SolidRun LX2162A SOM packs 16 Cortex-A72 cores, 32GB DDR4 onto a 58x48mm module

SolidRun LX2162A SOM is a compact (58x48mm) system-on-module based on NXP LX2162A 16-core Cortex-A72 networking processor and equipped with up to 32GB DDR4 RAM that’s 25% of the size of the company’s earlier COM Express Type 7 computer-on-module based on NXP LX2160A 16-core Arm Cortex A72 communication processor and found in ClearFog CX LX2K networking board.

The much smaller size has been made possible by replacing the SO-DIMM sockets with soldered RAM, and switching from LX2160A to LX2162A SoC with similar features, but offered in a 23x23mm package that is nearly one quarter the size thanks to a reduction of the number of SerDes and PCIe interfaces, and manufacturing with a 16nm FinFET process technology.

LX2162A SOM specifications:

SoC – NXP Layerscape LX2162A communication processor with 16x Cortex A72 cores clocked at up to 2.0 GHz (option for the 12-core LX2122A, or 8-core LX2182A)
Memory – Up to 32GB DDR4 single channel, with ECC (Dual-channel 64GB DDR4 is possible upon request)
Storage – 8GB eMMC flash, 8Mbit SPI flash
80-pin Hirose DF40 board-to-board connectors with
- Storage
  - 1x SD/MMC
  - 4x SATA III interfaces
  - Support for NVMe SSD (see PCIe)
- Networking
  - 4x 25 GbE or 1x 100 GbE
  - 4x 10GbE w/ built-in PHY
  - 8x 1GbE
  - Sync-E, 1588-V2 support
- USB – 1x USB 3.0 interface
- PCIe – 8x Gen 3.0 – 2 controllers
- Low-speed I/Os – 4x I2C, 2x UART, GPIOs,
- Debugging – JTAG Header
Supply Voltage – 12V
I/O Voltage 3.3V/1.8V
Dimensions – 58 x 48 mm
Temperature Range – 0°C to 70°C (Commercial)
Humidity (non-condensing) – 10% – 90% Humidity

SolidRun LX2162A supports Linux via the Yocto Project, DPDK (Data Plane Development Kit), UEFI, and NXP Layerscape Secure Boot Linux. It can run Debian and Ubuntu operating systems. The company says the reduced thermal footprint and optimized power/performance numbers allow fanless designs based on the module.

Just as a comparison in terms of CPU performance, 16 Cortex-A72 cores @ 2.0 GHz and 32GB DDR4, is roughly the equivalent of four overclocked Raspberry Pi CM4 modules (50x44mm) with 8GB RAM, but done in a way that takes less than a third of the area. The comparison stops here, as the two modules target completely different markets with the SolidRun module designed for 5G base stations, high-performance CPEs, storage controller, network security, and data routing.

Solidrun is also working on the ClearFog LX2162A half-size mini-ITX carrier board for the module with two SFP28 ports (25GbE each), two SFP+ ports (10GbE each), and eight Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports, as well as a USB 3.0 port, and a VGA output to connect a monitor.

Considering we only get renders for the LX2162A SOM, and nothing to show for the carrier board, I don’t think the module is available right now. Eventually, more details should surface on the product page.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.