Quanmax ECX-APL0 Series User manual

I
ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
ECX-APL0 Series
3.5" ECX Single Board Computer
with Intel®Apollo Lake SoC Processors
User’s Guide

II
ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Contact Info: Quanmax Inc.
4F, No. 415, Ti-Ding Blvd. Sec. 2NeiHu District,
Taipei 114Taiwan
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Visit our site at: www.quanmax.com
© 2017 Quanmax Inc. All rights reserved.
The information in this user’s guide is provided for reference only. Quanmax does not assume any
liability arising out of the application or use of the information or products described herein. This user’s
guide may contain or reference information and products protected by copyrights or patents and does
not convey any license under the patent rights of Quanmax, nor the rights of others.
Quanmax is a registered trademark of Quanmax. All trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade
names used in this user’s guide are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. This
user’s guide contains information proprietary to Quanmax. Customers may reprint and use this user’s
guide in other publications. Customers may alter this user’s guide and publish it only after they remove
the Quanmax name, cover, and logo.
Quanmax reserves the right to make changes without notice in product or component design as
warranted by evolution in user needs or progress in engineering or manufacturing technology.
Changes which affect the operation of the unit will be documented in the next revision of this user’s
guide.

Content
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Content
Content.......................................................................................................................3
Figures.......................................................................................................................5
Tables.........................................................................................................................6
Safety Instructions......................................................................................................8
Before You Begin.........................................................................................8
When Working Inside a Computer...............................................................8
Preventing Electrostatic Discharge..............................................................9
Preface..................................................................................................................... 11
How to Use This Guide.............................................................................. 11
Unpacking.................................................................................................. 11
Regulatory Compliance Statements .......................................................... 11
Warranty Policy .........................................................................................12
Maintaining Your Computer.......................................................................13
Chapter 1 Introduction...........................................................................................16
Overview ...................................................................................................16
Product Specifications...............................................................................17
System Block Diagram..............................................................................18
Mechanical Dimensions.............................................................................19
Chapter 2 Hardware Settings ................................................................................20
Overview ...................................................................................................20
Jumper Settings and Pin Definitions..........................................................21
Jumper Settings ......................................................................................22
Internal Connector PinAssignment.........................................................24
Rear Panel Pin Assignments...................................................................33
Chapter 3 System Installation................................................................................36
Memory Module Installation.......................................................................36
Chapter 4 AMI BIOS Setup ......................................................................................38
Overview ...................................................................................................38
Main Menu.................................................................................................39
Advanced Menu.........................................................................................40
Power Menu..............................................................................................54
Boot Menu.................................................................................................55
Security Menu............................................................................................56
Save & Exit Menu......................................................................................57

Content
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Chapter 5 Driver Installation..................................................................................59
AppendixA DIO (Digital I/O) Sample Code............................................................60
Appendix B WatchDog Timer Sample Code.............................................................64

Figures
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Figures
Figure 1 Block Diagram .............................................................................18
Figure 2 Mechanical Dimensions...............................................................19
Figure 3 Jumper Connector.......................................................................20
Figure 4 Jumper and Connector Locations................................................21
Figure 5 Rear Panel IO..............................................................................33
Figure 6 Align the SO-DIMM Memory Module with the onboard socket.....36
Figure 7 Press down on the SO-DIMM Memory Module to lock it in place 37

Tables
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Tables
Table 1 Product Specifications...................................................................17
Table 2 Jumper List....................................................................................22
Table 3 JP1 SIM CARD SELECTION ........................................................22
Table 4 JP2 Backlight Enable Selection ....................................................22
Table 5 JP3 Panel & Backlight Power Selection ........................................22
Table 6 JP4 AT / ATX Power Mode Selection.............................................23
Table 7 JP5 M2 KEY B LED Pin Header....................................................23
Table 8 JP6 MPCIE Activity LED Pin Header.............................................23
Table 9 JP8 RTC Reset Selection..............................................................23
Table 10 JP9 USB Power Selection...........................................................23
Table 11 JP10 ME F/W Selection...............................................................23
Table 12 BAT1 CR2032 Battery Power Input Wafer...................................25
Table 13 CN1 DC12V Power Input Wafer..................................................25
Table 14 CN2 HDD Power Output Wafer...................................................25
Table 15 CN3 Micro-SD Card Cage...........................................................25
Table 16 CN6 USB2.0 Port DN_1, DN_2 Pin Header................................25
Table 17 CN7 SIM Interface Wafer for MPCIE1 and M2 KEY B.................26
Table 18 CN11 Audio Input / Output Pin Header........................................26
Table 19 CN12 Left Channel 3W Audio AMP Output Wafer.......................26
Table 20 CN14 Digital Input / Output Wafer...............................................26
Table 21 CN16 Right Channel 3W Audio AMP Output Wafer.....................27
Table 22 CN17 COM1 RS-232/422/485 Port Wafer...................................27
Table 23 CN18 COM2 RS-232/422/485 Port Wafer...................................27
Table 24 CN19~CN22 COM3~6 RS-232 Port Wafer..................................28
Table 25 CN23 Backlight Power Output Wafer ..........................................28
Table 26 LVDS1 18/24-bit, 1/2-channel LVDS Panel Connector................28
Table 27 FAN1 DC5V FAN Wafer...............................................................29
Table 28 FP1 Front Panel 1 Pin Header ....................................................29
Table 29 FP2 Front Panel 2 Pin Header ....................................................29
Table 30 MPCIE1 Mini-PCI Express v1.2 Socket (Full Size)......................30
Table 31 CON1 NGFF M.2 KEY B Socket .................................................31
Table 32 SATA1 SerialATAPort 0 Connector............................................32
Table 33 CN26 USB2.0 Port Wafer (Option)..............................................32
Table 34 Rear Panel Connector List ..........................................................33

Tables
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Table 35 CN9 GbE LAN1 RJ-45 Connector...............................................33
Table 36 CN10 GbE LAN2 RJ-45 Connector.............................................33
Table 37 CN4 USB3.0 Port-0,1 Type-A Connector.....................................34
Table 38 CN5 USB3.0 Port-2,3 Type-A Connector.....................................34
Table 39 CN13 DisplayPort Connector ......................................................34
Table 40 CN15 HDMI Connector................................................................35
Table 41 BIOS Main Menu.........................................................................39
Table 42 Advanced Menu...........................................................................40
Table 43 Advanced Menu – Display Configuration.....................................41
Table 44 Advanced Menu – Super IO Configuration..................................42
Table 45 Advanced Menu – Super IO Configuration – Serial Port 1
Configuration ......................................................................................42
Table 46 Advanced Menu – Super IO Configuration – Serial Port 2
Configuration ......................................................................................43
Table 47 Advanced Menu – Super IO Configuration – Serial Port 3
Configuration ......................................................................................44
Table 48 Advanced Menu – Super IO Configuration – Serial Port 4
Configuration ......................................................................................45
Table 49 Advanced Menu – Super IO Configuration – Serial Port 5
Configuration ......................................................................................46
Table 50 Advanced Menu – Super IO Configuration – Serial Port 6
Configuration ......................................................................................47
Table 51 Advanced Menu – CPU Chipset Configuration............................48
Table 52 Advanced Menu – SATA Configuration........................................49
Table 53 Advanced Menu – USB Configuration.........................................50
Table 54 Advanced Menu – DIO Configuration..........................................51
Table 55 Advanced Menu – Network Stack................................................52
Table 56 Advanced Menu – H/W Monitor...................................................53
Table 57 Power Configuration....................................................................54
Table 58 Boot Menu...................................................................................55
Table 59 Security Menu .............................................................................56
Table 60 Save & Exit Menu........................................................................57

Safety Instructions
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Safety Instructions
Before You Begin
Before handling the product, read the instructions and safety guidelines on the
following pages to prevent damage to the product and to ensure your own personal
safety. Refer to the “Advisories” section in the Preface for advisory conventions used
in this user’s guide, including the distinction between Warnings, Cautions, Important
Notes, and Notes.
Always use caution when handling/operating a computer. Only qualified,
experienced, authorized electronics service personnel should access the
interior of a computer. The power supplies produce high voltages and
energy hazards, which can cause bodily harm.
Use extreme caution when installing or removing components. Refer to the
installation instructions in this user’s guide for precautions and procedures.
If you have any questions, please contact Quanmax Post-Sales Technical
Support.
WARNING
High voltages are present inside the chassis when the unit’s power cord is
plugged into an electrical outlet. Turn off system power, turn off the power
supply, and then disconnect the power cord from its source before
removing the chassis cover. Turning off the system power switch does not
remove power to components.
When Working Inside a Computer
Before taking covers off a computer, perform the following steps:
1. Turn off the computer and any peripherals.
2. Disconnect the computer and peripherals from their power sources or
subsystems to prevent electric shock or system board damage. This does not
apply when hot swapping parts.

Safety Instructions
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
3. Follow the guidelines provided in “Preventing Electrostatic Discharge” on the
following page.
4. Disconnect any telephone or telecommunications lines from the computer.
In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:
To help avoid possible damage to system boards, wait five seconds after
turning off the computer before removing a component, removing a system
board, or disconnecting a peripheral device from the computer.
When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop,
not on the cable itself. Some cables have a connector with locking tabs. If you
are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before
disconnecting the cable.As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly
aligned to avoid bending any connector pins.Also, before connecting a cable,
make sure both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
CAUTION
Do not attempt to service the system yourself except as explained in this
user’s guide. Follow installation and troubleshooting instructions closely.
Preventing Electrostatic Discharge
Static electricity can harm system boards. Perform service at an ESD workstation
and follow proper ESD procedure to reduce the risk of damage to components.
Quanmax strongly encourages you to follow proper ESD procedure, which can
include wrist straps and smocks, when servicing equipment.
You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic
discharge (ESD):
When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not
remove the component’s antistatic packing material until you are ready to install
the component in a computer. Just before unwrapping the antistatic packaging,
be sure you are at an ESD workstation or grounded. This will discharge any
static electricity that may have built up in your body.

Safety Instructions
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic container
or packaging.
Handle all sensitive components at an ESD workstation. If possible, use
antistatic floor pads and workbench pads.
Handle components and boards with care. Don’t touch the components or
contacts on a board. Hold a board by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket.
Do not handle or store system boards near strong electrostatic, electromagnetic,
magnetic, or radioactive fields.

Preface
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Preface
How to Use This Guide
This guide is designed to be used as step-by-step instructions for installation, and as
a reference for operation, troubleshooting, and upgrades.
NOTE
Driver downloads and additional information are available under
Downloads on our web site: www.quanmax.com.
Unpacking
When unpacking, follow these steps:
1. After opening the box, save it and the packing material for possible future
shipment.
2. Remove all items from the box. If any items listed on the purchase order
are missing, notify Quanmax customer service immediately.
3. Inspect the product for damage. If there is damage, notify Quanmax
customer service immediately. Refer to “Warranty Policy” for the return
procedure.
Regulatory Compliance Statements
This section provides the FCC compliance statement for ClassA devices.
FCC Compliance Statement for Class A Devices
The product(s) described in this user’s guide has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a ClassA digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the user’s guide, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential

Preface
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
area (domestic environment) is likely to cause harmful interference, in which case
the user will be required to correct the interference (take adequate measures) at
their own expense.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Quanmax could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment.
NOTE
The assembler of a personal computer system may be required to test
the system and/or make necessary modifications if a system is found to
cause harmful interference or to be noncompliant with the appropriate
standards for its intended use.
Warranty Policy
Limited Warranty
Quanmax Inc.’s detailed Limited Warranty policy can be found under Support at
www.quanmax.com. Please consult your distributor for warranty verification.
The limited warranty is void if the product has been subjected to alteration, neglect,
misuse, or abuse; if any repairs have been attempted by anyone other than
Quanmax or its authorized agent; or if the failure is caused by accident, acts of God,
or other causes beyond the control of Quanmax or the manufacturer. Neglect,
misuse, and abuse shall include any installation, operation, or maintenance of the
product other than in accordance with the user’s guide.
No agent, dealer, distributor, service company, or other party is authorized to change,
modify, or extend the terms of this Limited Warranty in any manner whatsoever.
Quanmax reserves the right to make changes or improvements in any product
without incurring any obligation to similarly alter products previously purchased.
Return Procedure
For any Limited Warranty return, please contact Support at www.quanmax.com and
login to obtain a Return MaterialAuthorization (RMA) Number. If you do not have an
account, send an email to [e-mail] to apply for one.
All product(s) returned to Quanmax for service or credit must be accompanied by a
Return MaterialAuthorization (RMA) Number. Freight on all returned items must be
prepaid by the customer who is responsible for any loss or damage caused by
common carrier in transit. Returns for Warranty must include a Failure Report for
each unit, by serial number(s), as well as a copy of the original invoice showing the

Preface
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
date of purchase.
To reduce risk of damage, returns of product must be in a Quanmax shipping
container. If the original container has been lost or damaged, new shipping
containers may be obtained from Quanmax Customer Service at a nominal cost.
Quanmax owns all parts removed from repaired products. Quanmax uses new and
reconditioned parts made by various manufacturers in performing warranty repairs
and building replacement products. If Quanmax repairs or replaces a product, its
warranty term is not extended.
Shipments not in compliance with this Limited Warranty Return Policy will not be
accepted by Quanmax.
Limitation of Liability
In no event shall Quanmax be liable for any defect in hardware, software, loss, or
inadequacy of data of any kind, or for any direct, indirect, incidental, or
consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the performance or use
of any product furnished hereunder. Quanmax’s liability shall in no event exceed the
purchase price of the product purchased hereunder. The foregoing limitation of
liability shall be equally applicable to any service provided by Quanmax or its
authorized agent.
Maintaining Your Computer
Environmental Factors
Temperature
The ambient temperature within an enclosure may be greater than room
ambient temperature. Installation in an enclosure should be such that the
amount of air flow required for safe operation is not compromised.
Consideration should be given to the maximum rated ambient temperature.
Overheating can cause a variety of problems, including premature aging and
failure of chips or mechanical failure of devices.
If the system has been exposed to abnormally cold temperatures, allow a
two-hour warm-up period to bring it up to normal operating temperature before
turning it on. Failure to do so may cause damage to internal components,
particularly the hard disk drive.
Humidity
High-humidity can cause moisture to enter and accumulate in the system. This
moisture can cause corrosion of internal components and degrade such

Preface
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
properties as electrical resistance and thermal conductivity. Extreme moisture
buildup inside the system can result in electrical shorts, which can cause
serious damage to the system.
Buildings in which climate is controlled usually maintain an acceptable level of
humidity for system equipment. However, if a system is located in an unusually
humid location, a dehumidifier can be used to maintain the humidity within an
acceptable range. Refer to the “Specifications” section of this user’s guide for
the operating and storage humidity specifications.
Altitude
Operating a system at a high altitude (low pressure) reduces the efficiency of
the cooling fans to cool the system. This can cause electrical problems related
to arcing and corona effects. This condition can also cause sealed components
with internal pressure, such as electrolytic capacitors, to fail or perform at
reduced efficiency.
Power Protection
The greatest threats to a system’s supply of power are power loss, power spikes,
and power surges caused by electrical storms, which interrupt system operation
and/or damage system components. To protect your system, always properly
ground power cables and one of the following devices.
Surge Protector
Surge protectors are available in a variety of types and usually provide a level
of protection proportional with the cost of the device. Surge protectors prevent
voltage spikes from entering a system through theAC power cord. Surge
protectors, however, do not offer protection against brownouts, which occur
when the voltage drops more than 20 percent below the normalAC line voltage
level.
Line Conditioner
Line conditioners go beyond the over voltage protection of surge protectors.
Line conditioners keep a system’sAC power source voltage at a fairly constant
level and, therefore, can handle brownouts. Because of this added protection,
line conditioners cost more than surge protectors. However, line conditioners
cannot protect against a complete loss of power.

Preface
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems offer the most complete protection
against variations on power because they use battery power to keep the server
running when AC power is lost. The battery is charged by the AC power while it
is available, so whenAC power is lost, the battery can provide power to the
system for a limited amount of time, depending on the UPS system.
UPS systems range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand
dollars, with the more expensive unit s allowing you to run larger systems for a
longer period of time whenAC power is lost. UPS systems that provide only 5
minutes of battery power let you conduct an orderly shutdown of the system,
but are not intended to provide continued operation. Surge protectors should be
used with all UPS systems, and the UPS system should be Underwriters
Laboratories (UL) safety approved.

Chapter 1
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Chapter 1
Introduction
Overview
ECX-APL0 Series is a 3.5" ECX form factor single board computer equipped with
Intel Apollo Lake SoC Processor, providing up to 30% increase in processing /
graphics performance and 15% increase in power efficiency over the models with
previous-generation processor. In addition, ECX-APL0 Series supports
highly-integrated M.2 expansion socket for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, satellite navigation,
NFC, digital radio, WiGig, WWAN, and SSDs. Thus, it allows developers to build
more compact or thinner embedded devices.
Checklist ( * : Optional )
ECX-APL0 Series embedded board
Quick Installation Guide
Driver/ Manual CD
1x SATA Cable*
1x SATA Power Cable*
1x DC Jack Cable*
Features
Intel® Apollo Lake SoC Processors
2x DDR3L SO-DIMM
1x LVDS, 1x HDMI, 1x DP for video output
2x GbE LAN for Ethernet
4x USB3.0, 1x USB2.0, 6x COM, 8-bit DIO for peripherals
1x SATA3.0, 1x Micro-SD Cage for storage
1x mPCIe, 1x M.2 for expansion

Chapter 1
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Product Specifications
Model Name ECX-APL0 Series
Form Factor ECX, 146x105mm (5.75" x 4.13")
CPU Support
Intel® Apollo Lake SoC Processors
Memory 2x DDR3L SO-DIMM memory socket
Displays

1x LVDS
1x HDMI1.4 (on rear)

1x DP1.2 (on rear)
Audio Chipset

Realtek ALC662
Audio Interfaces

2x Speaker-out (3W)
1x Line-in (by header)
1x Line-out (by header)

1x Mic-in (by header)
Ethernet 2x GbE LAN (RJ-45 on rear, Intel® I210-AT)
USB 
4x USB3.0 (Type A on rear)
2x USB2.0 (by header)
Serial Ports 
2x RS-232/422/485 (by wafer, auto flow control function for RS-485)
4x RS-232 (by wafer)
Other I/O Ports 1x 8-bit DIO (by header)
Storage &
Expansion

1xSATA3.0 (2x by BOM option in case of eliminating M.2 SATA support)
1x Micro SD Cage (on front)
1x mPCIe Socket (full size)
1x M.2 Key B (mixed with USB2.0 / SATA type 22x42)
1x SIM card wafer (switchable between mPCIe and M.2)
Power 
Connector: 1x4-pin Wafer (straight & right angle dual-footprint)

Input Voltage: DC 12V
BIOS AMI uEFI BIOS w/ 128Mb SPI Flash
Watchdog Programmable WDT to generate System reset event
Hardware Monitor 
Voltages monitoring

Temperature monitoring
Real Time Clock Processor integrated RTC
TPM optional
System Control &
Monitoring

1x Header Reset button, HDD LED & External Speaker
1x Header for Power button, Power LED & SM bus
1x Header for mPCIe activity LED
1x Header for M.2 activity LED
Cooling 1x Wafer for System Smart Fan
Environmental
Characteristics

Operation Temp.: 0°C ~ 60°C / 32°F ~ 140°F
Storage Temp.: -20°C ~ 80°C / -4°F ~ 176°F
Humidity: 0% ~ 95%
Certifications CE, FCC Class A
Table 1 Product Specifications

Chapter 1
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
System Block Diagram
Figure 1 Block Diagram

Chapter 1
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Mechanical Dimensions
Figure 2 Mechanical Dimensions

Chapter 2
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ECX-APL0 Series User’s Manual
Chapter 2
Hardware Settings
Overview
This chapter provides the definitions and locations of jumpers, headers, and
connectors.
Jumpers
The product has several jumpers which must be properly configured to ensure
correct operation.
Figure 3 Jumper Connector
For a three-pin jumper (see Figure 3), the jumper setting is designated “1-2” when
the jumper connects pins 1 and 2. The jumper setting is designated “2-3” when pins
2 and 3 are connected and so on. You will see that one of the lines surrounding a
jumper pin is thick, which indicates pin No.1.
To move a jumper from one position to another, use needle-nose pliers or tweezers
to pull the pin cap off the pins and move it to the desired position.