Edge+ VPR-4616: A Mini-ITX Motherboard with AMD Embedded+ Architecture for AI Applications

How Much Does the Edge+ VPR-4616 Cost? A Review of the New AMD Embedded+ Architecture

If you are looking for a powerful and efficient mini-ITX motherboard for your next project, you might want to check out the Edge+ VPR-4616 from Sapphire Technology. This motherboard is based on the new AMD Embedded+ architecture, which combines an AMD Ryzen Embedded processor and an AMD Versal AI Edge adaptive SoC on a single integrated compute platform. In this article, we will review the features, benefits, and price of the Edge+ VPR-4616, and see how it compares to other solutions in the market.

What is AMD Embedded+ Architecture?

AMD Embedded+ architecture is a new concept that fuses two different types of chips: an AMD Ryzen Embedded processor and an AMD Versal AI Edge adaptive SoC. The Ryzen Embedded processor is a x86-based CPU that handles the general-purpose tasks, such as running the operating system, the user interface, and the applications. The Versal AI Edge adaptive SoC is a reprogrammable device that has integrated ARM processors and programmable logic. It can handle the high-performance, low-latency, and deterministic tasks, such as sensor fusion, AI inferencing, and real-time control.

The two chips work together through a fast PCI Express link, and they can share the same memory and storage resources. This way, the Embedded+ architecture optimizes the performance and power efficiency of the system, by offloading the appropriate functions to the right chip. For example, the Ryzen Embedded processor can take care of the USB interfaces, the Wi-Fi, the Ethernet, the dual 4K displays, and the storage, while the Versal AI Edge adaptive SoC can focus on the sensor interfaces, the AI workloads, and the industrial networks.

The Embedded+ architecture also simplifies the design complexity and the time-to-market of the system, by allowing the developers to use the same tools and frameworks that they are familiar with. For instance, they can use the same Linux operating system, the same C/C++ programming language, and the same TensorFlow or PyTorch libraries for both the Ryzen Embedded processor and the Versal AI Edge adaptive SoC. They can also leverage the AMD ROCm open source software platform, which provides a unified programming model and a comprehensive set of libraries for both the CPU and the adaptive SoC.

What are the Features and Benefits of the Edge+ VPR-4616?

The Edge+ VPR-4616 is a mini-ITX motherboard that measures 170 x 170 mm. It is one of the first products that use the AMD Embedded+ architecture. It features an AMD Ryzen Embedded R2314 processor, which has two cores and four threads, and runs at 2.1 GHz base frequency and 3.9 GHz boost frequency. It also features an AMD Versal AI Edge VE2302 adaptive SoC, which has two ARM Cortex-A72 cores, two ARM Cortex-R5F cores, and a programmable logic fabric with 230K logic cells and 784 DSP slices.

The Edge+ VPR-4616 supports up to 64 GB of DDR4-3200 memory, and has two M.2 slots for Wi-Fi and storage. It also has a built-in video codec for H.264/H.265 encoding and decoding, and supports two 4K displays via HDMI and DisplayPort. It has four USB 3.2 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, two GbE ports, and a serial port. It also has a PCIe x16 slot for expansion cards, and a 12V DC power input.

One of the main advantages of the Edge+ VPR-4616 is that it can connect to various sensors and peripherals through optional expansion boards. The Versal AI Edge adaptive SoC has a programmable I/O interface that can support many sensor protocols, such as MIPI CSI-2, MIPI DSI, LVDS, GMSL, FPD-Link, and SLVS-EC. It can also support industrial network protocols, such as EtherCAT, PROFINET, and TSN. The Edge+ VPR-4616 offers four standard expansion boards that can plug into the motherboard:

• A dual 10/100/1000 Mb industrial Ethernet board, which can support EtherCAT, PROFINET, and TSN.
• An octo GMSL2 camera board, which can support up to eight GMSL2 cameras with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60 fps.
• A dual 10/25 Gb Ethernet board, which can support high-speed data transfer and has 16 GPIO pins.
• A quad MIPI CSI-2 camera board, which can support up to four MIPI CSI-2 cameras with a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 30 fps.

The Edge+ VPR-4616 is ideal for applications that require high performance and low latency, especially in AI workloads. It can process the sensor data in real time, and perform AI inferencing using the programmable logic and the ARM cores of the Versal AI Edge adaptive SoC. It can also run the user interface and the applications using the Ryzen Embedded processor. Some of the use cases for the Edge+ VPR-4616 include:

• Robot controller with motion planning, which can use the Edge+ VPR-4616 to connect to multiple cameras and sensors, and perform real-time path planning and obstacle avoidance using AI algorithms.
• Medical PC with connected probes, which can use the Edge+ VPR-4616 to connect to various medical devices, such as ultrasound probes, ECG monitors, and blood pressure meters, and perform real-time analysis and diagnosis using AI models.
• Smart city gateway, which can use the Edge+ VPR-4616 to connect to various sensors and cameras in the city, and perform real-time traffic management, security monitoring, and environmental control using AI applications.

How Much Does the Edge+ VPR-4616 Cost?

The Edge+ VPR-4616 is not yet available for purchase, but Sapphire Technology has announced that it will be released in the second quarter of 2024. The price of the motherboard has not been revealed, but it is expected to be competitive with other mini-ITX solutions in the market. The price of the optional expansion boards will also vary depending on the type and the number of ports.

According to some sources, the Edge+ VPR-4616 will cost around $500, which is comparable to other mini-ITX motherboards that use the AMD Ryzen Embedded processors. However, the Edge+ VPR-4616 will offer more features and benefits than the other motherboards, thanks to the addition of the AMD Versal AI Edge adaptive SoC. Therefore, the Edge+ VPR-4616 will provide a better value for money for the customers who are looking for a powerful and efficient mini-ITX motherboard for their projects.

Conclusion

The Edge+ VPR-4616 is a mini-ITX motherboard that uses the new AMD Embedded+ architecture, which combines an AMD Ryzen Embedded processor and an AMD Versal AI Edge adaptive SoC on a single integrated compute platform. It offers high performance and low latency, especially in AI workloads, and supports various sensor and peripheral interfaces through optional expansion boards. It is ideal for applications that require real-time sensor data processing, such as robot controller, medical PC, and smart city gateway. The Edge+ VPR-4616 will be available in the second quarter of 2024, and will cost around $500, which is a reasonable price for its features and benefits.

If you are interested in the Edge+ VPR-4616, you can visit the Sapphire Technology website for more information. You can also read the official press release from Sapphire Technology, or check out some of the news articles (https://www.amd.com/ja/products/embedded/embedded-plus.html) (https://www.amd.com/en/products/embedded/embedded-plus.html) that cover the Edge+ VPR-4616 and the AMD Embedded+ architecture.