The PICO-MTU4: The World’s Smallest Intel Core Ultra-Powered Board

August 14th, 2024: Premier displays and embedded computing provider Review Display Systems, has announced the release of the PICO-MTU4, the smallest single-board computer to host the new Intel® Core™ Ultra Processor platform.

On the ultra-small 100mm x 72mm PICO-ITX form factor, the PICO-MTU4 leverages the disaggregated die design, hybrid CPU core architecture, and integrated VPU of the Intel® Core™ Ultra series for a multi-thread performance increase of up to 24%, with a 50% reduction in SoC power consumption.

The board is available in SKUs featuring both Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 and 5 Processors, all with a TDP of 15W, maxing out at a total of 12 cores (2 P-cores, 8 E-cores, and a further 2 Low Power E-cores) and 14 threads of processing power.

Equipped with LPDDR5x, two LAN ports (2.5GbE and 1GbE), two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and a variety of serial interfaces for industrial protocols like dual COM for RS-232/422/485, a 4-bit GPIO, and SMBus, AAEON have indicated the board will target the advanced industrial robotics market, with SCADA, MES, and system monitoring devices singled out as particularly suitable uses.

Expansion comes in the form of SATA, an M.2 2280 M-Key (PCIe 4.0 x4), and an M.2 2230 E-Key (PCIe 4.0 x1). This not only grants adequate storage, but also Wi-Fi 6 support and other wireless communication options for edge solutions such as roadside units, the suitability of which is evident with the board’s default temperature tolerance range of -20°C ~ 70°C.

Features

Intel® Core™ Ultra 7/Ultra 5 Processor SoC

Onboard LPDDR5, up to 32GB

2.5GbE + 1GbE

HDMI 1.4 + eDP 1.4

M.2 2280 M-Key x 1 (PCIe 4.0 [x4]/SATA)

M.2 2230 E-Key x 1 (PCIe 4.0 [x1] + USB 2.0)

USB 3.2 Gen 2 x 2 ports + USB 2.0 x 2

RS-232/422/485 x 2

TPM, GPIO 4-bit, SATA 6.0 Gb/s x 1

SMBus/I2C (Default SMBus)

Miniature Size, Meteoric Performance

As the world’s smallest board equipped with the new Intel® Core™ Ultra platform, the PICO-MTU4 leverages the disaggregated die design’s hybrid CPU core architecture and dedicated AI engine NPU to achieve up to a 24% boost in multi-thread performance and 50% lower SoC power consumption. On a compact 2.5″ form factor, this combination makes the PICO-MTU4 a miniature dynamo capable of powering even the most advanced edge computing, smart healthcare, and industrial robotics solutions.

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Refined Mechanical Design

Through optimized component placement and a dedicated heatsink, the PICO-MTU4 boasts a remarkable temperature tolerance of -20°C to 70°C. Furthermore, the board’s advanced image rendering, high AI workload throughput, and Wi-Fi 6 support add credibility to the PICO-MTU4’s potential as the central component in roadside unit solutions, where real-time data processing and streamlined AI workload management are crucial.

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High-Bandwidth Communication

Complementing the PICO-MTU4’s power is its high-bandwidth LPDDR5x system memory and diverse interface selection. Dual LAN and USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports can accommodate a range of cameras and sensors, while the board’s internal connectors offer a variety of serial interfaces for industrial protocols, such as dual COM for RS-232/422/485, a 4-bit GPIO, and SMBus. This configuration makes the PICO-MTU4 the ideal foundation for SCADA, MES, and system monitoring devices.

Contact RDS on 01959 563 345 for more details.

For more information on The PICO-MTU4: The World’s Smallest Intel Core Ultra-Powered Board talk to RDS (Review Display Systems Ltd)