Frequently Asked Questions

All systems that are built and tested by Logic Supply are composed of FCC certified parts. Logic Supply systems have an FCC sticker attached to them that reads: “Assembled From Tested Components. (Complete systems not tested.) For Home or Office Use.” The completed systems are not tested for compliance.

Many of the hardware manufacturers we work with certify individual components, including barebone units. These certifications will be listed in the specifications table that apply to that product.

If you have any questions about certifications on the hardware we carry, please feel free to contact us at 802 861 2300 for more information.

About Mini-ITX

The Mini-ITX form factor was launched in 2002 with the introduction of the VIA EPIA line of integrated mainboards. The introduction of this new form factor allowed VIA to revolutionize computing in two important ways. These SFF (small form factor) machines created an energy- and space-efficient alternative to the large, hot-running ATX machines that were produced for the consumer PC market. Secondly, with the EPIA series, VIA offered a modular and economical alternative to traditional embedded single-board computers, creating an off-the-shelf solution for those who needed small and efficient information appliances designed for a single purpose, such as kiosk operation, network monitoring, industrial control, or digital signage. Logic Supply began offering Mini-ITX products and systems in North America soon after the launch of VIA's revolutionary new mainboards.

With the success of the early EPIAs, VIA has built on its innovation, adding mainboards with additional functionality, features, and integrated components. Other companies have filled a similar niche. AOpen, MSI, Jetway, and Quanmax among others produce Mini-ITX mainboards capable of taking Intel's Core 2 Duo mobile line of processors. Intel has entered the Mini-ITX market with its line of low-power, economical Atom-based Mini-ITX boards. Additionally, AMD has made an entry into the market with a variety of mainboard manufacturers building boards around the Geode embedded processors and Turion or Sempron mobile cores. The result is a wide suite of products capable of meeting diverse needs.

We carry a variety of small form factor mainboards to fit a broad range of application and project needs. Logic Supply initially designed solutions around the Mini-ITX form factor; however, with new developments in technology and the ability for processors and components to continuously get smaller, more efficient, and exhibit better performance we have moved onto smaller-footprint platforms, as well. These include the Pico-ITX, Nano-ITX, and 3.5"/ECX boards.

Mini-ITX mainboards measure 170 x 170 mm and can fulfill a wide range of applications (see What applications are Mini-ITX systems used for?). Pico-ITX is the smallest form factor currently available, measuring 102 x 70mm.

The various form factors differ in size, available processor options, and input/output capabilities.

On our Web site, you will find more available Mini-ITX solutions than any other form factor. This is due to the fact that Mini-ITX is widely adopted by case manufacturers and has become far more standardized than the other smaller ones, such as Pico-ITX, Nano-ITX, and 3.5"/ECX. These smaller boards also are better suited for integration into embedded systems and custom enclosures, thus not requiring other components, such as a case and power supply, to allow it to function as a stand-alone device.

There are some excellent resources on the Internet about Mini-ITX mainboards and related technology. The most well-known are:

Tom's Hardware

Anandtech

Wikipedia/Mini-ITX

For details about processors see:

CPU Shack
VIA Arena
VIA.com
Intel Processor Finder
Intel Embedded Design Center
Linux for Devices
Windows for Devices

Logic Supply targets the embedded and applied computing markets. We define those markets as where, in contrast to typical desktop PC use, computing power is utilized for a dedicated, single task. Mini-ITX and small form factor systems are small, efficient and stable, and offer distinct advantages in the embedded computing market. We work with customers in varying industries, but see consistent use of our products in the following applications:

• Point-of-Service Systems
• Kiosks
• Digital Signage
• Mobile/Automotive Computers
• Thin Clients/Mini-PCs
• Network Monitoring
• Set-Top Box/Digital Entertainment
• Digital Video & Security
• Industrial Control
• Instrumentation & Data Logging
• Communications
• Firewalls/Spam Filters

Our hardware engineers are familiar with the specific challenges of these applications, and are practiced at defining configurations suitable to your needs. We pride ourselves on offering not just products, but solutions. Please contact us at 802 861 2300, option 1 for a consultation, volume quotes, or any other questions.

Product Benefits

Traditional desktop computers consume more energy and take up more space than their small form factor counterparts. Our systems are more compact and utilize less power while still providing a full featured computer capable of managing a broad range of tasks. In specific, a small form factor platform has the following benefits:

• Ultra Compact – Mini-ITX offers a small 170 x 170 mm (6.7" x 6.7") form factor, with Pico-ITX and 3.5" SBCs offering even smaller footprints
• Highly Integrated – Many of these mainboards carry an onboard processor and have integrated I/O, cutting down on costs and needs for additional expansion cards, modules, etc.
• Power Efficient – Low-power consumption and low operating temperatures offer system longevity and reliability
• OS Compatible – Our systems support Microsoft and Linux (Ubuntu) operating systems
• Modular – Mini-ITX can integrate with industry standard components through USB, IDE, SATA, PCI, and other interfaces
• Secure – Many of our boards feature onboard encryption technology
• RoHS compliant – We stock a wide selection of RoHS compliant systems and components; just look for the logo!

Additionally, our fanless systems offer other benefits—near-silent operation and long-term stability.

In short, Logic Supply's Mini-ITX and small form factor products are perfect for embedded applications, appliance, and industrial computing.

Automotive systems differ from regular computer systems in two ways. First, they require automotive power supplies (12-volt regulated, intelligent ignition sensing). Second, they might require components that are more suited to a mobile environment (i.e., resistance to shock, vibration, temperature spikes, and handling from multiple operators).

The following pages and FAQs are recommended for more in-depth information:

Automotive Systems

What do I need to power a Mini-ITX PC in a vehicle? FAQ

What components are best suited to a mobile environment? FAQ

Under normal conditions, battery voltage in vehicles can fluctuate between 11 and 14 volts. Powering a Mini-ITX system in a vehicle requires at least 2 elements:

1. A regulator to provide a stable 12 volts to the external computer system
2. A DC-DC converter to provide the DC voltage rails required by the mainboard

This combination can be accomplished with a separate regulator (or stabilizer) to power the DC-DC converter or an all-in-one solution like the M2-ATX or M3-ATX automotive power supply. (The M2-ATX and M3-ATX power supplies also provide power sequencing, allowing automatic startup and shutdown.)

Intelligent Automotive Power Supplies

The M2-ATX, M3-ATX, M3-ATX-HV, and DCDC-USB automotive power supplies are the best solution for powering an automotive system. In addition to the power regulation and DC-DC conversion of a regular wide-input power supply, these feature ignition sensing intelligence to provide automatic on/off signals to the mainboard. The M2-ATX has the same dimensions as the standard Morex case power supplies, so they can replace the power boards in all Morex and most Casetronic cases. The M3-ATX and M3-ATX-HV are pico-style direct plug power supplies ideal for use in fanless and other small footprint systems.

The DCDC-USB power supply can be used with mainboards that have onboard 12-volt DC power, but does not have the ability to sense the power state of the mainboard. This means that, unlike with the M2 and M3, it is possible to throw the power sequencing cycle off, requiring the user to let the system fully shut down before turning the ignition on again.

Installation Note: These power supplies must connect to wires in the dashboard or fuse box if the power sequencing function is to operate successfully. We strongly encourage our customers to work with skilled after-market vehicle installers who are familiar with automotive electronics to ensure a safe and functional installation.

In a mobile or automotive environment (12-volt, DC), an external computer system that is powered through the cigarette lighter adapter of the vehicle will shut down whenever the ignition is turned off. Computers repeatedly shut down in this manner can experience problems and hardware failures. An intelligent automotive power supply, by contrast, uses a power sequencing function to gently shut down the computer when the vehicle is turned off.

An intelligent automotive power supply also can be configured to allow the computer to run when the vehicle is off while protecting the vehicle's battery with an automatic shutdown mechanism. The M2-ATX, M3-ATX, M3-ATX-HV, and M4-ATX power systems are all intelligent.

For an automotive or mobile environment, we recommend intelligent power supplies (See What do I need to properly power an automotive system? FAQ), solid state flash storage (no moving parts) or Extreme Environment 2.5" hard drives (wide operating temp, better vibration and shock resistance), and slot-loading CD/DVD drives (easier to open and close). Passively cooled mainboards are preferred due to their durability and lower power consumption. Most of the Logic Supply Automotive Systems offer the options listed above.

Mini-ITX systems are cooled by processor/mainboard fans and case fans. If warm temperatures are not a concern or if the computer system will be in climate-controlled location, fanless boards are a good option because they have fewer moving parts and will last longer than fanned boards. Frequently, however, the mobile environment heats up. If you expect your system to be operating in environments above 29ºC, we recommend fanned systems. Be sure to install your system in such a way as to allow the case fan to push heat out.

Systems deployed in harsh environments are vulnerable to a number of conditions including airborne particles, water, extreme heat/cold, and vibration. Logic Supply offers a variety of systems to accommodate applications where such conditions are a concern.

To maximize system reliability and protect internal components from exposure to contamination from dirt, dust, water, or other debris, systems can be configured with fanless, low-power components and cases. Waterproof, fully submersible cases are also offered.

In addition to fanless, low-power mainboards, we also offer Solid State Drives that are resistant to vibration damage and also consume less power than traditional hard drives. For more details regarding the selection of SSDs, please see the What kind of storage device should I use? FAQ.

Note: Although fanless systems are ideal for many harsh environments, heat buildup is a concern in settings hotter than 29ºC, and fan-equipped or extended-temperature systems are therefore recommended. The installation environment plays a major factor in the effectiveness of passive cooling systems; sufficient airflow and volume are still necessary to prevent damage to the mainboard and other components.

Logic Supply offers the following options for building a custom system online:

1. Choose a Logic Supply pre-configured system. We offer an excellent selection of customized systems, all of which allow you to choose your mainboard, memory, HDD or flash memory, power supply, CD/DVD drive, and other accessories such as mounting or wireless connectivity (if available). By choosing a Logic Supply pre-configured system, you ensure component compatibility. And, all the necessary cables and accessories are included. We also offer you the option of "Build and Test"; this is an extra guarantee that all components are precisely integrated and your platform is ready for plug-and-play use when it arrives at your door.
2. Create a system from individual components. Many customers simply want to create systems from the range of components we carry. This means selecting individual products and assembling them at work or home. With this method, we strongly recommend confirming component compatibility to ensure that all hardware is designed to properly function together.

With either option, we stress the necessity of component compatibility. Fortunately, we have already completed the research for you; the following tools are here to assist you:

• The Case Matrix lists cases, their distinguishing features, and compatible components, such as mainboards and power supplies.
• Our Mainboard Matrix allows you to compare features on all our mainboards and see which cases they can fit into. We also provide troubleshooting tips on workarounds for mainboard-case combinations that are not so straightforward.

If the combination you are looking for is not listed on our site, it does not mean that the products are incompatible, simply that they have not been tested yet. Mainboards with non-standard I/O cutouts, such as Pico-ITX and 3.5" boards, may not be listed because they require either a dedicated chassis or a customized one designed specifically for the I/O of that board.

Any questions? Write for pre-sales support at sales@logicsupply.com. For component compatibility questions, we ask that you first choose a system configuration and copy and paste your shopping cart contents into the e-mail

While traditional computer systems typically use hard disk drives for storage of data and programs and fans for cooling, solid state systems rely on devices that do not have any moving parts. The solid state advantage is the decreased chance of hardware failure, especially in harsh environments. Solid state systems can be constructed by substituting flash storage for hard disks in a fanless or passively cooled system. You can do this by:

1. Using an IDE flash module, which plugs directly into the mainboard's IDE ports (where an IDE cable would normally attach). These are available from Logic Supply in the Flash Storage section of our store.
2. Using an SATA flash module, which plugs directly into the mainboard's SATA connector (where an SATA cable would normally attach). These are available from Logic Supply in the Flash Storage section of our store. For low profile systems, our SATA cable adapter will allow for many other mounting configurations.
3. Using a 2.5" solid state drive. These plug into an IDE or SATA cable and mount in the same manner as a 2.5" notebook hard drive. These are available from Logic Supply in the Flash Storage section of our store.
4. Using an IDE to CompactFlash adapter, which allows an industry-standard CompactFlash (CF) card to be used by the computer as if it were a hard disk. The adapters are available on the Accessories page, and the cards are available on the Flash Storage page.
5. Combining a CF card with a mainboard that directly accepts CF cards. However, some mainboards cannot boot from CF cards using the built-in CF reader. See the Mainboard Matrix to determine if your mainboard can boot from the onboard CF slot.

Please note that some operating systems, such as Windows XP Pro, might not support installation onto removable storage devices. Apart from the potential for running out of space on the device, these operating systems typically use disk space for temporary storage during normal operation, resulting in frequent read/write cycles that can quickly deteriorate flash memory usability. Emphase flash disk modules, however, have a higher R/W endurance cycle of 2,000,000 times, feature a wear-leveling algorithm, and can support most operating systems, including Windows XP.

Please note: There are some limitations when installing Windows XP onto flash modules. The storage capacity must be 1.5 GB (we recommend 4 GB) or higher, and the page memory should be turned off.

Customers choosing solid state storage for their operating systems should consider using Linux, a BSD variant, Windows Embedded Standard, or Microsoft Windows CE if their platforms do not meet the above requirements.

Which CompactFlash adapter do I use?

If you decide on an IDE to CompactFlash adapter plus CompactFlash card solution, you will need to choose the correct adapter.

Logic Supply carries a range of adapters allowing customers to use CompactFlash cards to create solid state systems. (See Accessories.) Casetronic cases require specific adapters. Other cases will take the 2G, the 1E, or the 5H. The 2G mounts in place of a notebook HDD. (Note: to use the 2G, you will need a Notebook HDD to IDE Converter (2.5" to 3.5").) The 1E mounts in place of a standard 3.5” HDD. Neither the 2G nor the 1E are externally accessible. The 5H, by contrast, plugs directly into an IDE port on the mainboard. It is not externally accessible and, due to height restrictions, will only fit in our larger cases.

Logic Supply intends to support CompactFlash's successor, CFast sometime in the first half of 2011. CFast has the same physical dimensions as CF, but utilizes the faster SATA bus instead of IDE, bringing performance potential up to modern standards.

While there are a number of ways to achieve wireless network connectivity with our systems, the easiest routes are:

1. Use an external wireless network USB adapter.
2. Install a wireless network PCI, Mini PCI, or PCIe Mini card.
3. Use an internal wireless USB module that is installed using the USB onboard pin headers of a mainboard. An internal USB header cable connects to the device, which then plugs into the mainboard's pin header. If the mainboard is installed in a case with front panel USB, there might not be enough USB pin headers for both the front panel USB access and wireless connection. Most mainboards have at least 2 USB 2.0 pin headers, though.

Also, you will need an antenna and pigtail, as well as one of the wireless devices listed above.

Newer networking technology supporting Multiple In, Multiple Out (MIMO) or cards combining multiple networking technologies such as WiFi and Bluetooth may require multiple antennas. Please ensure that you have sufficient mounting locations for the number of antennas required for your application.

Please note: Not all options listed above are supported by all systems and mainboards. Please confirm compatibility before purchasing a wireless device.

See the Networking page for wireless cards and adapters.

While your particular project might require special adapters and cables, Mini-ITX systems in general require the following connectors:

For a CD/DVD Drive – Most Mini-ITX systems utilize slimline CD/DVD drives. These drives require a slimline SATA adapter to connect to a SATA port on the mainboard. This can either be a single cable assembly that incorporates the data and power cables directly in the slimline SATA connector, or a PCB adapter that converts the slimline SATA connector to standard SATA data and power connectors.

For a SATA Hard Drive – A 2.5" notebook SATA hard drive and a 3.5" standard SATA hard drive require both SATA data cables and SATA power cables that plug into the mainboard and power supply. Most mainboards that have onboard SATA connectors will come standard with at least one SATA data cable and one SATA power cable. Some power supplies might come with a SATA power connector that comes directly off the DC board or power cable harness. But sometimes, this isn't always the case. Logic Supply has a wide variety of power splitter cables that will suit any case configuration requirements. See Cables.

For Direct-Plug Disk on Modules (DOMs) – DOM units plug directly into the IDE or SATA ports on the mainboard and do not require a data cable. They do, however, still require a power cable, which is included with the DOM and requires a mating Molex connector on the power harness.

For a CompactFlash Card – CompactFlash adapters (with the exception of the direct-plug) require the use of the IDE cable that generally comes standard with most mainboards.

Note: Many of these connectors come standard with the case, mainboard, or the drives themselves. Please check the Case Matrix and the individual product pages to see what accessories are included with the our products.

Logic Supply wants to ensure that a system is fully operational when it arrives at its destination. Occasionally, when a customer purchases the components separately with the intention of assembling the system him/herself, there are unforeseen hardware incompatibilities or failures.

Logic Supply has implemented a thorough testing procedure that fully evaluates hardware compatibility and guarantees a functioning unit upon delivery.

Each new product undergoes a rigorous testing process to determine component compatibility with our current product line. Our experienced team of computer technicians knows the most logical layout, determines the best cable management, and tests for possible configuration issues.

We check and confirm operation of the following:

• I/O ports - LAN, USB (front and back), PS2, DVI and/or VGA ports (depending on what the mainboard offers). If the mainboard has both DVI and VGA, VGA is considered the default connection for our test monitors and we only test and confirm that VGA is functioning properly.
  If the mainboard has DVI only, we use a DVI-to-VGA adapter to test the signal. This only tests the DVI-analog signal of the DVI port. Upon request, we will test the DVI-D (digital) output of DVI ports using a true DVI-D cable hooked up to our test monitors. Please specify in your order that you would like the DVD-D port tested during a Build & Test.
• CD-ROM functions correctly: it is recognized and bootable
• HDD functions correctly: HDD is recognized and tested and receives a full surface S.M.A.R.T. scan
• Memory controller undergoes a testing process in order to identify and resolve errors. If customers purchase memory as an attribute of their mainboard, we will use this memory for the test.
• CPU temperature is monitored during extensive testing to determine if the temperature of the system is within a reasonable operating range
• Audio drivers are installed and tested (if OS is installed)

Logic Supply also checks that the mainboard BIOS is the latest version. The BIOS will be set to "Optimized Defaults" unless otherwise specified. The video will be set to "CRT" unless otherwise specified.

Logic Supply wants to ensure that a mainboard is fully operational when it arrives at its destination. Occasionally, there are unforeseen hardware failures due to a manufacturer's defect, incompatibilities with components, etc.

To avoid unexpected hardware failures, Logic Supply now offers individual mainboard testing. The procedure aims to eliminate the frustration of receiving a product that has a manufacturer's defect.

We check and confirm operation of the following:

• LAN, USB, and PS2 ports
• CPU temperature is monitored during extensive testing to determine if the temperature of the system is within the ideal range
• Memory controller undergoes a testing process in order to identify and resolve errors. If customer purchases memory as an attribute of their mainboard we will use this memory for the test.

We also mount and install any mainboard accessories purchased (i.e., daughterboards, low-profile heatsinks, etc.)
After testing, memory will be removed and shipped separately (if purchased with mainboard); all other accessories will be left installed.

If the mainboard accepts a socket processor, and the processor is purchased at the time the order is placed, Logic Supply will install the CPU and heat sink for delivery.

Logic Supply also checks that the mainboard BIOS is the latest version. If the mainboard BIOS is not the latest version, we will update it. The BIOS will be set to what we believe are the optimal settings for that particular mainboard, unless a customer specifies differently. The video will be set to "CRT" unless otherwise specified.

Due to unique hardware configurations, some of our systems cannot be purchased without the “Build & Test” option selected.

For instance, our fanless systems require previous computer-assembly experience because a heat sink is being swapped out for a heat pipe, and installation can be a little challenging if a person is not used to working with a heat pipe and heat paste compound.

Some of our automotive and rackmount solutions require modifications and extra cabling. We prefer to handle these situations in-house to avoid hardware incompatibilities or sending out systems with missing components.

LCD displays have preset resolutions; they typically contain several hundreds of thousands of pixels which are arranged in a grid. These pixels are lit up in various colors to create an on-screen image. The native resolution of an LCD display is expressed like this: [number of pixels horizontally] x [number of pixels vertically] (i.e., 800 x 600, 640 x 480). That said, many of the LCD displays can handle input signals representing resolutions other than their native resolutions. They deal with this by converting the incoming signal into their native resolution before displaying the image on screen. In any case, the maximum resolution your LCD panel is capable of displaying is its native resolution. Consult the documentation for your display for the maximum signal resolution.

Many of the LCD displays we offer use non-standard resolutions, permitting wide-screen aspect ratios. However, most computer video hardware doesn't support these non-standard resolutions. As a result, your wide-screen LCD panel will almost always be converting the signal into its native resolution. Setting your computer to use the highest resolution that it is capable of offers no advantages because the signal is being converted by the display. Therefore, it is usually best to set your computer to use the lowest resolution (i.e., the horizontal and vertical components are not lower than the LCD display's native horizontal and vertical resolution). For example, if your LCD display's native resolution is 800 x 400, you should set your computer's resolution to 800 x 600.

Many of the IEI panel PCs we offer utilize a PenMount DMC9000 touchscreen controller for which Linux support does exist. Some distributors even provide a driver; however, our testing indicates that these drivers are not fully functional. In order to correctly support the touchscreen controller in a Linux-based operating system, the correct driver must be obtained from the PenMount Web site and then correctly installed.

Affected Models

The following IEI panel PCs are known to utilize the PenMount DMC9000 touchscreen controller:

• AFL-08A-LX
• AFL-12A-LX
• AFL-08A-ATOM
• AFL-12A-ATOM
• AFL-17D-N270
• AFL-19A-N270

Getting The Drivers

The correct driver must be obtained from the following Web page:

http://www.penmount.com

Download the appropriate version of PenMount DMC9000 RS-232 Driver for your distribution. Binaries are provided for Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE, Debian, Slackware, and Ubuntu. There is also a generic "other" package; however, only use this package if an appropriate distribution-specific version is not provided.

Installation

Once you have downloaded the correct archive file, decompress it using your favorite archive utility. The archive includes a README file that contains installation instructions. These instructions are adequate; however, you must know which serial port the touchscreen controller is physically wired to. The correct port varies between panel PC models.

The driver archive includes a "sniffer" utility that is helpful for determining which port the touchscreen controller is connected to. The serial port will be referenced by its device descriptor, which will be one of /dev/ttyS0, /dev/ttyS1, /dev/ttyS2, or /dev/ttyS3.

The X server should be stopped while the sniffer utility is run, because your distribution might have included a touchscreen driver that can interfere with the sniffing process. You should consult your distribution documentation to learn how to do this. Alternatively, you might be able to boot into a text-only "rescue" mode. This is also sufficient.

On Ubuntu, the following method can be used:

1. Switch to a virtual terminal using Control-Alt-F2.
2. Log in.
3. Run `sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop` to stop the X server.
   After doing this, change to the directory containing the archive files:

$ cd "PenMount Ubuntu Driver V2.0"

Then, run the sniffer utility for the first serial port:

$ ./pm-sniff /dev/ttyS0
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
|  pmsniff - PenMount sniffer     (build:May 25 2007 17:09:24)  |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+
Port : /dev/ttyS0
Baud : 19200 bps
PenMount not found!

Repeat this with /dev/ttyS1, /dev/ttyS2, and /dev/ttyS3 until the utility reports that the device was successfully found. This is the port that the touchscreen controller is connected to.

Once you know which serial port to use, you may proceed with the actual installation. Be aware that your distribution may have provided a PenMount driver, and, if that is the case, that driver will be overwritten during the installation of the vendor's driver. You might want to de-install the distribution package providing that driver, if possible.

On Ubuntu, you should make sure the xserver-xorg-input-penmount package is not installed. Otherwise, future upgrades to that package will overwrite the vendor's driver.

To install the vendor's driver, simply run the installation utility:

$ sudo ./install.sh

The setup program will ask a number of questions. The defaults should be fine for most of them, but make sure you indicate the correct serial port when asked to do so. The installation utility makes the following changes to your system:

• Adds a new InputDevice section to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.
• Adds a boot script that initializes the device on every boot.

Installation of the driver should now be complete, and the X server can be restarted. On Ubuntu:

$ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start

Calibration

Once the X server is running again, log in and open a terminal so that the final step, calibration, can be performed. Your touchscreen should function now; however, it might not yet be accurate. If you find it difficult to start a terminal due to poor mouse cursor control, you can probably use keyboard shortcuts. On Ubuntu, Alt-F2 opens a "Run Application" dialog that can be used to launch "gnome-terminal" or a similar terminal emulator.

Change to the archive directory again, and run the following command:

$ sudo ./adv-calib 4 

A graphical calibration utility will be launched. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete calibration. The calibration data is stored in the file /etc/penmount.dat. It is automatically loaded by the PenMount driver the next time it is loaded.

Note that the calibration utility can perform 4-, 9-, 16-, or 25-point calibration for higher precision of better degradation over time. Simply specify the desired number on the command line when launching the program.

Be sure to keep the PenMount utilities in a safe place, since recalibration may periodically be necessary. To avoid frequent recalibration, use the 16- or 25-point calibration method.

Integrated graphics accelerators are components built onto a computer's mainboard, whereas dedicated graphics cards are separate expansion components that can be added, removed, or upgraded as needed.

The obvious advantages of integrated graphics accelerators in small form factor systems are that they do not take up additional space or expansion slots, they are more energy efficient, and are much less costly than dedicated graphics processors.

Dedicated graphics cards offer higher multimedia performance, are upgradeable, and do not utilize the mainboard's system memory, but come at the expense of space, energy efficiency, and higher price tags.

For most embedded applications integrated graphics are sufficient; however, most of our mainboards also offer PCI or PCIe expansion slots should more graphics processing power be needed.

Many of our mainboards utilize mobile chipsets, which are typically found in laptop computers; the graphics accelerator drivers are set to use Notebook displays by default, limiting display resolutions.

To fix this, open Display Properties, and click the Advanced button. Select the tab in the new window that is labeled Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, and click the Properties button. The first window you see should have options to choose your display device. Select Single Display: Monitor and then apply the changes. Click OK to exit the properties window.

After closing all the windows and reopening your display properties window, you will have a wider list of display resolutions to choose from.

The LCD displays we carry have VGA inputs. They can be connected directly to the VGA connector on your Mini-ITX system, and will work without special drivers (although note that your video card will need some sort of driver installed). See At which resolution should I operate my LCD display? for information on supported video modes.

All of our LCD displays have integrated touchscreen panels. The touchscreens are generally USB devices that emulate a mouse. You will need to load the appropriate drivers for the touchscreen if you want to utilize that functionality. Every display is shipped with a CD that contains the drivers for various operating systems. Please consult the documentation for your LCD display to determine which operating systems are supported by the touchscreen software.

To obtain the latest drivers, we recommend visiting the manufacturer's site:

For IEI models, click here

For Phylon models, click here

Mainboard manufacturers are typically responsible for designating which Linux distribution their products are compatible with and will publish this information in conjunction with the product's technical specifications. However, we've seen that many times the mainboard might lack full support for the entire functionality of the operating system.

At Logic Supply, we test our mainboards with specific Linux distributions, namely Ubuntu in an effort to identify potential incompatibilities. Information on which boards are compatible with this distribution can be found in Logic Supply's (Compatibility Matrix). For compatibility with other Linux distributions, testing may be available for an additional cost and on a project basis. For additional information on Linux compatibility, the following sites may be useful:

Linux.org
Linux Compatibility

As of February 2012, due to driver limitations of the PowerVR graphics processing unit (GPU) core used in Intel’s Cedarview processors, operating system support is currently limited to Windows 7 and Windows 8 32-bit versions.

While Ubuntu Linux 10.04 can be installed, functionality is limited and hardware graphics acceleration does not work. Because there are no drivers for the PowerVR graphics chip, the OS uses the generic VESA driver for X.org, thus Graphical User Interfaces still function, but users may experience sluggish performance, limited screen resolutions, video tearing, and playback for fullscreen or high-definition videos will stutter or freeze.

There are no available drivers for Windows 7 64-bit operating systems.

As a result, Logic Supply does not currently offer support for Windows 7 64-bit or Ubuntu Linux 10.04 installed on Cedarview boards or guarantee functionality of these operating systems on boards purchased by our customers. This restriction may change as newer driver updates are released, and we’ll do our best to stay on top of it.

Logic Supply will allow customers to get previous versions of Ubuntu installed on any of the approved systems. Customers will need to contact a technical sales representative because Ubuntu 12.04 (LTS) is the default option currently being offered on the Web site for purchase with a system. Logic Supply will only offer the most recent LTS release from Ubuntu on its Web site.

We do not expect that all our mainboards will support every operating system feature of Ubuntu. When approving specific mainboards that are compatible with Ubuntu, we considered the following: which features are absolutely critical to the functionality of one of our systems and which features are not as important.

Our purpose is to provide customers with a complete, reliable resolution that will have all the available drivers installed, supported, and ready to go. If there are specific issues that can be remedied, then we will take care of those. But, if a well-functioning driver is not available from the official Ubuntu repositories, then we will not confirm that the platform is supported by this version of Ubuntu.

Here are the features that we require to be functioning correctly in approved systems:

1. board boots without any errors
2. all peripherals are recognized and function correctly
3. graphical user interface functions correctly—desktop displays properly and standard screen resolutions are supported and display correctly
4. audio device works correctly

Within each of those categories, there is a long checklist of items that need to be marked off before we give our final stamp of approval.

These are features that aren't required for approval:

1. Support for advanced hardware graphics acceleration (3D acceleration, MPEG acceleration) and advanced features such as TV-output
2. Power-management-related features (Suspend or Hibernate Mode)

Please contact a technical sales associate with any questions at 802 861 2300, option 1.

When a customer orders a system from Logic Supply with Ubuntu pre-installed, the customer gets the following:

1. A fully functioning system with Ubuntu pre-installed
2. One-year of technical support (hardware)

The Ubuntu Live CD

The Ubuntu operating system is free. Anyone can request a free live CD from Canonical's Web site or the operating system can be downloaded from the Web site.

Fully Functioning System with Ubuntu Pre-Installed

There is an additional charge for an Ubuntu install because our computer technicians go through an extensive checklist to ensure that the system will be working properly when it leaves our facility.

We check the following:

1. board boots without any errors
2. all peripherals are recognized and function correctly
3. graphical user interface functions correctly—desktop displays properly
4. standard screen resolutions are supported and display correctly
5. audio device works correctly

Hardware Support

Our hardware support ensures that the Ubuntu operating system will function on the hardware we have designated as compatible. We do not offer software support for the Ubuntu OS. We strongly recommend that customers purchase software support from Canonical, the commercial distributor for Ubuntu.

Logic Supply offers the latest long-term support (LTS) version of Ubuntu, which is released every two years. This is to ensure stability for our project customers and to provide enough time for testing and confirmation of driver support.

For instance, as of April 2012, we are installing Ubuntu 12.04, which is the most recent LTS release.

Newer versions may be installed upon request.

Due to the compact nature of many of the systems we offer, component height can be a limiting factor. For smaller cases, low profile or mobile components may be available.

The components that typically cause a mainboard to not fit into a case or create issues are the following:

• Mainboard heat sink or CPU cooler. If the board is fanless, occasionally the manufacturer will put a tall heat sink on the board to adequately cool the processor and compensate for the lack of fan. This has its obvious advantages and disadvantages (fanless board over incompatibility in certain enclosures). Most of the times, though, this can be easily resolved. If the heat sink is interfering with the internal HDD or ODD bracket of the chassis, the best solution would be to remove the HDD/ODD bracket and use a direct-plug flash storage device. Also, for a tall CPU cooler, many times it can just be swapped out for a low-profile one.
• Memory. In the past, memory height of the Long DIMM modules created issues for some of our low-profile cases. However, the memory we carry is now all low-profile (under 19 mm), so memory height isn't so much of an issue. If a board uses vertical SO-DIMM slots, then memory height may need to be considered for low-profile cases.
• Direct-plug SATA flash modules. Depending on where the SATA connectors are located on the mainboard, installing a direct-plug module could interfere with the HDD/ODD bracket or even the top of the case.
• Components located on the bottom of the mainboard. Many times, manufacturers will place a CF slot or an additional memory slot on the bottom of the mainboard. This will add extra height to the overall board. If the case standoffs are fairly short, then the board cannot be installed into the case without significant flexing or bowing. Placing washers on top of the case standoffs can add just enough height to accommodate the board's components and can be a suitable workaround. However, if the case is designed to be low-profile, placing washers on the standoffs might throw off the backplane alignment creating issues for how the I/O lines up with the backplate.

Logic Supply has designated the potential compatibility restrictions for most of our case-mainboard combinations and make recommendations for suitable workarounds to these restrictions.

For more information, see the Case Matrix for height restrictions in cases.

In general, power supplies do come with our cases and barebone systems. Check the Case Matrix to confirm that the case includes a power supply. Also, each case lists on its product page the power requirements and which power supply comes in a standard unit. Most of our standard power supplies are laptop-style PSUs with an external AC-DC brick and an in-case DC-DC converter.

For cases that do not come with a power supply, we recommend using a mainboard with onboard DC power and pair it with an AC adapter (a 60 W will be sufficient) or select a picoPSU DC-DC converter with a matching voltage AC adapter. You will have to confirm that the picoPSU is compatible with both the mainboard and the case. This can be done at compare.logicsupply.com.

There are 2 different types of DVI connectors that are common on the hardware we carry at Logic Supply: DVI-I and DVI-D.

• DVI-I – DVI Integrated (Digital & Analog): contains both digital and analog connections. DVI-I cables are capable of transmitting either a digital-to-digital signal or an analog-to-analog signal.
• DVI-D – DVI Digital: direct digital connection.

DVI-I and DVI-D are available in single link and dual link formats. Dual link cables will deliver higher resolutions and faster refresh rates; however, most PC equipment use single link connectors and a single link cable will work just fine in most scenarios. But, for comparison purposes, here are the display capabilities of single and dual link cables:

• DVI single link 60-Hz LCD – displays a resolution of 1920 x 1080.
• DVI dual link – displays a resolution of 2048 x 1536.

See the image below to view the different connectors.

For more information on DVI and the types of DVI connectors, visit the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/DVI_info.html
http://www.datapro.net/techinfo/dvi_info.html

64-bit systems differ from their 32-bit counterparts in a number of ways. For 32-bit systems, BIOS is sufficient to boot the hardware before the operating system is initialized. In 64-bit systems, additional firmware is required. The hard drive therefore requires a specific partition format for booting.

Applications must be optimized for 64-bits, as well as be running on a 64-bit OS. Drivers must also meet 64-bit requirements. The system will also require sufficient RAM for 64-bit computing (generally 2 GB or greater).

Another important consideration is that the processor must be 64-bit capable. Logic Supply offers a variety of 32-bit and 64-bit capable processors. To find out if a processor meets your requirements, visit the following resources:

Ark.Intel.com

VIA.com

PCI expansion options are highly dependent on both mainboard and case. Most mainboards will have at least one expansion slot (this can be a PCI or PCI Express slot). A PCI card can be inserted directly into this slot, or a PCI riser card can be used, allowing a PCI card to be installed such that it lies flat, parallel to the mainboard itself. Additionally, there are dual PCI riser cards that allow two PCI cards to be used in a single PCI slot. These are designed to work with specific mainboards, and should not be used except where compatibility is explicitly stated.

PCI riser cards (the single-card variety) are available in two styles, one of which lays the PCI card over the mainboard, and one which directs it away from the mainboard. The appropriate riser card is dependent upon the case being used for the system. Please note that the PCI riser card that faces over the mainboard is not guaranteed to function properly with all PCI cards. We have found that some PCI cards do not work in conjunction with these riser cards.

Other variants of the PCI interface include Mini PCI, PCIe Mini Cards, and Low Profile PCI cards. For information on how many PCI cards can be used in a given case, please consult the Case Matrix. Note that many cases come with the required riser cards.

For more information, please follow the links below:

Wikipedia/Conventional_PCI

Wikipedia/PCI_Express

Logic Supply offers a wide selection of mainboards to meet different demands. Features include fanless cooling systems for rugged environments, powerful processors to handle complex digital signage applications, flexible input/output interfaces, low-power mainboards designed for maximum efficiency, and watchdog timers to guarantee maximum reliability in industrial applications and remote deployments.

Please visit our Systems by Use page to determine which systems and mainboards best meet your needs, or visit our Mainboard Matrix to directly compare the mainboards we offer.

See the Case Matrix for a list of all currently tested mainboard-case combinations. Unlisted combinations may be compatible, but have not been tested yet.

As of February 2012, due to driver limitations of the PowerVR graphics processing unit (GPU) core used in Intel’s Cedarview processors, operating system support is currently limited to Windows 7 and Windows 8 32-bit versions.

While Ubuntu Linux 10.04 can be installed, functionality is limited and hardware graphics acceleration does not work. Because there are no drivers for the PowerVR graphics chip, the OS uses the generic VESA driver for X.org, thus Graphical User Interfaces still function, but users may experience sluggish performance, limited screen resolutions, video tearing, and playback for fullscreen or high-definition videos will stutter or freeze.

There are no available drivers for Windows 7 64-bit operating systems.

As a result, Logic Supply does not currently offer support for Windows 7 64-bit or Ubuntu Linux 10.04 installed on Cedarview boards or guarantee functionality of these operating systems on boards purchased by our customers. This restriction may change as newer driver updates are released, and we’ll do our best to stay on top of it.

This is a limitation of the current PC architecture and the desktop OS in a 32-bit system. The BIOS in a system with a 32-bit processor and a 32-bit OS might recognize the full 4 GB. However, the system will reserve part of that memory for use by system devices and will not allow the OS to access the full amount. In order to access the full 4 GB of available memory, the computer needs a 64-bit enabled processor and a 64-bit enabled OS. Some of our systems, VIA C7-based ones in particular, only support a 32-bit processor and a 32-bit OS. However, if a 64-bit platform is required, we recommend selecting an Intel-based mainboard and a 64-bit version of an OS. See the FAQ What is required for a 64-bit platform? for more information.

If you are using a mainboard with 2 memory slots available for a total of 4 GB memory, you will not be able to access the full 4 GB of memory unless your system meets the requirements as stated above. However, you will be able to access about 3.25 GB of memory, as long as you install the total 4 GB.

If you've made a mistake and would like to change your order, please place a new order.

In the comments field of the new order, please put a comment to cancel the original order. Include the order number which you received in the confirmation e-mail we sent you for the first order.

Logic Supply will then cancel the original order, void the first payment authorization, and process the second order.

To cancel an order entirely without placing another order, please write to info@logicsupply.com or call us at 802 861 2300.

Note: All changes or cancellations must occur before the order is processed by the Logic Supply accounting department. Cancellation requests after this time may result in a cancellation fee of 5% on Products and 15% on Systems. Please see our “Order Changing or Canceling Policies” on our Terms and Conditions page.

Yes. At the Logic Supply site from where you placed your order, please go log into your account with your username (e-mail) and password, and click "Account" in the top right corner of the site. Once in your Account page, select "Order History" for an update on your order status.

To request a quote on an item or items for quantities greater than 10 units, write sales@logicsupply.com or call us at 802 861 2300, option 1. Logic Supply extends project pricing with discounts at quantities of 10, 25, 50, and 100.

Logic Supply accepts major credit cards, Pay Pal, and wire transfers on orders over $1,000. We require a wire transfer on orders over $10,000.

Customers are responsible for any applicable sales, use, or other taxes or federal, state, or local fees or assessments associated with the order. Customer must claim any exemption from such taxes, fees, or assessments at the time of purchase and provide the necessary supporting documentation. Any sales, use, or other applicable tax or fees or assessments is based on the location to which the order is shipped.

Due to a warehouse presence in the state of Vermont, Logic Supply, Inc., is required to levy VT state sales tax on orders delivered within the state.

We offer discounts on items purchased in quantities of 10, 25, 50, and 100 pieces. Reseller pricing is available to qualified candidates, and is limited to Emphase flash memory products and VIA products. To request a quote on a volume order, write sales@logicsupply.com.com or call us at 802 861 2300, option 1. For Reseller information visit our Reseller section.

Logic Supply serves a computer-savvy customer base of corporate and government developers, systems integrators, and technology enthusiasts. We offer pre-sales technical support geared toward helping our customers choose the right product or system that is best suited for their application. We also offer limited post-sale technical support. This means that we stand behind the products we sell. The hardware you purchase should be free of failures and work as expected. Our engineers are knowledgeable about our hardware, but we rely on our customers to understand their software and the particular aspects of their application.

Please see Warranty and Returns for complete information about the return procedure.

In general, in-stock component orders will ship the same business day if placed before 5 p.m. Eastern Time and built systems will ship in 3–5 business days. (Larger orders can take longer). To estimate shipping time, see the UPS map in Ordering & Shipping.

Sometimes an order will NOT come through the Logic Supply ordering system because the credit card authorization was declined. This might mean that the billing address you provided does not match that on file with your credit card company, or there was a typo. Please call your bank or credit card company to make sure they have the right address on file and/or check your billing statement.

If an authorization fails, then Logic Supply will NOT charge your credit card, HOWEVER, the credit card company automatically holds the funds. This hold will usually fall off your account in a couple of days. Logic Supply, Inc. is not able to remove the hold.

We will ship using your UPS account only on orders over $1,000. If you are interested in shipping with Federal Express or DHL, we will make arrangements only for orders over $1,000.

Please see our Warranty and Returns policy for more information.

Logic Supply offers Free Economy Shipping within the United States on all online orders of $250 and above. If your purchase qualifies for Free Economy Shipping, you will see this option available at the time of checkout.

We only offer Free Economy Shipping to orders shipped within the lower 48 states of the US (excludes Hawaii and Alaska). For Canadian and International customers, we have an Economy Shipping option available via USPS on certain products. For smaller components, this can help reduce overall shipping costs.

For European customers, we have a Web site and store located in the EU at www.logicsupply.eu. If there is something you don't see on the European site, please contact info@logicsupply.eu.

Logic Supply accepts the following payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and PayPal. We do not accept International Credit Cards or Cash On Delivery (C.O.D.) orders.

For corporate, system integrator, government and education customers, Logic Supply accepts and processes Purchase Orders. However, we extend terms only to qualified customers and we may require payment in full before goods are shipped. Please contact a member of our Sales team at 802 861 2300, option 1 or sales@logicsupply.com to discuss your purchasing needs.

Logic Supply accepts PayPal and wire transfers on orders over $1,000. We require a wire transfer on orders over $10,000.

The power kits and supplies we sell are specifically designed for small form factor mainboards with low power requirements. The wattage of our board-type and picoPSU DC-DC converters ranges from 60 to 120 watts and our ATX-style power supplies go up to 250 watts.

Other mainboards, such as those that are designed for desktop processors, have not been tested with our power supplies. Some of the issues you may see when pairing these power supplies with desktop mainboards are insufficient power draw from specific voltage rails or insufficient cooling from the case fan or the power supply fan (if ATX-style).

We do not recommend combining our power supplies with desktop mainboards.

In general, no. Most cases we sell contain a power supply, unless otherwise stated on the product page. If the case does not have a power supply, you can choose a mainboard with onboard DC power and pair it with an AC adapter or select from our DC converters. We have direct-plug picoPSU and boards available.

However, if your system either requires more power than the case power kit provides, or you are planning to use the system in a mobile (12-volt, DC) environment, you will need different or additional components.

Non-Mobile/AC Power Situations

Mini-ITX and small form factor systems utilize a power configuration long used in laptop settings. An external brick transforms incoming power from 110 V AC to DC power. A separate DC-DC board—typically housed within the computer case—outputs power in standard rails. The voltage rails provide various components on the mainboard with their required voltages. The external brick and the DC-DC board constitute the power supply needed for small form factor systems.

You will need either a case containing a power supply or a power kit supplying the appropriate voltage.

Mobile/DC Power Situations

12-volt/DC power situations are different. There is no need to transform power from AC to DC before it can be used. However, since the DC voltage from a car battery can vary greatly depending on environment and usage, you should never simply plug DC power from a car battery into a standard DC-DC converter board. Please see FAQ, What do I need to power a Mini-ITX PC in a vehicle? for more details.

In a mobile or automotive environment (12-volt, DC), an external computer system that is powered through the cigarette lighter adapter of the vehicle will shut down whenever the ignition is turned off. Computers repeatedly shut down in this manner can experience problems and hardware failures. An intelligent automotive power supply, by contrast, uses a power sequencing function to gently shut down the computer when the vehicle is turned off.

An intelligent automotive power supply also can be configured to allow the computer to run when the vehicle is off while protecting the vehicle's battery with an automatic shutdown mechanism. The M2-ATX, M3-ATX, M3-ATX-HV, and M4-ATX power systems are all intelligent.

To reduce energy consumption in Energy Using Products and Energy Related Products (EuPs and ErPs, respectively), the European Union enacted the Ecodesign Directive in 2009. One of the principal tenets of this directive was to reduce standby power consumption to 1 watt or less, similar to power-saving modes in many Energy Star Certified devices. For a system to be considered EuP/ErP-compliant, both the mainboard and power supply must be EuP/ErP-compliant. Logic Supply offers a number of products rated for EuP/ErP energy consumption standards.

Certain power-on states require a minimum power draw to function. With default EuP/ErP-compliant BIOS settings enabled, functions such as Power On After AC Restart will not work. These settings are designed to allow a system to power on when power is applied, avoiding the need to manually restart it after a power failure. These options may be unselectable or hidden while EuP/ErP is enabled: to enable Power On After AC Restart, EuP/ErP must first be disabled in the BIOS.

The following mainboards and barebones are known to be rated for EuP/ErP:

• Jetway NC9B
• Jetway NF98
• Jetway NC9C-550
• Jetway NC98
• Jetway NC96
• Jetway NF99
• Jetway NF81
• Jetway NC85
• Jetway JBC360 Barebone

We offer a variety of mainboards intended to work with a variety of power sources. Some of our mainboards include onboard power supplies and will work with a standard AC adapter. Those without onboard power require a DC-DC converter to convert the 12-volt input to the ATX power supply's rails.

Small form factor systems are designed for minimal power consumption. The power requirements will vary based on the mainboard, individual components, and added peripherals, but in general they fall between 8 watts and 80 watts.

For more detailed mainboard specifications, please see the Mainboard Matrix.

Our power supplies range from 80 watts to 250 watts, and come in a variety of configurations from wide input to automotive power supplies with intelligent power switching.

Note: Our power supplies are designed to work with low power consumption small form factor systems, and therefore may not be sufficient to power desktop computers.

We offer a number of mainboards that include onboard DC converters. Please visit the Mainboard Matrix to view those Mini-ITX mainboards that include onboard power.

Note: Our 3.5" and Pico-ITX mainboards also include onboard power.

Disk-less installs can be tricky to implement. In general, the best way to do this is to temporarily attach an external CD drive to perform the install. USB CD drives are widely available, and are ideal for this type of situation. Installation from USB media might or might not work with certain operating systems if we have not tested and confirmed support.

If a USB CD drive is not available, or you are having trouble installing your operating system using such a drive, you can temporarily connect a SATA CD drive. This should only be attempted by users familiar with PC internals. It also is possible, although difficult, to perform an install over a network. Most Mini-ITX mainboards support network booting. Configuring network booting is somewhat complicated, however, and is a topic that falls outside the range of this FAQ. In general, network installation is not generally supported by Windows, but is a viable option with Linux, and possibly other operating systems as well.

While it is possible to install Windows XP or Windows 7 from a USB drive, it is not recommended due to limitations of the software and hardware. The preferable method of installation is using a USB-connected CD/DVD drive if no drive is available on the system itself.

When customers get a Windows Embedded Standard image installed by Logic Supply in any of the supported systems we offer, they will receive a pre-installed operating system that mimics Windows XP Pro. Although the Windows Embedded Standard operating system is similar in feature set and functionality to XP Pro, there are some differences that should be noted. Please see the table below.

In addition to the differences listed in the table above, Windows XP Pro  and XP Pro for Embedded are designed to work out-of-the-box with any and all applications. Windows Embedded Standard might require additional components in order to support certain applications. Logic Supply can customize a Windows Embedded Standard image and make sure that all components are available to support customers' specific hardware and software requirements.

Windows 7 System Requirements

If you want to run Windows 7 on your PC, here's what it takes:

• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Additional requirements to use certain features:

• Internet access (fees may apply)
• Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
• For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
• Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
• HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
• DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
• BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2
• BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive
• Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on
• Music and sound require audio output

Product functionality and graphics may vary based on your system configuration. Some features may require advanced or additional hardware.

For the latest drivers, we recommend visiting the manufacturer's website.

Click for Fujitsu drivers

Click for Intel drivers

Click for Jetway drivers

Click for MSI drivers

Click for Quanmax drivers

Click for VIA drivers

Click for Zotac drivers

The current range of VIA EPIA and Jetway mainboards do not fully meet the system requirements for Windows 7 because they do not support DirectX 9 graphics. All Intel-based boards and VIA's SN-series, EPIA-M700, VB7002, VB8001, VB8002, and VB8003 mainboards are Windows 7 capable, and meet the minimum requirements.

Boards that don’t officially meet the requirements:

VIA EPIA CN series
VIA EPIA EN series
VIA EPIA EX series
VIA EPIA LN series
VIA EPIA LT series
VIA EPIA PX series
VIA EPIA P700
Jetway J7F2WE
Jetway J7F5M

Boards that are fully compatible with Windows 7 are:

Intel D945GSEJT
Intel D510MO
Intel D525MW
MSI MS-7265
MSI MS-9642
MSI MS-9803
MSI MS-9818
MSI MS-9830
Jetway J9F2
Jetway NC92
Jetway NC9C
Jetway NF96
Jetway NC96
Jetway NF94
Jetway NF92
Jetway NF93R-LF
Quanmax KEMX-2031
Quanmax KEMX-2130
Quanmax KEMX-4030
VIA EPIA SN series
VIA EPIA-M700
VIA VB7002G
VIA VB8001
VIA VB8002
VIA VB8003
VIA EPIA-P720
ZOTAC IONITX-A-U

Yes, you will receive a Media CD if you buy a system with a standard Windows OS, such as Windows 7.

For Windows XP Pro for Embedded Systems, you will not receive a Media CD. Because of our agreement with Microsoft, we are unable to offer Media CDs and can only install the OS for you in conjunction with one of our fully assembled systems.

Logic Supply specializes in Mini-ITX systems. The CD/DVD drives we offer on our site fit in all the systems we sell. Unfortunately, we don't have information on whether they will fit in any other systems or laptops. Please contact the manufacturer of your system to check if the drive will fit.

In general these drives do NOT work in laptops due to master/slave compatibility.

There are two types of flash memory chips: single-level cell (SLC) and multi-level cell (MLC). MLC flash allows a greater amount of data to be stored on a single chip as two or more bits of data may be stored on each "memory cell" within the chip. Thus, an MLC flash solution requires half as many chips as a comparable SLC solution, and costs less as a result.

However, because of the high data density of MLC chips, they are more prone to errors (requiring error checking algorithms that slow down write speeds), consume more energy, and wear down more quickly. This reduces the number of writing cycles they can withstand before losing their ability to hold a charge. Before accounting for the wear-leveling algorithm, SLC chips can generally tolerate 10 times the number of program/erase cycles that MLC chips can withstand.

Logic Supply has traditionally offered only SLC flash memory solutions (designated as "Industrial" grade in product titles) optimized for industrial and embedded applications, with excellent durability, power efficiency, and a long operational life while still maintaining a high read/write endurance. Also, SLC flash is able to tolerate extreme environments that MLC flash cannot such as wide temperature ranges, high altitudes, high shocks and vibrations, and high degrees of humidity.

Due to increasing customer demand for lower-priced solid state storage options, Logic Supply now carries MLC flash (designated as "Commercial" grade in product titles). Customers are advised not to install an OS on an MLC flash drive because of its significantly lower read/write cycle specifications. Please be sure to weigh the increased risk against the financial benefits for your particular use. If cost constraints dictate that you cannot use SLC flash, you should at least build in extra capacity for the wear-leveling algorithm.

For more information see the following links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UGqjpZL3yQ (This link will take you to a video explaining the differences)
http://www.oempcworld.com/support/SLC_vs_MLC.htm

There are a wide number of options to choose from when deciding on what storage device to use in your system. Specifications vary between traditional platter-style hard drives and flash memory-based solid state devices. Within the family of solid state devices, there are a variety of different specification and footprint options not available with traditional hard drives. While comparing, you will want to take into consideration the following factors:

Cost of a data failure – Although it is obvious that all data being stored is considered important, there is a real cost associated with lost data. As the very first factor to consider when you are weighing all these options is that the data being collected and stored on your system is perhaps the most valuable part of this computer. Two factors to consider are Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and Program/Erase cycles.
The MTBF is not the lifetime of the storage device but rather an indicator of reliability. It is a statistical representation of the likeliness of the failure of a drive. For example, if a drive has a MTBF of 100 hours and you purchase 10 storage devices, then the likeliness of experiencing a failure is once every 10 hours (100 hours divided by 10 devices).
The number of Program/Erase cycles is a much closer indicator of a device's useful lifetime. Due to the construction of flash-based storage devices it is particularly straight forward to estimate the number of cycles the hardware can endure. Although it is difficult to locate this information for certain components, most industrial-grade components make it readily available.

Physical space requirements – Most systems (excluding extremely small form factors such as Pico-ITX, Nano-ITX, and certain Mini-ITX systems) are compatible with the traditional 2.5” form factor drive, which comes in both hard drive and solid state drive types. Many smaller form factor systems almost always require some variant of solid state device, from which you will need to decide between MLC and SLC Flash.
For instances where there are other conflicting space requirements, such as in some low-profile systems, you will want to consider direct-plug modules such as an IDE Flash Module, SATA Flash Module, and possibly even a CompactFlash Card. All these drives feature small sizes and can accommodate a range of capacities.

Environmental requirements – This consideration will separate your options very quickly. Due to the moving parts and means of storing data, traditional hard drives are very prone to problems in environments that have any unusual degree or combination of altitude, temperature, humidity, shock, or vibration.
Solid state drives can be divided into two types, MLC and SLC flash. To briefly summarize our FAQ comparing MLC and SLC flash memory, MLC flash memory cannot tolerate the extreme environmental conditions that SLC can tolerate. Please see this FAQ to learn more about the differences between MLC and SLC.

Actual drive capacity requirements – If you will be needing high capacities, you will find the most cost-efficient solutions in the realm of hard drives. That said, hard drives perform considerably less than what is achievable with a solid state device. Hard drives cannot tolerate unusual environmental conditions and may not be able to offer the lifespan you will require, depending on your daily usage.
If your application requires high read/write performance, extreme environmental tolerances, small footprint, long lifespan, or power efficiency you will want to consider a solid state device for your system. When drilling down into your options for solid state devices, you will also want to consider whether MLC or SLC flash memory is more appropriate.

Performance requirements – If performance is of lesser importance relative to cost you will likely want to lean toward a traditional hard drive for the benefits of their low cost per GB. Should you need high read/write performance for either sustained or random data transfers, you will almost certainly want to lean toward a solid state device.
Since flash memory has no moving parts, there are virtually no seek times for any solid state device. You will find that solid state devices can be rated for very high read/write speeds and will vary depending on how the device interfaces with the mainboard.

Daily data transfers – Whether it's a hard drive or solid state device, all storage devices have a limited number of program/erase cycles they can endure during their lifetime. The amount of data being transferred each day will affect the drive performance and lifetime. The primary area of concern is for those system applications that will perpetually access the storage device while in use.

While traditional computer systems typically use hard disk drives for storage of data and programs, solid state systems instead rely on devices without moving parts. The solid state advantage is the decreased chance of hardware failure, especially in harsh environments. Solid state systems can be constructed by substituting flash storage for hard disks. You can do this by:

1. Using a SATA flash module, which plugs directly into the mainboard's SATA ports (where a SATA cable would normally attach). These are available in the Flash Storage section of our site. For low-profile systems our SATA cable adapter will allow for many other mounting configurations.
2. Using an IDE flash module, which plugs directly into the mainboard's IDE ports (where an IDE cable would normally attach). These are available in the Flash Storage section of our site.
3. Using a 2.5" solid state drive (SSD). These will mount into the spot designated for a 2.5" notebook hard drive and will plug into the same cables as a 2.5" notebook hard drive (depending on type of storage used—SATA vs. IDE). These are available from Logic Supply in the Flash Storage section of our site.
4. Using an IDE to CompactFlash adapter, which allows an industry-standard CompactFlash card to be used by the computer as if it were a hard disk. The adapters are available on the Accessories page and the cards are available in the Flash Storage section.
5. Combining a CompactFlash card with a mainboard that accepts CF cards directly.

Please note that Windows XP Pro is not intended for installation onto most flash-based storage devices. Apart from the potential for running out of space on the device, this operating system typically uses disk space for temporary storage during normal operation, resulting in frequent read/write cycles that can quickly deteriorate flash memory usability. Emphase flash disk modules, however, have a higher R/W endurance cycle of 2,000,000 times, feature a wear-leveling algorithm, and can support most operating systems, including Windows XP.

Please note: There are some limitations when installing Windows XP onto these flash modules. The storage capacity must be 1.5 GB (we recommend 4 GB) or higher, and the page memory should be turned off.

Customers choosing solid state storage for their operating systems should consider using Linux, a BSD variant, Windows Embedded Standard, or Windows CE if their platforms do not meet the above requirements.

All application drivers and any additional software can be installed in the same manner as you would in a standard operating system.

If you would like to request any changes or customization of Windows Embedded Standard, please contact one of our technical sales associates at 802 861 2300, option 1. Development fees may apply.

When customers get a Windows Embedded Standard image installed by Logic Supply in any of the supported systems we offer, they will receive a pre-installed operating system that mimics Windows XP Pro. Although the Windows Embedded Standard operating system is similar in feature set and functionality to XP Pro, there are some differences that should be noted. Please see the table below.

In addition to the differences listed in the table above, Windows XP Pro  and XP Pro for Embedded are designed to work out-of-the-box with any and all applications. Windows Embedded Standard might require additional components in order to support certain applications. Logic Supply can customize a Windows Embedded Standard image and make sure that all components are available to support customers' specific hardware and software requirements.

Please contact one of our technical support members.

We will provide you with a link to our FTP site so you can download a new image.

Windows Embedded Standard is not deployed in the same manner as a traditional Windows operating system, such as XP Pro. Therefore it does not require an end-user installation, and the system will not come with a media CD. The "operating system" is a single image (that we developed in-house) and is pre-loaded onto select systems by our assembly team.

Logic Supply offers the option to install Windows Embedded Standard 2009 (recently termed Windows XP Embedded) onto a select number of systems. We also provide Windows Embedded Standard development services for projects requiring further customization or if you need different hardware combinations. However, we do not sell individual licenses, Windows Embedded Standard has to be purchased in conjunction with a system. Please contact a technical sales associate at 802 861 2300, option 1 for more information on what kinds of services are available.

Windows Embedded Standard Image

The Windows Embedded Standard image developed by our application engineers will mimic the functionality of Windows XP Pro. It will include most of the XP Pro features, but some additional software might be required to ensure proper operation in some situations. See the FAQ, What are the difference between Windows XP, XP Embedded and Embedded Standard? for more information.

Benefits

• Smaller footprint; allows for faster boot times and opens up the range of storage options and capacities
• Ability to boot from USB devices
• Enables use of XP Pro after product was deemed EOL
• Easy to deploy (no activation necessary); ideal for volume orders

Please note, not all applications will be compatible with this Windows Embedded image. Customization and support are available for an additional charge.

For more information on Windows Embedded Standard, visit Microsoft's Windows Embedded Home Page here.

A slow clock speed is usually caused by a setting in the BIOS. This can be resolved by clearing the CMOS, which stores the BIOS settings. You can then reset the BIOS to load the optimized defaults.

You can refer to your mainboard manual for details on how to clear the CMOS using a jumper as you follow these steps:

1. Shut down your computer and disconnect the power cord.
2. You will need to clear the CMOS via the jumpers on the mainboard. Use your manual to find the exact location of the “clear CMOS” jumper along with its default position. The jumper is usually marked “Clear CMOS” or “Reset CMOS.”
3. Once you have located the correct jumper, move it from the standard position, pins 1 and 2, to pins 2 and 3. Wait 5 to 10 seconds and then return the jumper to its original, default position.
4. Restart the computer and access the BIOS/CMOS screen. You will have to press the DEL, F10, F8, or F2 key to get there (see instructions on POST-screen on how to access BIOS).
5. Then, set the BIOS to “Optimized Defaults.” Save this new setting, and exit.

The processor will now be set to the optimized clock speed.

If you built a system, and it doesn't seem to start, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Make sure the power supply is unplugged before you connect or disconnect any parts or make any changes!

1. Reset the CMOS (BIOS settings) by following the "Clear CMOS" instructions in the manual.
2. Make sure the problem is not caused by the hard drive, CD/DVD drive, PCI card, or any of the cables. To check this, disconnect all cables from the mainboard except for a VGA monitor, the ATX power cable or picoPSU, and the power-on button. Also, disconnect all power connectors from the CD/DVD and hard drives as well as any peripherals. Now, try starting the board by pressing the power button. If the system starts, the mainboard is fine. To find out what is causing the problem, plug in the peripherals one by one and start the system every time you add a component.
3. To eliminate the case power button as the cause, short the mainboard power header (identified in product manual) with a screwdriver.
4. If you have access to another ATX power supply, test the mainboard with it. Use a multimeter to measure AC adapter output (specified on the power brick itself) and ATX voltage levels (identified in the mainboard manual).
5. Ensure you are using the correct memory for your mainboard. Most of our mainboards will only work with non-ECC unbuffered RAM. Defective RAM can also be the cause of a boot failure, so if you have a spare memory module, it is worthwhile to try it.
6. If the mainboard still doesn't start after you've disconnected all cables and peripherals, remove the memory. When you start the board (by pressing the power button), the board should start beeping. This beeping means the mainboard is OK but the memory is missing (or defective). If the system does not beep after starting it, the mainboard might be defective.

If none of the steps listed above help, please contact us for technical support at 802 861 2300, option 1.

Some of the VIA legacy chipsets do not support DRAM chips of 128Mx8 or larger on memory DIMMs. Logic Supply offers some DIMMs of DDR2 667 with 64Mx8 chips on the DIMMs; these should be compatible with our VIA mainboards. In order to confirm what the DRAM spec of the memory module is, please reference the memory product page; the DRAM spec will be listed there.

The DRAM specification refers to the chips on a memory DIMM that make up the complete capacity of the DIMM. A 64Mx8 specification means that there are 64 million sets of 8 bytes. This is in turn 64MB of capacity, which is considered low density memory. A 128Mx8 chip is a high density chip. Some chipsets/mainboards, such as some legacy VIA boards, do not support high density chips.

A 1GB DIMM module of low density, 64Mx8 chips will have 16 chips on it, usually 8 per side. A 1GB DIMM of high density, 128Mx8 chips will have 8 chips on it, usually all on one side. Memory DIMMs can have other DRAM organizations including but not limited to 64Mx4 (32MB), 64Mx16 (128MB) and 256Mx8 (256MB). Understanding a mainboard’s memory requirements prior to purchase is recommended to ensure proper functionality.

This is a limitation of the current PC architecture and the desktop OS in a 32-bit system. The BIOS in a system with a 32-bit processor and a 32-bit OS might recognize the full 4 GB. However, the system will reserve part of that memory for use by system devices and will not allow the OS to access the full amount. In order to access the full 4 GB of available memory, the computer needs a 64-bit enabled processor and a 64-bit enabled OS. Some of our systems, VIA C7-based ones in particular, only support a 32-bit processor and a 32-bit OS. However, if a 64-bit platform is required, we recommend selecting an Intel-based mainboard and a 64-bit version of an OS. See the FAQ What is required for a 64-bit platform? for more information.

If you are using a mainboard with 2 memory slots available for a total of 4 GB memory, you will not be able to access the full 4 GB of memory unless your system meets the requirements as stated above. However, you will be able to access about 3.25 GB of memory, as long as you install the total 4 GB.