Inforce Computing has unveiled a $149 Linux- and Android-friendly Pico-ITX single-board computer (SBC) based on a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processor. The tiny SBC comes with 2GB RAM and 4GB flash memory, and provides HDMI out, MIPI-CSI camera input, WiFi and Bluetooth wireless, a GbE port, and numerous other functions.

The IFC6410 is the first SBC we’ve seen that uses Qualcomm’s hot new quad-core, 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 system-on-chip (SOC), which along with the Nvidia Tegra 4 Cortex-A15, is probably the fastest ARM SOC now shipping. The IFC6410 brings all this embedded high-end smartphone and tablet processing power to embedded developers for a modest $149.

IFC6410 Pico-ITX SBC
(click images to enlarge)

Qualcomm’s snappy Snapdragon

For its line of Snapdragon SOCs Qualcomm takes the approach of licensing the ARM instruction set, rather than the complete architecture, which enables it to differentiate its SOCs in ways that ARM licensees can’t. The S4 Pro is considered to be on par with ARM Cortex-A15-based SOCs.

The high-end S4 Pro APQ8064 version used by Inforce in its Pico-ITX SBC has regularly blown away quad-core Cortex-A9 processors like the Nvidia Tegra 3 in and the Samsung Exynos 4412 in benchmarks. However, the Cortex-A15 based Tegra 4 beats it in at least some benchmarks.

The S4 Pro’s four, 28nm-fabricated 1.7GHz “Krait” cores feature an 11-stage pipeline with out-of-order execution. The Krait cores are backed up by 2MB of L2 cache, an integrated Adreno 320 graphics processing unit (GPU), and a 500MHz “Hexagon” QDSP6V4 DSP (digital signal processor). The combination is said to enable 24-bit QXGA (2048 x 1536) graphics resolution, along with 1080p/60fps video running simultaneously on a second display. The SOC can also run multiple 1080p videos at 30fps.
 

The block diagram of Inforce’s tiny IFC6410 Pico-ITX SBC appears below.

IFC6410 Pico-ITX SBC block diagram
(click image to enlarge)

IFC6410 SBC features

Key features and specs of the IFC6410 SBC, as listed by Inforce, include:

• Processor subsystem:
  • Based on Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 SOC
  • Quad-core ARM “Krait” clocked at 1.7GHz; 2MB L2 cache
  • Adreno 320 GPU
  • QDSP6V4 DSP
• RAM — 2GB PCDDR3 RAM (up to 533MHz)
• Flash — 4GB eMMC flash, expandable to 64GB
• SATA HDD interface
• Networking:
  • 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.0 (2×2 Atheros QCA6234)
  • Gigabit Ethernet port
• A/V interfaces:
  • Micro-HDMI
  • LVDS with backlight
  • HD audio in/out
  • MIPI-CSI camera interface (4-lane, up to 20 Mpx)
• Other I/O interfaces:
  • USB — 2x USB host; 1x OTG (on Micro-USB)
  • Serial console (on 3-pin header)
  • I2C, SPI, UIM, UART, and GPIO on I/O expansion connector
• Power — +5V DC input (5a type) with LED; PMM8920 PMIC
• Operating temp. — 0 to 70° C
• Dimensions — 100 x 70 mm (Pico-ITX)
• Operating system — Linux and Android support packages (SYS6440-00-P1 kit)

The IFC6410 Pico-ITX SBC is priced at $149, according to Inforce. The SBC and its SYS6440-00-P1 Linux/Android SDK (software development kit) are expected to begin shipping in May. Further details may be found on the company’s IFC6410 Pico-ITX SBC product page.