Gaming boards run Linux

By Eric Brown
2009-11-20

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Acrosser announced two Linux-ready "All-in-One" boards for gaming and AWP (Amusement With Prizes) machines. The ACE-B5296 supports an Intel Pentium and 915GME northbridge, and the ACE-B5692 runs a Core 2 Duo and GME965, and both offer dual VGA outputs, PCIe expansion, plus Ethernet, USB, serial, storage, ccTalk, and JAMMA I/O.

Acrosser's "All-in-One" line of gaming platforms are claimed to meet GLI, BMM, Comma 6A/B, and many other gaming specifications and regulations. Acrosser also provides ODM services for modifying the products to meet the jurisdictions of specific countries.

The ACE-B5296 is designed for the Italian Comma 6A/B AWP, and VLT markets, and supports JAMMA (Japan Amusement Machinery Manufacturers Association), and the ACE-B5692 supports both JAMMA and popular eight-liner interfaces which enable the product to be deployed around the world, says the company.

ACE-B5296
(Click to enlarge)

The ACE-B5296 offers an Intel 915GME northbridge and ICH6M southbridge, and supports an Intel Pentium or Celeron M CPU with up to 2GB DDR2 RAM, says Acrosser. The more advanced ACE-B5692 is said to provide a GME965 northbridge and ICH8M southbridge, and can run on an Intel Core 2 Duo or Celeron M with up to 4GB DDR2 RAM.

ACE-B5692
(Click to enlarge)

Both boards provide CF sockets, and the ACE-B5296 offers an IDE and SATA interface, as well as a disk on module (DOM). The ACE-B5692 is said to offer dual SATA interfaces. Both provide a PCI Express x16 slot and dual independent VGA outputs, and the ACE-B5692 offers an option for DVI-I output. Triple VGA output feature is said to supported when an external video card is connected.

While the ACE-B5296 provides 10/100 Fast Ethernet networking, the ACE-B5692 moves up to gigabit Ethernet. Both provide two external USB 2.0 ports and four USB pin headers, as well as a DB9 RS232 port and dual serial pin headers, says the company. In addition, the boards offer dual ccTalk/RS232interfaces, as well as JAMMA gaming interfaces.

Other gaming-oriented features include digital I/O with interrupt, timer, intrusion logger, SRAM, iButton and ProtectU security features, a random number generator, and a secure Real Time Clock, says Acrosser.

ACE-B5692, detailed view
(Click to enlarge)

Like other Acrosser ACE series products, the boards are supported by an AGC (Acrosser Gaming Core) device driver and API for Linux and Windows XP and XP Embedded, says the company.

Features and specifications listed by ACROSSER for the ACE-5296 and ACE-B5692 include:

Processor -- Intel Pentium/Celeron M (ACE-B5296); Intel Core 2 Duo/Celeron M (ACE-B5692)
Chipset -- Intel 915GME + ICH6M (ACE-B5296); Intel GME965 + ICH8M (ACE-B5692)
Memory -- 2 x DIMM slot for DDR2 RAM for up to 2GB (ACE-B5296) or up to 4GB (ACE-B5692)
Flash -- 1 x CompactFlash socket Type II (support UDMA)
Storage -- 1 x IDE, 1 x SATA, and 1 x DOM (ACE-B5296); 2 x SATA (ACE-B5692)
Expansion -- 1 x PCI Express x16 slot
Display -- 2 x VGA (1 x DB15, 1 x onboard pin header); optional DVI-I (ACE-B5692 only)
Networking -- 1 x 10/100 Intel 82562ET PHY ACE-B5296); 1 x 10/100/1000 Intel 82574L (ACE-B5692)
Other I/O:
- 3 x RS-232 (1 x DB9, 2 x onboard pin header)
- 2 x ccTalk/RS-232 (2 x onboard pin header, 1 x on JAMMA)
- 6 x USB 2.0 (2 x external port, 4 x onboard pin header)
Gaming I/O and functions:
- Italian JAMMA interface
- 14 x optical isolated digital input
- 15 x 1000 mA digital output
- 4 x 16-bit interruptible timer
- 2 x 8-bit DIP switch
- 2 x 256KB battery backup SRAM (optional 2 x 512KB)
- 1K Bytes EEPROM
- Intrusion logger (1 x chassis intrusion switch; 3 bits on golden fingers)
- 16-bit random number generator
- iButton socket and ProtectU security features
Power -- 5V and 12V input to golden finger
Operating temperature -- 32 to 140 deg. F (0 to 60 deg. C)
Dimensions:

ACE-B5296 7.26 x 8.97 inches (184.3 x 227.78mm)
ACE-B5692 6.73 x 8.43 inches (171 x 214mm)

Availability

Acrosser did not provide pricing or availability information on its new "All-in-One" gaming platforms. More information on the ACE-B5296 may be found here, and more on the ACE-B5692 should be here.

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