DFI LR101 SERIES User Manual download pdf

24 | Embedded Intel

Solutions — Spring 2010 | www.embeddedintel.com

TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION

any of today’s embedded markets, such as digital sig-

nage, capitalize on the availability of large, low-cost,

flat-screen liquid-crystal displays (LCDs). In these applica-

tions, it’s common to see three or more displays—each with

independent imaging. The actual system computing power

required in many of these applications is relatively low—ex-

cept for video image processing. In the past, this function

required the use of costly, high-performance mobile, desk-

top, or even server platforms. The low-power Intel® Atom™

processor platform provides a more cost-effective solution

for these markets. But this platform is limited in its ability

to support multiple or large-screen displays in these appli-

cations. Now, hybrid multi-monitor solutions are becoming

available for Intel® Atom™ processor platforms in applica-

tions requiring high-definition (HD) 1080p video or more

than two independent displays.

Demand For A Hybrid Solution

The second-generation Intel® Atom™ low-power “netbook”

and desktop “nettop” platforms relocate the memory-con-

troller hub and Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA)

graphics core from the North Bridge to the processor die. In

doing so, they provide a board-space reduction. This two-

chip design approach also provides lower power with the

same performance on the Intel® Atom™ processor N450. In

fact, it offers even more performance with slightly higher

power using the Intel® Atom™ processor D410 and Intel®

Atom™ processor D510. Both the first- and second-genera-

tion Intel® Atom™ platforms are implemented using 45-nm

Hi-K technology. To maintain the target thermal design

power (TDP) while improving performance, some tradeoffs

were required. One of these tradeoffs is the elimination of

the serial-digital-video-out (SDVO) display interface from

the GMA and new platform-controller-hub (PCH) architec-

ture. The SDVO display port is generally used to implement

a digital visual interface (DVI) or high-definition multime-

dia-interface (HDMI) display interface.

With the elimination of the SDVO port, it becomes chal-

lenging to provide cost-effective DVI and HDMI display

support on these second-generation low-power platforms.

It is possible to implement the required display interfaces

using an external graphics adapter. But availability and

support issues make this a costly option for embedded ap-

plications. In addition, the simultaneous use of external

PCI or PCI Express graphics adapters along with the inte-

grated Intel® GMA display ports must be carefully tested

and validated for each specific application. This is due to

interoperability issues with the target BIOS, drivers, and

operating system (OS), which are difficult to predict. Intel

is working on providing better support for hybrid multi-

monitor applications (see references 1 & 2), but many legacy

issues are still with us today. By better understanding these

interdependencies, it’s possible to design a system that will

function properly while opening the door to lower-cost

display solutions for the new low-power Intel® Atom™ plat-

forms. In addition, applications requiring Blu-ray 1080p

video playback and support for more than two independent

displays can be cost effectively accommodated.

Issues That Must Be Managed

The following is a requirements Q&A checklist for

implementation, validation, and methodology to ensure

proper platform stability and availability over the required

product lifecycle:

1. Are any BIOS changes required and why? The

recommended Intel® video BIOS operation disables

the Intel® GMA display ports when an external

graphics adapter is detected at system boot-up. This

is done to ensure platform stability over the widest

possible range of system applications due to the

interoperability issues discussed previously. Because

the designer will be taking extra steps to guarantee

stability in the target embedded application, this BIOS

code can be safely modified.

2. What display port may be used for the primary boot

display? If the integrated display ports are to be used

simultaneously with an external graphics adapter, an

Intel® GMA-based display port must be dedicated as the

primary boot display.

Hybrid Multi-Monitor Solutions Target

Embedded Applications

Display support is extended on next-generation Intel® Atom™ platforms.

By Todd Shaner, DFI-ITOX

1 2 3

Summary of Contents

Page 1 - Embedded Applications

24 | Embedded Intel® Solutions — Spring 2010 | www.embeddedintel.comTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONMany of today’s embedded markets, such as digital sig-na

Page 2 - TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION

www.embeddedintel.com | Embedded Intel® Solutions — Spring 2010 | 25 TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION3. What OS support is required? The target operating

Page 3

26 | Embedded Intel® Solutions — Spring 2010 | www.embeddedintel.comTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONApplication ExampleCurrently, DFI-ITOX is developing

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