ADLINK Technology, Inc. assumes you are qualified to
design and implement prototype computer equipment.
iiReference ManualCoreModule 920
Contents
Chapter 1About This Manual ....................................................................................................1
Purpose of this Manual ....................................................................................................................1
Save & Exit BIOS Setup Screen ............................................................................................. 51
Appendix ATechnical Support .................................................................................................. 53
Index ................................................................................................................................................. 57
List of Figures
Figure 2-1.Stacking PCI/104-Express Modules with the CoreModule 920 ............................... 6
Table A-1.Technical Support Contact Information..................................................................53
CoreModule 920Reference Manualv
Contents
viReference ManualCoreModule 920
Chapter 1About This Manual
Purpose of this Manual
This manual is for designers of systems based on the CoreModule® 920 Single Board Computer (SBC). This
manual contains information that permits designers to create an embedded system based on specific design
requirements.
Information provided in this reference manual includes:
•Product Overview
•Hardware Specifications
•BIOS Setup information
•Technical Support Contact Information
Information not provided in this reference manual includes:
•Detailed chip specifications (refer to the References section of this chapter)
•Internal component operation
•Internal registers or signal operations
•Bus or signal timing for industry-standard busses and signals
•Pin-signal definitions for industry-standard interfaces
References
The following list of references may help you successfully complete your custom design.
•Texas Instruments and the TR3253EIRSMR RS-232, serial transceiver
Web site: http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/slls850b/slls850b.pdf
•Greenliant and the GLS85LS1008P Solid State NANdrive
Data sheet: http://www.greenliant.com/products/solid_state_storage.dot#sn
•ON Semiconductor and the ADT7490-D, Hardware Monitor
Data sheet: http://www.onsemi.com/pub_link/Collateral/ADT7490-D.PDF
•Winbond Corporation and the W25Q64BVSSIG SPI Flash BIOS chip
Web site: http://www.winbond.com/hq/enu
•ST Microelectronics and the STHDLS101TQTR, HDMI Level Shifter
Web site: http://www.st.com/internet/com/home/home.jsp
• Atmel Corporation and the AT24C02C for SPD and PCIe-to-PCI Bridge EEPROMs
Web site: http://www.atmel.com/devices/at24c02c.aspx?tab=documents
• Wurth Elektronik Company and the 7490200110, Gigabit Ethernet Transformers
Data Sheet: http://katalog.we-online.de/pbs/datasheet/749020011.pdf
2Reference ManualCoreModule 920
Chapter 1About This Manual
NOTEIf you are unable to locate the datasheets using the links provided, search the internet
using the name of the manufacturer or component model and locate the documents
you need.
CoreModule 920Reference Manual3
Chapter 1About This Manual
4Reference ManualCoreModule 920
Chapter 2 Product Overview
This overview presents general information about the PCI/104-Express form factor and the CoreModule 920
Single Board Computer (SBC). After reading this chapter you should understand the following points with
regard to the CoreModule 920.
•PCI/104-Express From Factor
•Product Description
•Major Components (ICs)
•Headers, Connectors, and Sockets
•Product Specifications
PCI/104-Express Form Factor
This product is based on PCI Express architecture and the PCI/104-Express form factor. The PCI/104Express form factor affords a great deal of flexibility in system design. You can build a simple system using
only a CoreModule SBC, input/output devices connected to serial, USB, or SATA ports, and the on-board
storage device. To expand a simple CoreModule system, simply add self-stacking expansion modules to
provide additional capabilities, such as:
•Additional serial and parallel ports
•Analog or high-speed digital I/O
Data Acquisition (Analog In/Out)
USB 2.0 expansion modules
IEEE 1394 (FireWire) expansion modules
Standard VGA video output
PCI/104-Express-compliant expansion modules can be stacked with a CoreModule SBC, avoiding the need
for large, expensive card cages and backplanes. These expansion modules can be mounted directly to the
expansion connectors of the CoreModule, with inter-board spacings of ~0.6 inches, so that a 3-module
system fits in a 4.6" x 3.8" x 2.0" space. See Figure 2-1.
One or more PCI/104-Express-compliant modules can be installed on the CoreModule SBC expansion
connectors so that the expansion modules fit within the CoreModule outline dimensions. The PCI/104Express form factor allows for several modules to be stacked up or down from the CoreModule expansion
connectors with each additional module increasing the thickness of the package by ~17mm (0.6"). See
Figure 2-1.
CoreModule 920Reference Manual5
Chapter 2Product Overview
CM920stackthru_a
Nuts (4)
or Chassis Standoffs
PCIe Bus
Stackthrough
Connectors
(active heastsink
exceeds height
limit for stack-up
capability on the
CoreModule 920)
Expansion
0.6 inch Spacers (4)
PCI Bus Stack
Connectors
through
Screws (4)
0.6 inch Spacers (4)
PCIe/104 Module
0.6 inch Spacers (4)
PCI Bus Stack
Connectors
through
PCI-104 Module
CoreModule 920
Figure 2-1. Stacking PCI/104-Express Modules with the CoreModule 920
Product Description
The CoreModule 920 SBC is a highly integrated, high-performance, Intel Core™ i7 processor based
system, compliant with PCI Express architecture and the PCI/104-Express form factor. This rugged and high
quality single-board system contains all the component subsystems of an ATX motherboard, plus the
equivalent of several PCI and PCI Express expansion boards.
The Intel Core i7 series CPU integrates a multiple execution core with a Graphics and Memory Controller
Hub (GMCH), providing a high-performance processor, a memory controller for up to 2GB of DDR3 onboard memory, and a graphics controller that provides VGA, LVDS, and HDMI ports driven by the PCH
(Platform Controller Hub) and one PCIe x16 Graphics (PEG) port driven by the CPU.
Each CoreModule 920 incorporates an Intel BD82QM67 PCH, providing the controller hub for a range of
common user interfaces including six USB 2.0 ports, two serial ports, two SATA 3.0 ports, one SATA 2.0
port dedicated for the SSD, four PCIe x1 lanes, as well as interfaces for GPIO and RTC battery. The
CoreModule 920 provides a Solid State Drive through the SATA2 port for storage up to 8GB, a Hardware
Monitor chip to control temperature and voltage levels, and a Utility interface for Power button, Reset
switch, and Speaker output. The PCH connects to two 10-pin Gigabit Ethernet interfaces through two PCIe
x1 lanes.
The CoreModule 920 can be expanded through the PCIe expansion bus using the PCI-104 and PCIe/104
interfaces for additional system functions. These interfaces offer compact, self-stacking, modular
expandability. The PCI-104 interface implements a PCI bus available on a 120-pin (4 rows of 30 pins) PCI
expansion bus connector. The PCIe/104 interface includes the PCIe signal set plus SMBus and USB 2.0
signals available on top and bottom-side, 156-pin high-speed PCIe connectors. The PCI bus operates at a
clock speed of up to 33MHz, and the PCIe bus operates at a clock speed of up to 100MHz.
The CoreModule 920 is particularly well suited to either embedded or portable applications and meets the
size, power consumption, temperature range, quality, and reliability demands of embedded system
applications. It can be stacked with ADLINK expansion modules or other PCI/104-Express-compliant
expansion modules, or it can be used as a powerful computing engine. The CoreModule 920 requires a
single +5V AT power source.
6Reference ManualCoreModule 920
Chapter 2Product Overview
Module Features
•CPU
Provides a 1.7GHz (17W) Intel Core i7 3517UE Processor Core and Graphics Memory Controller
Hub
Provides a DMI (Direct Media Interface) with 2 GB/s of bandwidth in each direction
Provides an FDI (Flexible Display Interface) for carrying display traffic to the PCH