A COM (Computer-On-Module) is an industry standard module that combines processor and memory onto a small circuit board. Using a COM reduces complexity, development time, costs, and risks compared to designing computer systems from individual components. COMs are used across industries like healthcare, automotive, and defense. They offer benefits like smaller size, simplified manufacturing, and future-proofing through compliance with open standards.

2. Computer on Modules (COMs)
What is a COM?

3. What is a COM?
A COM (Computer-On-Module) is a well
proven way to develop application
specific systems. They are industry
standards, defining the module size and
the pinning and the connector you use
to insert the module onto the baseboard.
It helps get your product to market
faster, as well as reducing the risk in
development.

4. Why choose a COM?

5. Building a computer system
traditionally involved picking
a selection of commercial
off-the-shelf (COTS) circuit
boards and components
from multiple vendors and
integrating them into a
bespoke system
Why choose a COM?

6. Who uses a COM?

7. Who uses a COM?
Healthcare
Automotive
Logistics
Defence
Communications
Energy Rail

8. Let’s go shopping!
Competitive advantage

9. Specific features required can be added to the baseboard
Reduced product development time
End user can specify baseboard size and positioning of connectors
Redesign or replacement easier
Increased product quality
Reduced production time
Uses open standards so compatible with multiple vendors
Secure, accessible and reduced risk
Capability for low end and high-end module on the same baseboard
Using a COM reduces the complexity and offers
end users several advantages:

10. Benefits of COMs
With a COM you can combine multiple elements
into a two or three board system approach

11. Smaller size

12. Reduced weight

13. Simpler to
manufacture

14. Better
performance

15. Less suppliers/vendors

16. Reduced risk of failure

17. STANDARD approach

18. COMs are approved not by suppliers but
by industry groups, PICMG and SGET, to
drive and sustain the performance across
the industry, mitigating risk and protecting
your ROI by ensuring products are
available and accessible
STANDARD approach

19. Types of COM
The key measures for choosing a COM are the
performance, functionality, overall power budget
required, and size of system

20. Types of COM
Qseven SMARC COMexpress COM-HPC

21. Performance versus Watts
Performance of the COM itself, versus the overall power
budget and functionality required for the product and
determined by the pinning of the individual modules

22. 3D Mark CPU
GPU
20,000
18,000
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
Baytrail E3845 Apollo Lake E3950 Elkhart Lake X6425
Performance versus Watts for ATOM CPUs

23. Good for low power applications, up to 12
watts total design power (aka 12W TDP)
Singular use with NXP i.MX, ARM or Intel
Atom processors, limited PCIe lanes
Frequently used in portable systems or
supervisor/controller applications
Up to 4 PCIe lanes
Q7 and SMARC

24. COMexpress
Works from 5W to 60W with
processors ranging from Intel Atom
to Intel Xeon and AMD Epyc
Most widely used COM
Can be used on own or in multiples
within the same system
Between 4 and 32 PCIe lanes

25. COM- HPC
From 40W to 130W with solutions from
desktop processors up to multi-core
Server processors
Enables COM concept with multi-core
server processors, large capacity of RAM
Up to 64 PCIe lanes
Futureproof as standard has just been
released

26. COM = Versatile

27. Reduces time to
market cutting
overall time and
cost of development
of new products and
improving profit.
Congatec
Heatspreader
and module
underneath
Jadak
RFID
reader
Virtium
storage
Sierra
Wireless
LTE card
Wificard
Trimble
GPS
receiver
Using a COM

28. Reduces time to market cutting overall time and cost of development of new
products and improving profit.
Give you better accessibility so products are easier to manage and upgrade.
Means investment in development (engineering and products) can be
re-used and protected with open-industry standards which control the COMs.
Cuts costs Size, weight, power and complexity reduction = less cost, less time
and more profit
Means less complexity and fewer vendors = less management and integration
costs
Makes it easier to upgrade during system life = longer life projects
= less Total Cost of Ownership
Using a COM

29. Futureproofing

30. All vendors making products to
integrate into a COM must conform to
an open industry standard. So if one
component becomes obsolete you
can source a replacement module
that conforms to the same standard
to keep your product operational as
required through its life-cycle
Industry standards

31. Immediate integration
When new processors are released, such as
the 11th Generation Intel Core processors
(Tiger Lake) (released Sept 2020) you can
integrate the module immediately on your
carrier board

32. New processor generations generally
offer more performance, bandwidth
and capabilities than the previous, for
the same or less power consumption.
2020-2021 is an exciting period with
new Intel, NXP and AMD modules
being released
Always upgrade

33. Steps in a ‘classic’
COM project

34. Decide what module suits
your needs best, Recab
can help you do this
Step 1

35. Step 2
Source a module, eval carrier
and accessories to kick-start
your project and test your ideas
out. Recab has lots available,
many from stock and we’ve got
loads of experience

36. If you are designing your carrier board
then get the COM specification from the
governing body, the design guide and the
user-guide for the COM you’ve selected.
You can often get reference schematics,
OS images and qualified drivers
packages as well. If you are working with
Recab to get them to design and make
your carrier, agree the specification and
time-line and place your order to go!
Step 3

37. Step 4
While the design gets underway use
an eval carrier and module for software
development, proof-of-concepts and
approvals testing, training and writing
user guides. Recab has a full range
eval carriers so we can help build
strong supporting line card for proof or
concent/development systems

38. Production - Recab can
work with you throughout
this process
Step 5

39. Step 6
Need to make changes to meet new
customer demands, market expectations
or to manage obsolescence – don’t
panic you can work with Recab to
choose a new module that will work with
your existing design (or new needs) and
get help with integrating, testing and
bringing that to fruition

40. End of Life (EOL) of your product.
Choosing a COM can enable longer
term support, lower costs and less
complexity than other approaches.
Working with Recab can provide you
with a local partner, with a mutual
share in making the EOL successful,
which is far better than going it alone!
Step 7

41. RECAB UK

42. Who we are?
We are the go-to experts in COM
design, manufacture and
integration. With a vast and diverse
range of successfully deployed
designs we can adapt and reuse,
in part or full, giving our customers
complete reassurance in product
performance and service

43. Why us?
REDUCED
RISK
get it right first time
REDUCED
COSTS
for development
REDUCED PROJECT
TIME-LINE
faster results

44. What are you waiting for?
www.recabuk.co.uk