DFI ASL171-CT-x7211RE Intel Atom x7211RE Mini-ITX Embedded Motherboard with Dual 2.5GbE and -40 to 85 °C

A protocol converter or data logger spends most of its life waiting on serial lines and network packets, and every watt it draws becomes heat inside a small sealed box. The ASL171-CT-x7211RE is the 6 W build in the DFI ASL171 series of Mini-ITX embedded motherboards, chosen when a low thermal load matters more than processing headroom.

Its Intel Atom x7211RE (Amston Lake) runs two cores at 1.0 to 3.2 GHz within a 6 W TDP. Memory is one DDR5 4800 MHz SO-DIMM of up to 16 GB, which is generous for logging, Modbus gateways and light web services. Intel UHD Graphics drives two DP++ outputs at up to 4K 60 Hz, enough for a status display and a maintenance screen.

Six COM ports on internal headers (two RS-232/422/485, four RS-232) and 8-bit DIO connect meters, drives and relays, and two 2.5GbE ports on Intel I226IT controllers bridge them to separate networks. The rear panel has three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and one USB 2.0 port, with four USB 2.0 headers inside. The M.2 B-key with Nano SIM suits a cellular backhaul module for remote sites, the M.2 E-key takes Wi-Fi, and a PCIe x4 slot and two SATA ports remain free.

The ASL171-CT-x7211RE runs from 12 V DC on a barrel connector or 4-pin header, operates from -40 to 85 °C fanless and carries CE, FCC, UKCA and RoHS compliance. For a higher clock at 9 W, ASL171-CT-x7213RE adds HDMI and a fourth USB 3.2 port. For eight cores across the same temperature range, see ASL171-CT-x7835RE at 12 W.