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3.5-inch SBC features Comet Lake-S

Apr 9, 2021 — by Eric Brown 1,524 views

Aaeon’s 3.5-inch Linux-ready “GENE-CML5” SBC supplies an up to octa-core 10th Gen Core CPU plus up to 64GB DDR4, 2x SATA, 2x GbE, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2, DP, VGA, M.2 M-key, and PCIe x4.

Aaeon has posted a preliminary product page for what appears to be the first 3.5-inch SBC built around Intel’s 10th Gen Comet Lake-S. In fact, this is one of the first Comet Lake SBCs of any kind, following a few early entries like Portwell’s WADE-8212 Mini-ITX board.



GENE-CML5, front and back
(click images to enlarge)

We often spend a lot of time searching for story ideas that do not otherwise show up in announcements, tips, or filters. Yet, we easily found the GENE-CML5 hiding in plain site on our advertising column. We pride ourselves in our strict separation between edit and advertising at LinuxGizmos, but we should probably spend a little more time checking out those colorful little boxes on the side of the page.

Intel’s Comet Lake-S, which is related to more power-efficient, 15W TDP Comet Lake-U CPUs, falls between 8th and 9th Gen Coffee Lake-S and the new 11th Gen Rocket Lake-S, which is likely the last of the fully 14nm-fabricated Intel Core platforms. Comet Lake-S offers incremental improvements to power efficiency, thermal packaging, cache, and performance, including overclocking enhancements. It is the first Core platform to offer hyperthreading on all the parts.

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Aaeon is not supporting the 10-core models, but it offers five 35W TDP selections: an octa-core Core i7-10700TE (2.0GHz/4.4GHz), a hexa-core i5-10500TE (2.3GHz/3.7GHz), and a quad-core i3-10100TE (2.3GHz/3.6GHz). There are also two dual-core options: the 3.2GHz Pentium Gold G6400TE and the 3.0GHz Celeron G5900TE. Linux and Windows are mentioned in passing in the manual.



GENE-CML5 block diagram and coastline view
(click images to enlarge)

The GENE-CML5, which is not to be confused with the CML5 gene, follows earlier Aaeon 3.5-inchers such as its Whiskey Lake based GENE-WHU6. The SBC ships with up to 64GB DDR4 and offers dual GbE ports. Storage is available via dual SATA III interfaces and the M.2 M-key slot. There is also a PCIe x4 header.


GENE-CML5 detail views
(click images to enlarge)

For displays you get DP++ and VGA ports plus an LVDS interface with backlight support. Audio I/O is also available. Other features include 2x USB 3.2 host ports plus 4x USB 2.0, 2x serial, 8-bit GPIO, and other headers as shown in the spec list below. The 12V board ships with a TPM 2.0 chip.

Preliminary specifications listed for the GENE-CML5 include:

  • Processor — Intel 10th Gen “Coffee Lake-S” Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron with 35W TDP (see list farther above); Intel® Q470E, H420E, or Q470 chipsets
  • Memory — Up to 64GB DDR4 via 2x sockets at 2933/2666/2400MHz
  • Storage:
    • 2x SATA III (with 1x SATA power)
    • SATA available on M.2 M-key (see expansion below)
  • Networking — 2x Gigabit Ethernet ports (Intel i210/i211 and I219) with WoL; vPro available on I219 with i5/i7 + Q470/Q470E
  • Display/media:
    • DP++ port
    • VGA port
    • LVDS interface
    • Chrontel CH7517A controller for VGA and LVDS
    • 12V/2A backlight inverter for LVDS
    • HD audio header with Line-in, Line-out, mic
  • Other I/O:
    • 2x USB 3.2 host ports (10Gbps Gen2 only with Q470/Q470E chipsets)
    • 4x USB 2.0 headers
    • 2x RS232/422/485 connectors
    • 8-bit GPIO
    • SMBus, I2C
  • Expansion:
    • M.2 M-Key 2280 (PCIe x4, SATA)
    • PCIe x4 via FPC interface (Q470/Q470E only)
  • Other features — Watchdog; HW monitoring; TPM 2.0; CPU cooler; optional thermal option and cables
  • Power — 12V DC header; AT/ATX support; 4.47A@+12V consumption with i7-10700TE and 32GB RAM
  • Operating temperature — 0 to 60°C with 0-90% @ 40°C, non-condensing humidity tolerance
  • Dimensions — 146 x 101.7mm (“3.5-inch form factor”)
  • Operating system — Linux; Windows

 
Further information

No pricing or availability information was provided for the “preliminary” GENE-CML5. More information may be found on Aaeon’s product page.
 

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