Computer-On-Module, COMs are complete embedded computers built on a single circuit board. A COM is positioned between a full equipped computer and a microcontroller. The design is centered on a microprocessor with RAM, input/output controllers and all other features needed to be a functional computer on the one board. However, unlike a single-board computer, the COM usually lacks the standard connectors for any input/output peripherals to be attached directly to the board.
A COM usually needs to be mounted on a carrier board (or "baseboard") which breaks the bus out to standard peripheral connectors.
Portwell’s Computer-on-module series includes: COM Express, SMARC, Qseven, and ETX.
The Qseven concept is an off-the-shelf, multi vendor, Computer-On-Module that integrates all the core components of a common PC and is mounted onto an application specific carrier board. Qseven modules have a standardized form factor of 70mm x 70mm or 40mm x 70mm and have specified pinouts based on the high speed MXM system connector that has a standardized pinout.
SODIMM, or small outline dual in-line memory module, is a type of computer memory built using integrated circuits. SO-DIMMs are often used in systems that have limited space, which include laptops, notebooks, small-footprint personal computers such as those based on Mini-ITX motherboards, high-end upgradable office printers, and networking hardware such as routers and NAS devices. 200-pin and 204-pin SO-DIMMs are 67.6 mm (2.66 inches) long, 31.75 mm.
ETX
ETX (“Embedded Technology eXtended”), is an integrated and compact 95 × 125 mm (3.7 × 4.9 in) computer-on-module (COM) form factor, which can be used in a design application much like an integrated circuit component.