AMD-powered motherboards ready to take your money

By Jonathan Angel
2011-01-31

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Acrosser announced two Linux-ready AMD-powered motherboards designed for slot machines and other gaming devices. The ACE-B8700 includes a 1.5GHz C7 processor plus battery-backed static RAM for intrusion logging, while the ACE-B7300 accepts various Athlon CPUs, has a smart card reader, and includes a PCI Express x16 expansion slot, according to the company.

Computers running Linux or Windows Embedded operating systems are inside many a slot machine and other AWP (amusement with prizes) device, but they can't be built around just any old motherboard -- thanks to a variety of different gaming regulations and specifications worldwide. Acrosser says its "All-in-One" gaming platforms, which include both boards and complete devices, meet standards such as Japan's JAMMA (Japan Amusement Machinery Manufacturers Association and Italy's Comma 6A/B.

The ACE-B8700 (right) is being touted as new, but plainly made its first appearance in the ACE-8700, a complete PC that was announced last June. Pictured later in this story, the ACE-S8700 is clearly nothing more and nothing less than a box housing the main board -- there's no power supply, since 5V and 12VDC is supplied to the board via its "golden finger" connectors.

Including both the 20- and 72-pin interfaces that are a gaming industry standard, the ACE-B8700 also has a ccTalk interface, used to connect coin and note acceptors, according to Acrosser. As well as providing power, the golden finger interfaces offer 30-bit interruptible digital input and 27-bit high-current output, the company adds.

According to Acrosser, the ACE-B8700 includes 256KB or 512KB of battery-backed static ram, plus an intrusion logger (also battery-powered). This hardware allows the device to record events such as doors (up to five may be monitored) being opened or the system being reset, Acrosser says.

Acrosser's ACE-B8700

The ACE-B8700 (above) uses a 1.5GHz Via C7 processor, with VX800 northbridge/southbridge, and accepts up to 1GB of DDR2 RAM via a single SODIMM slot. Acrosser says the device delivers DirectX 9-compatible graphics with up to 256MB of shared video memory, and is available with an optional second VGA output.

Golden finger interfaces reside on the ACE-S8700's front panel

The ACE-S8700's rear panel includes ports mounted directly to the ACE-B8700's coastline

Standard ports in addition to the golden finger interfaces are said to include four USB 2.0 ports (two external, two internal via headers), two RS232 ports, one RS232/485 port, one RS232/ccTalk port, and the dedicated ccTalk port with JST connector. The ACE-B8700 also has a 10/100 Ethernet port, two SATA II ports, and a CompactFlash slot, according to Acrosser.

Acrosser adds that the ACE-B8700 also has four 16-bit interruptible timers, an 8-bit readable DIP switch, and a six-Watt stereo amplifier. Operating system support encompasses Linux, Windows XP, and Windows XP Embedded, while a supplied SDK (software development kit) includes drivers, an API, and demo software, the company says.

Features and specifications listed by Acrosser for the ACE-B8700 include:

Processor -- Via C7 clocked at 1.5GHz
Chipset -- VX800
Memory -- up to 1GB of DDR2 RAM via single SODIMM slot; 256KB or 512KB of battery-backed SRAM for intrusion logger
Expansion -- Type I/II CompactFlash slot
Networking -- 1 x 10/100 Ethernet
Other I/O:
- 20- and 72-pin golden finger interfaces
- 4 x USB 2.0 (2 internal, 2 external)
- 2 x RS232
- 1 x RS232/485
- 1 x RS232/ccTalk
- 1 x ccTalk (JST connector)
- 2 x SATA II
- 1 x VGA (second VGA port optional)
Power -- 5V and 12VDC via golden finger connectors; requires 16 Watts without external devices
Operating temperature -- 32 to 140 deg. F (0 to 60 deg. C)
Dimensions -- 8.62 x 7.72 inches
Weight -- 1.3 pounds

Acrosser's ACE-B7300

Announced simultaneously with the ACE-B8700, the ACE-B7300 (below) more closely fits our definition of "new." In fact, Acrosser hasn't yet posted a data sheet, so, while it appears that this board employs the same form factor as its older sibling, we can't say for sure.

Acrosser's ACE-B7300

Acrosser provided no detailed specifications, but it appears that -- like the company's previous ACE-B5296 -- the ACE-B7300 has a single golden finger interface designed to work with the Comma 6A standard. The device also includes a smart card reader, allowing it to meet a requirement of Italy's gaming authority, AAMS.

According to Acrosser, the ACE-B7300 uses AMD's 780E northbridge, with 3D graphics acceleration. Processor support was not declared, but should include a variety of single- or dual-core AMD Athlon CPUs.

The ACE-B7300 "embeds pulse generators which unload the complexity of handling meters in a slot machine," says Acrosser. The device appears to again feature a CompactFlash slot, and also includes a PCI Express x16 slot, which Acrosser says will allow a total of four connected displays.

Further information

Pricing and availability for Acrosser's gaming motherboards were not specified. More information may be found on the ACE-B8700 product page and the ACE-B7300 product page.

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