A: Internally there is a 256KB SPI flash for the BIOS storage, it should be installed by the JTAG interface for the first time, and it can be re-program by software from the second time. DMP also provide the service to pre-installed the AMI BIOS before delivery. You can use external flash as the BIOS storage, for example SST 39SF020-90-4C-PH, please pull-down the Hardware Strap MA12 and MA13 to enable the external BIOS flash.
A: AMI BIOS is the default BIOS of Vortex86SX, for other brands of BIOS, DMP will provide the "memory cycling" and "chipset initial" codes for you to start the development.
A: Yes, you can use Console Redirection through COM port and use your PC to monitor this non-VGA system. To use this, you should enable the "Remote Access Control" and choice the properly COM setting ( 115200, n, 8, 1). On your PC side, you should open the "Hyper Terminal" with properly setting (115200,n,8,1). Then you can easy change the BIOS setting and update the software on this non-VGA Vortex86 system from your PC.
A: In the default AMI BIOS, we have the build-in function which use INT 13 to simulate the SPI flash as Drive A. Users just have to enable the "Onboard Virtual Flash FDD" in BIOS, then they will have a bootable flash disk. And please be noticed, the default AMI BIOS only support the SPI flash which the boot sector is 4K Byte, for example MXIC MX25L1605 or Winbond W25X series.
A: Yes, the default AMI BIOS has build-in driver to support the old operating system, for example DOS 5.0 or FreeDOS. No additional USB driver has to be installed.
A: Vortex86SX supports Windows CE 5.0 & 6.0, Linux and DOS. For Linux, we support kernel 2.4 and 2.6. We also provide the DOS packet driver, ODI and NDIS for Ethernet.
A: By default Hardware Strap, the CPU speed is 300MHz. In the AMI BIOS, there is a option to divide the CPU speed from 1 to 8. The lowest speed is 300/8 = 37.5 MHz.
A: 40 GPIO pins are provided by the Vortex86SX for general usage in the system. All GPIO pins are independent and can be configured as inputs or outputs. The outputs are 3.3V level and input is 5V tolerance, the driving current is 8mA.
Technical Support
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