DFI EC700-AL Intel Apollo Lake Low-Profile Embedded PCs with 2x or 4x GbE and Extended Temperature Options

Gateways, kiosks and signage players often run for years on the same software, and the hardware needs to stay put just as long. The DFI EC700-AL series is a family of low-profile fanless embedded PCs on Intel Apollo Lake processors for that kind of steady deployment, with four COM ports on every build and a choice of two or four GbE ports to match the network. The builds share one enclosure and front and rear panel layout, so a project can usually change processor or port mix without redesigning the cabinet.

All EC700-AL builds share one design. Memory is DDR3L, onboard on some builds, plus one 204-pin SO-DIMM for up to 8 GB in total, and storage is a 2.5-inch SATA bay, a full-size mSATA slot and eMMC on the builds that carry it. A full-size Mini PCIe slot with nano-SIM takes an optional 4G module, and an M.2 2230 E key slot takes optional Wi-Fi. Intel HD Graphics drives two displays, a DisplayPort at up to 4096×2160 with either VGA or a second DisplayPort. The systems run Windows 10 IoT or Linux, as DFI states for Apollo Lake, and a programmable watchdog timer resets the system if the software stops responding.

Each build is named for its processor and network count. Four-GbE builds with two USB 3.0 ports are the EC700-AL-E3950-4LAN (Atom x7-E3950, 4 GB onboard, 64 GB eMMC), the EC700-AL-E3940-4LAN, the EC700-AL-E3930-4LAN and the EC700-AL-N4200-4LAN (Pentium N4200, 4 GB onboard, 32 GB eMMC), while the EC700-AL-E3940-4LAN-2DP swaps VGA for a second DisplayPort. Two-GbE builds with four USB 3.0 ports are the EC700-AL-E3950-2LAN, the EC700-AL-E3940-2LAN, the EC700-AL-E3930-2LAN, the EC700-AL-N4200-2LAN and the entry EC700-AL-N3350-2LAN with a Celeron N3350.

In practice the EC700-AL series suits protocol gateways, serial concentrators, kiosks, signage and data loggers. The Atom E3900 builds run from -40 °C to 70 °C for outdoor cabinets, while the Pentium and Celeron builds run from -20 °C to 60 °C. Power is 9 to 36 V DC on a DC jack, and each EC700-AL mounts on a wall, a VESA plate or a DIN rail with optional kits. DFI lists CE, FCC Class A, RoHS, CCC, UL and KC compliance for the EC700-AL series.