ETX, standing for Embedded Technology eXtended, is an integrated and compact

computer-on-module A computer-on-module (COM) is a type of single-board computer (SBC), a subtype of an embedded computer system. An extension of the concept of System on a chip, system on chip (SoC) and system in package (SiP), COM lies between a full-up computer ...

(COM) form factor, which can be used in a design application much like an

integrated circuit An integrated circuit (IC), also known as a microchip or simply chip, is a set of electronic circuits, consisting of various electronic components (such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors) and their interconnections. These components a ...

component. Each ETX COM integrates core CPU and memory functionality, the common I/O of a PC/AT (serial, parallel, etc.),

USB Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard, developed by USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), for digital data transmission and power delivery between many types of electronics. It specifies the architecture, in particular the physical ...

, audio, graphics, and

Ethernet Ethernet ( ) is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 198 ...

. All I/O signals as well as a full implementation of ISA and PCI buses are mapped to four high-density, low-profile connectors on the bottom side of the module. ETX boards are available with

AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California and maintains significant operations in Austin, Texas. AMD is a hardware and fabless company that de ...

Geode A geode (; ) is a geology, geological secondary formation within sedimentary rock, sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Geodes are hollow, vaguely spherical rocks, in which masses of mineral matter (which may include crystals) are secluded. The crys ...

, VIA,

Intel Intel Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and Delaware General Corporation Law, incorporated in Delaware. Intel designs, manufactures, and sells computer compo ...

Atom Atoms are the basic particles of the chemical elements. An atom consists of a atomic nucleus, nucleus of protons and generally neutrons, surrounded by an electromagnetically bound swarm of electrons. The chemical elements are distinguished fr ...

Pentium Pentium is a series of x86 architecture-compatible microprocessors produced by Intel from 1993 to 2023. The Pentium (original), original Pentium was Intel's fifth generation processor, succeeding the i486; Pentium was Intel's flagship proce ...

Celeron Celeron is a series of IA-32 and x86-64 computer microprocessor, microprocessors targeted at low-cost Personal computer, personal computers, manufactured by Intel from 1998 until 2023. The first Celeron-branded CPU was introduced on April 15, ...

and Core Duo processors. XTX offers a 75% pin-compatible upgrade path to ETX standard. XTX drops the ISA bus and adds

PCI-Express PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), officially abbreviated as PCIe, is a high-speed standard used to connect hardware components inside computers. It is designed to replace older expansion bus standards such as PCI, PC ...

SATA SATA (Serial AT Attachment) is a computer bus interface that connects host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical drives, and solid-state drives. Serial ATA succeeded the earlier Parallel ATA (PATA) standard ...

, and LPC.

COM Express COM Express is a form factor for computer-on-modules (COMs), which are highly integrated and compact computers that can be used in design applications much like integrated circuit components. Each module integrates core CPU and memory functionali ...

was released in 2005 from

PICMG PICMG, or PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group, is a consortium of over 140 companies in the fields of computer science and engineering. Founded in 1994, the group was originally formed to adapt PCI technology for use in high-performanc ...

History

The Embedded Technology eXtended (ETX) specification, first developed by Kontron (formerly *JUMPtec) in early 2000. In April 2006, the members of the ETX Industrial Group released the next generation of the ETX 3.0 specification. The ETX Industrial Group is an independent association of companies that work to exchange knowledge about ETX. Membership is open to companies which develop and produce ETX modules. Members include Kontron Embedded Modules GmbH, congatec AG, Advantech, MSC Vertriebs GmbH, ADLINK Technology Inc., Avalue Technology Inc., SECO Srl, Arbor Technology Corp., Axiomtek Co., Blue Chip Technology, AAEON Technology Inc., AEWIN Technologies IBase, Honeywell – CMSS and Portwell.

3.0 specification

The ETX 3.0 Specification is compact form factor, 95 × 114 mm (3.7 × 4.4 inches) in size. It extends the original ETX standard and adds two

Serial ATA SATA (Serial AT Attachment) is a computer bus interface that connects host adapter, host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical drives, and solid-state drives. Serial ATA succeeded the earlier Parallel ATA (PAT ...

(SATA) interfaces. This is done without changing any of the ETX pin designations, making new modules pin-to-pin compatible with previous versions. Modules designed according to the ETX 3.0 specification integrate two SATA ports via two slim line connectors designed onto the top side of the CPU Module in the vicinity of X4. The module or carrier board ETX connectors do not require any changes to use the faster SATA hard drives. Mandatory features: * Connector X1: PCI bus, USB Audio * Connector X2: ISA BUS * Connector X3: VGA, LCD, Video, COM 1, COM2, LPT/Floppy, IrDA, Mouse, Keyboard * Connector X4: IDE 1, IDE 2, Ethernet, miscellaneous * SATA: Two ports via connector on the top side (as of version 3.0)

References

External links

ETX Specification V3.02

ETX Design Guide

ETX 3.0: SATA integration overview
- ''PC/104 and Small Form Factors'' {{Computer form factors Motherboard form factors Computer hardware standards