Embedded computer

01

Match processor power and the DC supply

Advantech's ARK-1250L specification lists a fanless box PC with Intel Core i3-1115G4E or i5-1145G7E processors, up to 64 GB of DDR4 3200 MHz memory in two SO-DIMM sockets, three Ethernet ports (two 2.5 GbE and one GbE), mSATA and 2.5-inch SATA storage, and a 12–24 V DC wide-range input. Typical power consumption is 18 W or 19.8 W and maximum 30.6 W or 35.1 W depending on configuration; a 19 V, 90 W AC adaptor is supplied by default. [1]

Intel's specification for the Core i5-1145G7E gives 4 cores and 8 threads, up to 4.10 GHz, a 15 W TDP configurable down to 12 W or up to 28 W, a junction temperature limit of 100 °C, embedded options available and 'Embedded Broad Market Commercial Temp' use conditions. [2]

Editorial calculation: at the 35.1 W maximum the ARK-1250L draws about 35.1 ÷ 24 ≈ 1.5 A from a 24 V supply and about 2.9 A at 12 V; nearly all that power leaves as heat through the fanless housing. Ask which TDP setting the supplier ships and the power at your workload. [1] [2]

Give the supplier the workload (control, vision, AI inference, gateway), processor and memory needed, storage type and size, supply voltage and transients, operating and storage temperature, vibration and shock profile, I/O (Ethernet, serial, USB, CAN, digital I/O, display), expansion (M.2, mini PCIe), wireless, operating system, mounting, certifications and lifecycle needs.

02

Check temperature, vibration, shock and mounting

The ARK-1250L is rated for −40 to 60 °C operation, −40 to 85 °C storage and 95% relative humidity at 40 °C non-condensing. With SSD storage it is rated for 3 Grms random vibration from 5 to 500 Hz for one hour per axis to IEC 60068-2-64, and 30 G operating shock with SSD or mSATA. [1]

Its aluminium housing measures 60 × 173 × 141 mm, weighs 1.5 kg and mounts on a DIN rail or wall. [1]

Editorial note: ratings like these depend on the storage fitted, the mounting and sometimes airflow; ask the supplier for the test conditions behind each temperature and vibration figure and whether they apply to your configuration.

03

Check cabinet clearance, IP rating and temperature for a cabinet PC

Beckhoff's technical data for the C6015-0040 ultra-compact control cabinet PC lists an aluminium zinc die-cast housing of 40 × 82 × 82 mm without mounting plate, passive cooling through a single-side cooling plate, and a requirement for 5 cm (2 in) of free space above and below the PC for air circulation. It is rated IP20, operates from −25 to +50 °C on a 24 V DC supply, and mounts on a sheet at the rear wall, side wall or DIN rail. [4]

Configurations go up to an Intel Atom x7433RE (1.5 GHz base frequency, 4 cores) with up to 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM, one M.2 SSD slot up to 640 GB, two 100/1000/2500BASE-T Ethernet ports, two USB 3.1 Gen. 2 ports and one DisplayPort; listed operating systems are Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 and Beckhoff RT Linux. [4]

Editorial note: an IP20 cabinet PC rated to +50 °C is a different product class from the sealed DIN-rail box above rated −40 to 60 °C. State whether the computer sits inside a cabinet or in the open machine, the cabinet's internal temperature and the free space around it, and ask the supplier which IP rating and clearances apply. [1]

04

See how processor TDP changes power, temperature and cooling

Cincoze's DS-1500 series specification lists a rugged embedded computer with Intel Core Ultra 200S (Arrow Lake-S) processors in 35 W (T) and 65 W TDP versions, up to 96 GB DDR5 in two SODIMM sockets, 9–48 V DC input on a 3-pin terminal block, and up to two PCI/PCIe expansion cards. Its operating temperature is −40 to 60 °C with a 35 W processor but −40 to 50 °C with a 65 W processor and the external fan kit; storage is −40 to 85 °C and humidity 95% at 60 °C non-condensing. [3]

The same page lists shock and vibration to MIL-STD-810H, rail EMC to EN 50121-3-2 Class A, fire protection to EN 45545-2, temperature tests to IEC 60068-2-1, -2-2 and -2-14, and optional modules for ignition sensing (12/24 V selectable), TPM 2.0 and PoE. [3] Compare these with the low-power DIN-rail box above, rated −40 to 60 °C on a 12–24 V DC input, and the processor's own TDP from the chip maker. [1] [2]

Editorial calculation: 262.8 W at 24 V draws about 11 A and 163 W about 6.8 A; at the 9 V lower input limit 262.8 W would need about 29 A, so size the DC supply and cable for your lowest input voltage.

Ask for the operating temperature with your exact processor and expansion cards, maximum power consumption, and whether a fan kit is needed at your top ambient temperature.

05

Compare what suppliers offer

Suppliers linked to this page list embedded or fanless box computers; each card links to the page reviewed.

Listings include fanless embedded computers, box PCs, in-vehicle computers, Jetson and other edge-AI systems and Arm-based embedded systems.

06

Trace the computer components

This is a functional reference built from the sources cited; it is not one maker's design.

07

Fill the specification fields with values for your application

An embedded computer quotation needs values for your application. The table explains each field, gives published values where a reviewed source states them, and says what to obtain from the supplier.

08

Send the workload, power and environment data together

Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.

Workload: [task; OS; software]
Compute: [processor; memory; storage]
Power: [supply voltage; transients]
Environment: [temperature; vibration; shock; humidity]
I/O: [Ethernet; serial; USB; CAN; display]
Build: [mounting; certifications; lifecycle; quantity]

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