The AMC720 is part of the VadaTech embedded-computing portfolio and was developed as a Processor AMC – PrAMC for general-purpose computing in MicroTCA systems.
Two processor configurations are documented: the Intel Xeon E3-1125 at 2.0 GHz and the Xeon E3-1125 v2 at 2.5 GHz, both with four cores and 8 MB LLC.
The module can operate as the system host or as a data-processing engine within a multi-AMC platform.
Today, its main relevance is for supporting and evolving installed MicroTCA systems based on this processor generation.
Up to 16 GB DDR3 ECC
The AMC720 supports ECC DDR3 memory in three published capacities:
| Memory configuration |
Capacity |
| DDR3 ECC |
4 GB |
| DDR3 ECC |
8 GB |
| DDR3 ECC |
16 GB |
Maximum published memory capacity is therefore 16 GB DDR3 ECC.
Dual PCIe x4 or single x8
AMC Ports 4 through 11 provide the PCI Express fabric.
Supported configurations include:
- dual PCIe x4, on Ports 4–7 and 8–11;
- single PCIe x8, across Ports 4–11.
PCIe Gen2 is the standard implementation.
The Xeon E3-1125 v2 option can provide PCIe Gen3, allowing the processor AMC to work with later-generation compatible interface modules.
Front and rear Gigabit Ethernet
Two Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 ports are available on the AMC720 front panel.
The AMC connector also provides dual Gigabit Ethernet on Ports 0 and 1 according to AMC.2.
This provides both front-panel network access and backplane Ethernet connectivity for MicroTCA systems.
The AMC720 can therefore remain relevant within installed Information & Communication Systems combining processor, acquisition and I/O modules.
Dual SATA on AMC Ports 2 and 3
AMC Ports 2 and 3 provide two SATA interfaces according to AMC.3.
An optional local SATA disk can also be fitted.
The BIOS supports booting from:
- onboard Flash;
- onboard or off-board SATA;
- PXE network boot;
- USB.
Local Flash resources
The AMC720 can be configured with up to 32 GB of Flash memory.
Together with the BIOS Flash and optional SATA disk, these resources support several local and network-based boot configurations.
USB, RS-232 and Serial over LAN
The standard AMC720 front panel provides:
- 2 USB interfaces through mini-USB;
- 2 RS-232 interfaces through micro-USB;
- 2 Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 interfaces.
Serial over LAN is also supported.
Front-panel connectivity differs on some AMC720C clamshell configurations.
IPMI 2.0 and hot-swap management
The AMC720 is IPMI 2.0 compliant.
The air-cooled AMC720 uses a hot-swap ejector handle with IPMI management and network activity indicators.
These functions allow the module to be managed as part of a MicroTCA system under MCH control.
AMC720C conduction-cooled version
The AMC720C is the rugged clamshell variant of the processor AMC.
It supports:
- MTCA.3 conduction cooling, or
- MTCA.2 hybrid forced-air and conduction cooling.
Ground planes extend into the clamshell wedge-lock region to improve thermal transfer.
This variant was intended in particular for ATR-style chassis and can form part of Defense, Aerospace & Security systems where the complete platform is engineered to meet the program's environmental requirements.
Environmental configurations
- The commercial ordering option is specified from -5°C to +55°C.
- The general specification section, however, states normal operation from -5°C to +45°C, with operation up to +55°C for limited periods and possible performance restrictions.
- An industrial ordering option is also listed from -20°C to +70°C.
- The applicable operating range therefore needs to be confirmed against the exact AMC720 or AMC720C configuration.
- Storage temperature is -40°C to +85°C, with 5–95% non-condensing relative humidity.
Linux software support
The standard operating system is Linux.
VxWorks, Windows and other operating-system options require configuration-specific validation.
Managing a Legacy Processor AMC
The AMC720 is now officially classified as Legacy.
For existing platforms, this changes the engineering question from simple board selection to availability, replacement strategy, backplane compatibility, MCH support, software continuity and migration planning.
ECRIN Systems' obsolescence-management services can address the complete system rather than the Processor AMC in isolation.
Migration can also be handled through a COTS or Modified COTS approach, with the objective of preserving existing interfaces and system functions wherever technically possible.
From the AMC720 to a complete MicroTCA platform
The AMC720 depends on the MicroTCA chassis, MCH, backplane routing and complementary AMC modules around it.
PCIe, Ethernet and SATA fabrics must all be supported correctly by the selected system platform.
ECRIN Systems can handle production and system integration for configurations combining processor, FPGA, data-acquisition, communications and power modules.
Main versions
| Version |
Cooling |
Key characteristics |
| AMC720 |
Air |
Standard AdvancedMC with hot-swap handle |
| AMC720C |
Conduction / hybrid |
Clamshell and wedge locks, MTCA.2 / MTCA.3 |
