M.2, NVMe Bring Performance and Capacity to Modules and Motherboards (.PDF Download)

The M.2 memory and peripheral expansion form factor is very popular in PC motherboards and mobile devices like laptops where compact storage is a requirement. It is also starting to show up in embedded motherboards and modules like Diamond Systems’ Xeta COM Express Type 10 SBC family. The Xeta 84-mm by 55-mm stack actually has a heat spreader on the bottom with the COM Express module in the middle. The white connector on the top carrier board provides a stackable expansion, such as Diamond Systems’ expansion board with the M.2 and Mini-PCIe sockets.

The Xeta COM Express supports up to 8 Gbytes of RAM and a 1.1 GHz, quad core, Intel Apollo Lake N4200 processor. The fanless design has a -40 to +85°C operating temperature range. The main carrier board includes a 16-channel, 16-bit ADC and a four-channel, 16-bit DAC in addition to connectors for dual gigabit Ethernet, GPIO, four serial ports, an SD card socket, and a Mini-PCIe socket.