Delivery problems with components

In our last Whatโ€™s New article , we mentioned that there are currently major problems with the availability of PC chips and other components. Unfortunately, nothing has changed. Thanks to our warehouse in Nuremberg and the production of our Mini-PCs in Germany, we are able to keep a certain stock on hand and deliver most of them at short notice.  

In order to ensure timely delivery โ€“ especially for (large-scale) projects โ€“ we recommend that our customers discuss the required quantities with our key account managers and, where possible, submit forecasts.

New prices at spo-comm from 14.06.2021

Another consequence of the supply bottlenecks is a sharp increase in prices. Up to a certain point, we were able to bear these ourselves at spo-comm . Unfortunately, we are now forced to increase the prices of our Mini PCs slightly and adjust them to the current market situation.

If you have any questions, you can contact us at any time during our business hours. Our key account managers are at your side and will be happy to advise you.

Contact spo-comm

BOX N2930 is EOL

The BOX N2930 is leaving our range and currently has no direct successor. Nevertheless, with the BOX E3940 and the BOX N4100, our BOX series offers two further ultra-compact systems that are more than a match for the requirements of digital signage applications. Robust, fanless and a volume of less than 1 liter: this is what distinguishes the models in the BOX series.

The spo-comm SysCare Packs 

As part of our new website, our warranty extensions for spo-comm Mini-PCs have also been revised. They are clearer and less complicated than before. This gives our customers the opportunity to flexibly adapt the services to their needs.

We offer you the two different performance levels Basic and Premium, which are each available with a term of 2, 3 or 5 years:

spo-comm SysCare Basic:

  • Bring-In Service during the complete term
  • Exchange or repair of defective systems during the complete term

spo-comm SysCare Premium:

  • PickUp & Return Service during the term
  • Processing within 2 working days during the entire term
  • This warranty extension is available only within the European Union

You can view the various warranties on the respective product page in the configurator under โ€œWarrantyโ€. If you are already registered, the prices will be displayed directly, otherwise you are welcome to send us a price inquiry.

More information about our warranties

Current delivery difficulties, forecasts and price increases 

The whole of last year 2020 was already characterized by supply bottlenecks in a wide range of areas, from furniture to PC components. Last December, heise already feared problems โ€œwell into 2021โ€.

After intensive discussions with our partner companies such as MSI IPC, we will probably face a few more challenges this year.

Thanks to our large warehouse in Nuremberg and the production of our Mini PCs in Germany, we are able to keep a certain amount of stock on hand and thus continue to guarantee short delivery times. However, larger projects require more planning security.  To ensure that our Mini PCs are delivered on time, we recommend that our customers talk to our key account managers about the quantities required and, if possible, submit a forecast.

Another effect of the supply bottlenecks is a sharp increase in prices. Up to a certain point, we can bear these costs ourselves, but in this case we have to pass them on to a small extent to our customers.

Contact spo-comm

Where does eMMC come from?

eMMC was developed for use as internal data storage in mobile devices and specified by JEDEC .  

The acronym eMMC stands for โ€œembedded Multimedia Cardโ€ and is based on the flash memory standard. The basis for eMMC is the MMC memory card, which is also the predecessor of the SD card.

However, eMMC is now being replaced by other technologies, such as Universal Flash Storage (UFS), as these have higher read and write speeds.

Advantages of eMMC

In addition to the actual flash memory, an eMMC package also combines a controller and the contacting in a BGA package. We have already explained what is behind BGA, PGA and LGA in a blog article. By combining the aforementioned components on just one board, eMMC memory is usually more space-saving and also cheaper than regular memory.

Use of eMMC  

eMMC memory is mainly used in mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. As eMMC integrates other peripheral devices in a package as described above, it can be addressed directly as a memory. But the ever smaller Mini PCs, such as our TEGRA 2 or BOX N6211, also rely on eMMC. 

TEGRA 2

BOX N6211

The chipset is an integral part of a Mini PC. The term describes the chips used for the northbridge and southbridge on the motherboard of a mainboard. 

What is the chipset responsible for?

The chipset is responsible for controlling the individual components of a PC as well as the peripherals. It also regulates the data transfer between the CPU, RAM and the graphics card. 

Structure of the chipset in Northbridge and Southbridge

The Bridge architecture developed by Intel has established itself on the market. The chipset is divided into the Northbridge and the Southbridge. These have different functions and are responsible for different things.

The Southbridge controls the data transfer between the bus systems such as PCI or PCI Express. The USB controller is also located here. Power management functions and control of the network controller are also handled by the Southbridge.

The northbridge generally has a higher speed than the southbridge and is therefore responsible for the more important things. This includes the control of the CPU and its clocking, as well as the control of the memory modules.

Single-chip systems for ever smaller PCs

Computers, especially those like our mini PCs, are getting smaller and smaller. In such cases, the regular structure of a chipset, as described above, simply takes up too much space. The solution to this is so-called single-chip systems, in which as many functions as possible are accommodated on one chip. The Southbridge is an integral part of the Northbridge and its functions have simply been integrated into the Northbridge. We have already explained how this works in our blog post about SoC.

Good to know: What is SoC?

Update for the KUMO V: Now also available with GTX 1660

The KUMO V, our current high-end mini PC for high-performance graphics applications, is getting a small but nice update: The digital signage player, which was previously equipped with an Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card, can now also be ordered with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660. This scores with 6 GB DDR6 memory, 1408 CUDA cores and a KUMO entry-level price of 1,095.00 euros.

Discover the KUMO V

Observe social distancing rules: Customer visit 2.0 at spo-comm

The spo-comm continues as usual โ€“ with a few adjustments to the current situation, of course. Even now, we want to be there for our customers and partners and advise you in the usual quality. 

For this reason, we now also want to offer virtual customer visits with our key account managers. If you are interested, simply contact us by e-mail or telephone (at vertrieb@spo-comm.de or +49 911 23 98 37 -0) to arrange an appointment or use our contact form on our website.

News from MSI: Successor for BRICK and WINDBOX II

The Taiwanese hardware manufacturer MSI IPC is one of our most important partners. We are currently busy developing the successor models for the BRICK series and our customer WINDBOX II Quad, which are due to be launched in the summer. The initial tests are extremely promising.

Flash memory, also known as semiconductor memory, is a non-volatile memory based on semiconductor chips. The exact name is Flash-EEPROM, as it was developed from EEPROM (stands for Electrical Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory). The storage of data is identical to EEPROM, but they are read, written, deleted or reprogrammed block by block in data blocks of 4, 8 or 16 kilobytes.

The flash memory is characterized above all by its fast response times and high data transfer rates, which is why it is also suitable for performance-heavy applications such as video editing or 3D. It is also efficient, shock-resistant, compact and contains no moving parts. In contrast to RAM (random access memory), flash retains data even after the power supply is switched off, which is why it is mainly used in SSDs, USB sticks, smartphones, cameras and memory cards.

Advantages of flash memory

  • Data is retained even without a power supply. As a result, this type of storage also consumes less power and generates less heat than HDDs.
  • Works silently and has no problems with vibrations.
  • Cost-effective.
  • High read and write speed.

Disadvantages of flash memory

  • Higher wear and therefore a limited number of write and erase operations.
  • The duration of data storage is also limited, which is why flash is not suitable for archiving data.

We have already explained the difference between HDDs and SSDs in a knowledge article. More about flash memory and a detailed explanation of how it works can be found at Computerweekly.de and in the Elektronik Kompendium.

Good to know: What is the difference between HDDs and SSDs?

GeForce vs. Quadro โ€“ the most important differences

NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards are primarily designed for gaming and general graphics performance. They deliver solid results in the multi-monitor area, but there are some limitations for professional environments โ€“ especially in terms of driver stability, long-term availability and management functions.

NVIDIA Quadro cards, such as the P1000, have been specially developed for professional use. They offer, among other things:

  • Certified drivers (ISV certification) for software such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Adobe and more
  • NVIDIA Mosaic technology for seamless display of a desktop across multiple monitors
  • Long-term availability โ€“ important for industrial customers
  • High image quality and color fidelity
  • Multiple native Mini-DisplayPort outputs(e.g. 4x mDP on the P1000)

In focus: NVIDIA Quadro P1000

The NVIDIA Quadro P1000 is one of the most popular models for multi-monitor solutions in compact systems. Despite the availability of newer models such as the RTX A2000, the P1000 impresses with:

  • Compact design and low power consumption
  • 4 simultaneous display outputs via Mini-DisplayPort
  • Full support for NVIDIA Mosaic
  • Stable performance in 2D and 3D applications

In the series of spo-comm Mini-PCs, the QUADRO P1000 is equipped with the eponymous P1000 and therefore 640 CUDA cores as standard, and up to four monitors can be controlled simultaneously.

NVIDIA Mosaic and desktop management

A decisive advantage of the Quadro series is NVIDIA Mosaic: With this technology, the Windows desktop can be stretched across several screens without display errors or synchronization problems.

Specific features such as MOSAIC are set via the graphics card driver and the associated management tool. At Nvidia, this is called the Nvidia Control Panel. Nvidia shows how MOSAIC can be configured with a graphics card from this series on this knowledgebase.

In addition, professional tools such as the NVIDIA RTX Desktop Manager (successor to Nview) are available for clear multi-display management.

Multi-GPU setups โ€“ not a good idea?

Although it is technically possible to operate both series in parallel, driver conflicts often occur in practice. In most cases, only one driver type can be operated stably. For professional multi-monitor setups, it is therefore advisable to opt for a purely Quadro-based solution.

Future-proof with NVIDIA RTX A-Series

For particularly demanding applications, models such as the NVIDIA RTX A2000, A4000 or A4500 are now available on the market. These cards also support NVIDIA Mosaic, offer even more computing power and are suitable for setups with up to 32 screens (in conjunction with NVIDIA RTX Sync solutions).

Nevertheless, the P1000 remains a cost-effective and robust solution for many scenarios, especially when it comes to compact, fanless systems or durable industrial PCs.

Our conclusion โ€“ there is no way around Quadro for professional multi-monitoring

Whether 2, 3 or 4 monitors โ€“ if you need a reliable and flexibly expandable multi-screen setup, a P1000 graphics card โ€“ and the spo-comm QUADRO P1000 โ€“ is the best choice.
The graphics card combines professional functions with high compatibility in space-saving devices.

System-on-a-chip or one-chip system

If the most important or even all components of a system are combined on a single chip, this is referred to as a system-on-a-chip. The most important component of such a system is the main processor โ€“ whether 8-bit or quad-core CPU, you can find all sorts on the market. Other processors, such as for graphics or audio processors for decoding and controlling audio data in smartphones, are often soldered on as well. The next component is the main memory, which is integrated via one or more memory chips. All internal components of the system are connected via the system bus (for data exchange between CPU, RAM, cache) and the peripheral bus (for USB, among other things).

Areas of application for SoCs

Single-chip systems are primarily found in the field of mobile devices and applications, i.e. smartphones and tablets, and in control and automation technology, i.e. washing machines or industrial automation. 

Advantages of a single-chip system

Thanks to their special design, single-chip systems not only save an enormous amount of space, so that they can be used almost anywhere, but also reduce costs. Furthermore, single-chip systems offer reduced power consumption.

Nvidia Tegra SoC integrates everything

As already mentioned, the TEGRA 2 released in 2018 is the first (and so far only) system in the spo-comm Mini-PC range to be based on an SoC chip. More precisely, on an Nvidia SoC chip. It integrates everything necessary for digital signage applications: an 8GB memory, a 32GB eMMC flash memory, the eponymous Nvidia Tegra X2 CPU, as well as a LAN and WLAN module. And all this in a housing measuring just 160 x 132 x 51 mm (W x D x H). The TEGRA 2 can not only play 4K@60 Hz content on two screens simultaneously. Thanks to the 256 integrated CUDA cores, it can also be used for deep learning applications and for real-time calculations and video editing in the automotive industry.

Configure your TEGRA 2!

The term ray tracing refers to an algorithm for calculating images. The aim is to represent the three-dimensional world in a two-dimensional image by simulating the physical behavior of light and light rays. The interplay of reflections, light and shadow creates a particularly realistic image for PC games or animated films.

Ray tracing vs. rasterization

Before the development of ray tracing, rasterization was already in use. However, this only calculates light and objects that are directly visible in the image (more on the difference between ray tracing and rasterization can be found on gamestar.de ). The special thing about ray tracing is that invisible objects or light sources are also analyzed and calculated, for example the sun in the sky, which is not visible in the image but is reflected in the puddle. Or light rays that are reflected by a window that is outside the visible range. 

How does ray tracing work?

So what exactly happens? The rays of light are followed by the viewerโ€™s eye into the virtual space and up to an object. The surface of this object is then analyzed and, depending on its composition, the light beam is reflected, diffracted or absorbed. This allows the light beams to spread throughout the entire virtual space and capture all objects, regardless of whether they are visible or not. The end result is a very realistic picture for the viewer.

If you would like to learn more about the various ray tracing methods, you can find them clearly explained in a video from Nvidia.

Where is ray tracing used?

This rendering approach is not new and has been used in movies and advertising for some time. This is known as CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) โ€“ a technology that also manages to make artificial images look real.

The RTX graphics cards from Nvidia enable real-time ray tracing and are therefore suitable for PC games. However, rendering still takes quite a long time, which is why even the Turing graphics chips would be overwhelmed with complete game scenes. Nvidia therefore relies on hybrid rendering and mixes ray tracing with rasterization.

What hardware do I need for ray tracing?

The aforementioned Nvidia Turing graphics cards, i.e. the RTX 2000 models, were specially developed for ray tracing (hence the โ€œRโ€ in โ€œRTXโ€). Thanks to our own ray tracing cores, you can calculate this in real time. With the appropriate new drivers, ray tracing is also possible with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1000 graphics cards. However, good performance is not to be expected here. On the software side, Windows 10 with the DirectX 12 ray tracing API DXR version 1809 is required.

spo-comm industrial PC for ray tracing

If you are looking for a robust industrial PC for demanding graphics applications, our KUMO V is just right for you. It is equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 โ€“ with 6GB of integrated GDDR6 memory and 1920 CUDA cores. In addition to real-time ray tracing, the mini PC offers AI computing power and new shading technologies. No wishes remain unfulfilled.

Configure the KUMO V here

A hot swap is basically the replacement of PC peripherals while the system is running. The components to be replaced are not connected to the operating system or other software. This means that neither the power supply is interrupted nor the system restarted.  

Assuming a fan is defective while the Mini-PC is running, the damaged fan can be easily replaced with a new one thanks to hot swapping. Other components, such as PCIe or SATA drives in a RAID array, can also be swapped using hot swap.

Basis for hot swapping

For a component to be replaced using hot swapping, the associated plug connection must meet certain criteria. The plug contacts must have a leading design, which means that the contacts are connected and disconnected in a defined sequence, usually in three or more stages. This is realized by a common housing in which the contacts are positioned further forward and further back. The most common systems with leading plug contacts are SATA and USB (see Fig. 1).

The user should also ensure that the plugs are plugged in and unplugged as straight and slowly as possible.

Good to know: What is USB?

What are the advantages of hot swapping?

As already mentioned at the beginning, the advantage of hot swapping is that systems do not have to be restarted and there is no need to interrupt operations to replace broken components. Particularly in the area of servers or in industry, where PCs have to be in use 24/7, the rapid replacement of components using hot swap offers a decisive advantage, as even the slightest interruption to operation can mean an enormous loss.

Variants of hot swapping

  • Hot Add: Describes the addition of new components that work without configuration in the running system.
  • Hot Plug: The addition and removal of components during operation as long as no software accesses them, also known as
    plug and play
    .
  • Hot switch: Switching between components, for example to a redundant power supply unit.

Hot swappable spo-comm Mini-PCs