Kontron 986LCD-M/mITX, and 800x480 LVDS.

**Kosti** · 12-25-2006, 06:14 PM

Actually I just had a look at there website for the 986LCD board, so it seems that there is an extra cost for this cable kit?
Seems this includes the following description;Accessory Kit for 986LCD-M/mITX
1x UDMA100 HDD cable, 4x SATA cable, 2x COM cable, 1x COM2 + LPT Bracket, 1x USB Bracket (Dual USB), 1x Feature Conn. Open-End, 1x Front Panel Conn. Open-End, 1x Audio Conn. Open-End, 1x LVDS Conn. Open-End, 1x IEEE1394 Bracket, 1x Driver CD

Why isn't this part of the boxed MB?

**Giuliano** · 12-25-2006, 09:51 PM

The cable kit is rather expensive at $76, and to be honest, not really worth the large cost.

Most of the accessory cables can be had for cheap elsewhere.

**Kosti** · 12-28-2006, 06:29 AM

I sent Kontron an email on this board but no reply as yet, I assume there all still on holidays..

Do you have any idea when it will be released and available to buy?

**Giuliano** · 12-28-2006, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Kosti

I sent Kontron an email on this board but no reply as yet, I assume there all still on holidays..

Do you have any idea when it will be released and available to buy?

I obtained my 986LCD board by calling Kontron USA directly.

You may want to try the same with Kontron Australia:
Melbourne, Head Office: +612 9457 0047
Sydney: +613 9773 9114

Contact page:
http://au.kontron.com/index.php?id=1028

I would recommend ordering only the motherboard itself and the heatsink / fan - the cable kit is too expensive, and the cables can be had cheap elsewhere.

**Kosti** · 12-29-2006, 07:53 AM

ok, sounds like a plan - I'll call them in the new year, hopefully the Australian Office is upto date with latest board.

I guess I may need the face plate brackets.

Thanks again Giuliano

**Giuliano** · 12-29-2006, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Kosti

ok, sounds like a plan - I'll call them in the new year, hopefully the Australian Office is upto date with latest board.

I guess I may need the face plate brackets.

Thanks again Giuliano

If you mean the metal I/O sheld plate that goes over the ports in the back of the board, then the board comes with it.

I'd pass on the cable kit - too expensive for what it offers.

**DigitalVampire** · 12-29-2006, 11:31 AM

Here are some quick power consumption measurements I made with the 986LCD-M motherboard.

Test Environment
Kontron 986 LCD-M motherboard
1.8 Ghz CoreDuo Processor
100GB 7200RPM 2.5" Seagate Momentus HDD
1GB DDR2 @ 667Mhz (512MBx2)
M2-ATX @ 12.00V

*Intel SpeedStep disabled in BIOS
*CPU loaded with CPU Burn and CPU Burn-In simultaneously
*Fan Speed controlled via Kontron hardware monitoring utility
*Win XP SP2
*Ambient Temperature: 22 Degree Celcius

Power consumption figures
BIOS Mode: 36 Watts
Idle CPU, Fan OFF: 25.2 Watts
Idle CPU, Fan Min Speed (2200 RPM): 27.12 Watts
Idle CPU, Fan Med Speed (3400 RPM): 27.96 Watts
Idle CPU, Fan Max Speed (4200 RPM): 28.56 Watts
50% CPU, Fan OFF: 25.8 Watts
50% CPU, Fan Min Speed: 27.36 Watts
50% CPU, Fan Max Speed: 32.8 Watts
100% CPU Load, Fan Full Speed: 44.64 Watts

The CPU Fan supplied by Kontron is extremely noisy at full speed, but since the CoreDuo processors keep themselves pretty cool, we could throttle the Fan speed down to almost inaudible levels still keeping the temperature within safe limits.

Negatives:
- The CF slot on the bottom side of the board fouls with shallow mounting depth of the VoomPC casing. Better look for alternate casings or be prepared for some mechanical modifications.
- NO Onboard TV-out connector. Wondering why Kontron removed this feature...

Overall the board seems to be pretty solid.

**Giuliano** · 12-29-2006, 12:22 PM

Good numbers on the power consumption tests - they're in line with the power usage indicated in the manual, page 17.

I have my board in an Opus ITX case, the black one with the two PCI slots.

I haven't tested the PCI riser card yet, but I know it physically fits.

As for the fan speeds, I turned on the Thermal profile in the BIOS for fan speed controls, and the CPU fan does start up fast, and slows down after a few seconds.. but the odd thing there is that it ramps back up in speed - up and down.

I haven't tested the Kontron utilities yet - I'm running Vista RC2 (5744).

My board also did not come with the TV-out connector - this may have something to do with Macrovision, and having to agree to their licenses.

I'll send them an e-mail to ask..

**DigitalVampire** · 12-29-2006, 01:19 PM

I too have send an email to the support team at Kontron, but no answer yet.. seems like those guys are enjoying their vacations to the hilt...

I was wondering if we could simply mount a suitable connector or for test purposes solder a few cables and get the TV out signals since the board must be already having the DAC's on-board. But going thru the BIOS release notes, I guess they removed the support from the BIOS itself. I'm afraid we may need a new BIOS version to support it.

**Giuliano** · 12-29-2006, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by DigitalVampire

I too have send an email to the support team at Kontron, but no answer yet.. seems like those guys are enjoying their vacations to the hilt...

I was wondering if we could simply mount a suitable connector or for test purposes solder a few cables and get the TV out signals since the board must be already having the DAC's on-board. But going thru the BIOS release notes, I guess they removed the support from the BIOS itself. I'm afraid we may need a new BIOS version to support it.

Chances are that they're off until January 2nd.

I doubt that trying to solder a connector would work - more often there is surface mount components that are in the connection path.

I don't see the missing TV Out as being a huge problem - why do you need / want it?

If you need it, then Kontron should be able to replace the board with one that has a TV Out.

They have a rather liberal 30-day return policy.