ADLINK MXE-310 edge computing Platform Hardware Installation and BIOS Tuning

ADLINK MXE-310 Series Industrial edge computing Platform Hardware Deployment and BIOS Deep Tuning Guide

In harsh environments such as industrial automation, intelligent transportation, and machine vision, the stability and scalability of edge computing devices directly determine system level reliability. The MXE-310 series compact embedded platform launched by ADLINK is based on the 13th generation Intel Core processor, with an all aluminum alloy body, modular expansion design, and wide temperature working capability, making it an ideal choice to replace old industrial computers and upgrade production line control nodes. This article will provide a practical manual covering the entire lifecycle, from hardware disassembly and assembly, interface configuration, BIOS tuning to power consumption planning, to help engineers quickly complete the deployment process from unboxing to stable operation.

Unpacking and Hardware Overview

The size of MXE-310 host is 180mm × 130mm × 70mm, with standard wall bracket, DIN rail mounting screws, and quick guide. In addition to the host, users need to prepare their own 12V-24V DC power adapter (recommended above 60W to cope with 28W CPU full load scenarios). The front of the device integrates a power button (with blue LED), a reset button, three status LEDs (hard drive activity, diagnostic indicator, user-defined), and an audio interface (Line in/Line out/MIC in). The back panel provides two RJ45 Ethernet ports (LAN1 is Intel I219-V Gigabit, LAN2 is I225-V 2.5 Gigabit), one HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4a, one USB Type-C (supports DP Alt Mode and 5V/3A power supply), four USB ports (one USB 3.2 Gen2, three USB 2.0), two DB9 serial ports (COM1/COM2 supports RS-232/422/485 mode switching, COM3/COM4 only RS-232), and one DB26 digital I/O interface (8 inputs, 8 outputs).

The internal motherboard is equipped with two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots (up to 64GB, 4800MHz) and reserves three M.2 expansion slots: Key-M (2280 size, PCIe Gen3 x2， Supports NVMe SSD and Key-B (3042 size, USB 3.0+2.0， Equipped with a USIM card slot for 4G/5G modules, Key-E (2230 size, PCIe x1+USB 2.0， Used for Wi Fi/Bluetooth). In addition, it also provides a standard SATA interface (6Gb/s) and SATA power supply internally, which can be used to install 2.5-inch SSDs/HDDs.

Expansion module and storage device installation

1. Installation steps for M.2 module

Remove the top four screws and open the heat sink (pay attention to the position of the internal thermal pad). Select the corresponding slot based on the module type:

Key-M: Insert NVMe SSD, push in at an oblique angle and press to secure, and lock with matching screws.

Key-B: When installing a WiMAX card, it is necessary to insert the SIM card into the Nano SIM card slot on the motherboard in advance (pay attention to the orientation of the metal contacts), and then fix the module.

Key-E: Install Wi Fi/BT module and connect the antenna (the antenna feeder needs to pass through the reserved hole on the body).

Re cover the heat sink, make sure the thermal pad is in good contact with the CPU/PCH, and tighten the four screws. If multiple modules are installed simultaneously, pay attention to the stacking height to avoid interference.

2. SATA SSD integration

After opening the top cover, secure the 2.5-inch SSD to the reserved stud and connect the SATA data cable and power cable (5V power supply). It is recommended to use industrial grade wide temperature SSDs to match the working environment of -20 ° C~60 ° C.

3. Wall mounted and DIN rail installation

Wall mounted: Use the two M4 screws provided to fix the wall mounted bracket on both sides of the host. The spacing between the bracket openings should be reserved according to the drawing to ensure that the mounting surface is firmly supported.

DIN rail (optional): Use M4 screws to fix the rail backplate to the back of the host. It should be noted that when using DIN rail installation, the system's vibration tolerance is reduced to 1G (standard wall mounting is 3G). If the on-site vibration is strong, it is recommended to use wall mounting or add shock-absorbing pads.

Heat dissipation requirements: The CPU and PCH are located on the left side of the body, in contact with the heat sink through a thermal pad. To ensure natural convection, leave at least 5cm (2 inches) of clearance below the equipment to avoid installation in enclosed spaces or close to heat sources.

Detailed configuration and signal definition of panel interface

1. Serial port mode switching (BIOS setting)

COM1 and COM2 can be selected in RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 mode through the "Onboard Devices Configuration" menu in the BIOS. The pin definition is as follows (DB9 female head):

RS-232：2-RXD, 3-TXD, 5-GND, The others are DCD/DTR/DSR/RTS/CTS/RI.

RS-422:2-TXD - (or 422-), 3-TXD+(422+), 6-RXD -, 7-RXD+, 5-GND.

RS-485: 2-Data - (485-), 3-Data+(485+), 5-GND (half duplex, automatic direction control implemented by hardware).

If you need to connect to an RS-485 multi station bus, a 120 Ω terminal resistor (externally connected by the user) needs to be added at the end.

2. GPIO (DB26) pin allocation

DB26 provides 8 digital inputs (DI0~DI7) and 8 digital outputs (DO0~DO7), with pins 1~8 corresponding to DO0~DO7 and pins 9~16 corresponding to DI0~DI7 (see manual pin table for details). The input level is 5V/24V compatible (requires external pull-up), the output is open leakage, and the maximum current capacity needs to be checked in the schematic diagram. Typical applications include sensor status reading, alarm light control, etc.

3. USB Type-C multifunctional port

This port supports USB 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps), DP 1.4a video output (maximum) 4K@60Hz ）And Power Delivery 5V/3A power supply. Can be used to connect portable displays, docking stations, or power peripherals, but please note that the total output power is limited by the host power budget.

4. Network interface LED status

LAN1 (Gigabit): Yellow Active/Link (constantly lit connection, flashing activity), green/orange Speed (green=1000M, orange=100M, off=10M).

LAN2 (2.5G): Yellow Active/Link, green/orange Speed (green=1000M, orange=2500M, off=10/100M).

BIOS Settings: From Basic to Advanced Optimization

MXE-310 adopts AMI UEFI BIOS, press Delete to enter when booting up. The following focuses on introducing key menu items.

1. Main Menu

Only used for setting system date and time, other information is read-only.

2. Advanced menu

CPU Configuration: Hyper Threading can be enabled/disabled, and the activation numbers of P-core and E-core can be controlled separately. For example, if only low-power computing is required, the number of active cores can be reduced. Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x) and SpeedStep are recommended to remain enabled to support virtualization and dynamic frequency modulation.

Power Management: When selecting "ATX Mode" for the Power Supply Unit option, the operating system can perform a soft shutdown to power off; If "Simulate AT" is selected, it will still be in standby mode after shutdown (applicable to some older AT power supplies). State After G3 defines the behavior after power failure recovery (S0 automatically turns on, S5 remains off). RTC Wake can be set for timed startup (fixed time or dynamic delay) for unmanned scheduled tasks.

Serial Console redirection: When enabled, it can redirect BIOS boot information to the serial port for remote debugging (requires terminal type matching, commonly VT-UTF8).

USB Configuration: USB transfer timeout and device reset delay can be adjusted. If external high-capacity USB storage causes slow recognition, the timeout value can be increased.

TPM 2.0 Configuration: By default, Security Device Support is enabled, supporting SHA256/SHA384 PCR Bank and enabling platform hierarchy. To clear the TPM, select "TPM Clear" in the "Pending Operation" and restart it to take effect.

Onboard Devices Configuration: Set COM1/COM2 modes (RS232/RS422/RS485) separately, and can disable LAN1 or LAN2 separately (for network security isolation).

BIOS Watchdog Timer: This feature is extremely important - it can set a watchdog for the POST phase to prevent BIOS self-test from getting stuck. Supports second mode and minute mode, automatically resetting the system after timeout. It is recommended to set "Second Mode" in critical devices and set a timeout value (such as 60 seconds).

Network Stack Configuration: If you need to boot from the network (PXE or HTTP), you need to enable Network Stack and enable IPv4/IPv6 PXE/HTTP support separately. The waiting time for PXE is adjustable, making it easy to interrupt by pressing ESC.

3. Chipset menu

System Agent (SA) Configuration: Memory configuration (display capacity and frequency), Graphics Configuration (setting GTT Size, Aperture Size, and DVMT pre allocated video memory size). If you need to use MMIO space of 4GB or more, you need to set Aperture to 2048MB or more and turn off CSM (compatibility support module). VT-d is enabled by default and supports device direct access.

PCH-IO Configuration: The SATA controller mode can be selected as AHCI (recommended) or RAID (driver required), and the SATA speed can be limited to Gen1/Gen2/Gen3/Default to be compatible with older hard drives. NVMe devices automatically recognize without additional configuration.

4. Security menu

You can set the administrator password and user password, and enter the Secure Boot submenu to control secure boot (standard/custom mode). The 'BIOS Lock' in the Security Configuration should remain enabled to prevent malicious tampering with the firmware.

5. Boot menu

Setup Prompt Timeout: Set the number of seconds to wait for pressing Del (maximum 8).

Bootup NumLock State: The numeric keypad is enabled by default.

Quiet Boot: When turned off, it displays self-test details for easy fault location.

Fast Boot: When enabled, it can skip some device initialization and accelerate startup (but the USB keyboard may not respond before entering BIOS, so caution should be exercised).

Boot Options # 1~# 11: Can finely adjust the priority of various devices, including hard drives NVMe、UEFI AP、 Optical drive, SD card, USB device, network, etc. Suggest placing commonly used system disks first.

6. Save&Exit

Support saving or discarding changes, restoring factory defaults, and launching EFI Shell from the file system (for firmware updates or diagnostics).

7. MEBx（Intel Management Engine）

ME password is required to enter, Intel AMT (Active Management Technology) can be configured to enable/disable for remote out of band management (requires enterprise level license).

Power consumption assessment and power selection

According to the measured data provided in the manual, there is a significant difference in power consumption among different CPU models:

CPU TDP state power consumption (W)

15W shutdown (USB only) 3.9

System idle 14.5

CPU full load 24.3

System full load (all IO) 31.3

28W shutdown 3.9

Idle 15.0

CPU full load 39.3

System full load 46.6

Recommended power supply considering high temperature derating ≥ 60W

In practical applications, if M.2 SSD, 4G module, and multiple USB peripherals are installed, the peak current may be higher. It is recommended to use an industrial power supply with a nominal output of 60W or more and a wide voltage input (12-24V), and the power supply must comply with CB/UL certification. In high temperature environments (>50 ° C), an additional 20% margin should be reserved.

Environmental adaptability and reliability indicators

Working temperature: -20 ° C~60 ° C (optional extended temperature version, please consult the manufacturer for details).

Storage temperature: -40 ° C~85 ° C (note that the adapter only supports up to 50 ° C).

Humidity: 10%~85% (without condensation).

Anti vibration: 3 Grms (wall mounted), reduced to 1 Grms when using DIN rails.

Shock resistance: 30G (half sine wave, 11ms).

The device adopts all aluminum fins for heat dissipation and a passive fanless design (the CPU 15W model can be fanless, while the 28W model may require auxiliary airflow). If used in a closed cabinet, it is recommended to install a fan inside the cabinet to maintain air circulation.

Status indicator lights and quick fault location

The three red LEDs on the front panel indicate:

HD LED: Flashing represents SATA storage activity.

DG LED: Constant light indicates no physical storage device, flashing indicates memory not installed (or memory failure).

User defined: Can be programmed and controlled by the user (such as customizing the heartbeat light in the application).

If there is no display when turned on, you can check in sequence:

Is the power input between 12-24V and is the polarity correct (with the center being positive).

Check if the memory is securely plugged in (if the DG light is flashing, focus on checking the memory).

Is the monitor interface properly plugged in and does the monitor support the current resolution.

Clear CMOS (short circuit the CLR_CMOS jumper on the motherboard, or long press the reset button for 15 seconds).

If it still cannot start, try using BIOS recovery mode (updating firmware through EFI Shell).

Software and operating system support

Factory pre installed support for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 21H2 (64 bit) and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. The driver package and BSP can be downloaded from the ADLINK official website. For applications that require high real-time performance, the Preempt-RT kernel can be configured or Intel TCC (Time Coordinated Computing) technology can be used, and relevant options need to be enabled in the BIOS (such as disabling C-states, disabling Turbo Boost, etc.).

Maintenance and safety precautions

Regularly clean the dust accumulation on the heat sink to avoid ventilation blockage.

When replacing lithium batteries (BR2032), be sure to use the same model and properly dispose of waste batteries.

Only authorized personnel are allowed to operate internal jumpers and modules to avoid electrostatic damage (it is recommended to wear a grounding wristband).

The equipment should not be installed in public areas such as homes and schools, only in industrial control rooms or service rooms.