ADLINK cPCI-6520 Core i7 Processor Blade Engineering Application Guide

SW_VIO1 (PMC VIO Voltage Switch): Used to set the I/O signal voltage of the PMC site. The default is 3.3V (short circuited 2-3). If the PMC card requires a 5V signal level, this switch needs to be set to 5V (short circuit 1-2).

PMC -12V support note: Please note that pin 2 of PMC connector JN1 of cPCI-6520 does not provide -12V power supply. If the installed PMC module relies on -12V power supply, it is necessary to confirm in advance and contact ADLINK technical support for more information.

Detailed explanation of key interfaces and mode configuration

Proper configuration of onboard interfaces is the foundation of system integration. CPCI-6520 provides a wide range of I/O interfaces, and the configuration of some key interfaces requires special attention from engineers.

1. Serial interface configuration

The front panel COM1 port provides RS-232/422/485 multi protocol support through an RJ-45 connector. Its working mode is controlled by the onboard switch SW12:

RS-232 (default): SW12 1st bit ON, 2nd bit OFF.

RS-422: SW12 1st bit ON, 2nd bit ON.

RS-485: SW12 1st bit OFF, 2nd bit ON.

When connecting RS-422/485 devices, ensure that the pin definitions of the DB-9 to RJ-45 cable match. Pin 4 (TXD/RX+) and pin 8 (DTR #/RX -) of the RJ-45 interface of COM1 define the direction of data transmission and reception in RS-422/485 mode.

2. IPMC and System Management

CPCI-6520 supports IPMI based system management functionality. The onboard switch SW-POD1 is used to define the operating mode of the blade:

2nd OFF: When the system chassis does not include a Chassis Management Module (CMM), IPMI runs in "no CMM mode" (default).

2nd ON: When the system includes CMM, it needs to be set to ON to enable IPMI to run in "CMM mode".

4th OFF (default): The power on/off status is controlled by a pop-up handle. Unless there are special requirements, it is not recommended to change this setting.

3. Display output configuration

The front panel of cPCI-6520 provides two dual-mode DisplayPort interfaces, which can output DVI, VGA, or HDMI signals through adapter cables. But there is an important limitation: if any of the Display Ports on the front panel are converted to DVI or HDMI output, the blade can only support up to two independent display outputs, and the display output (VGA) routed to the rear I/O will be automatically disabled. This constraint needs to be fully considered in system design.

Heat dissipation design and power considerations

High performance processors bring significant power consumption and heat dissipation challenges. The cPCI-6520 adopts a passive heat sink design, and its heat dissipation performance is highly dependent on the overall air duct design of the chassis.

1. Power consumption data reference

The power consumption of different types of CPUs varies significantly. Taking the quad core i7-3615QE (TDP 45W) as an example, when running at full load on Windows 7 system, the total power consumption measured is about 77W (5V current 13.04A, 3.3V current 2.8A). The lowest power consumption dual core i7-3517UE (TDP 17W) has a total power consumption of approximately 43.6W under the same conditions. Engineers should refer to the power consumption data under the worst-case conditions and reserve sufficient margin when selecting power modules and designing chassis heat dissipation.

2. Suggestions for heat dissipation design

To ensure stable operation of the system in high load and high temperature environments, it is necessary to ensure sufficient forced air cooling airflow through the heat sink inside the chassis. The specific relationship between air volume and temperature should refer to the official "temperature vs airflow" curve chart. For high-power CPU configurations, it is recommended to choose fans with higher speeds or optimize the air duct design to ensure that the CPU temperature does not exceed its maximum junction temperature (Tjunction, MAX) of 105 ° C.

BIOS setup and debugging skills

CPCI-6520 adopts AMI BIOS and provides rich configuration options.

1. Enter BIOS and navigation

After booting up, press the<DEL>key to enter the BIOS settings interface. In the Super IO Configuration under the Advanced menu, interrupt numbers and I/O addresses for four serial ports can be configured. The Serial Port Console redirection feature allows engineers to remotely manage BIOS and operating systems through a serial port terminal, making it extremely practical in scenarios without a graphics card or remote debugging.

2. Watchdog timer

CPCI-6520 integrates a watchdog timer based on Winbond SuperIO. Engineers can control the start stop and timeout settings of the watchdog by calling the relevant I/O port (base address 2Eh) through the application program. ADLINK provides a demonstration program under DOS and C language example code, demonstrating how to configure timeout values and periodically "feed dogs" to prevent unexpected system resets. This feature is crucial for enhancing the self-healing ability of the system in unmanned environments.

3. Restore default BIOS

The onboard Load BIOS Default button (SW1) can restore the factory default settings with one click when the system cannot start due to BIOS settings errors, avoiding the tedious operation of disassembling the battery and clearing the CMOS.