COM Express Type 10

Home Blog COM Express Modules COM Express Modules for Industrial and Embedded Computing Written by: Stephen Athokpam, Embedded Computing & Industrial Systems Specialist, Portwell India Published On: 07 September 2026 Table of Contents A COM Express module is a Computer-on-Module (COM) that packages a processor, memory, and core I/O onto a single credit-card-to-notebook-sized board, which plugs into an application-specific carrier board. COM Express is governed by the PICMG COM.0 standard, letting OEMs upgrade the processor module later without redesigning the carrier board. Portwell offers COM Express Type 6, Type 7, and Type 10 modules for industrial and embedded computing applications. How a COM Express Module Works? A COM Express module integrates the processor, memory, graphics controller, and core I/O onto one board. The carrier board supplies the application-specific connectors and interfaces the end system needs, so the module and the carrier board together form the complete embedded computer. Because every COM Express Module follows the same PICMG COM.0 pinout and form-factor rules, modules from different vendors can share a common connector footprint. For OEMs and system integrators, that standardization is the main draw: a processor upgrade later in the product’s life doesn’t require a carrier board redesign. COM Express Type 6 vs Type 7 vs Type 10: Key Differences The three current COM Express types differ mainly in pinout focus: graphics and legacy I/O (Type 6), high-speed networking lanes (Type 7), or a smaller footprint for space-constrained designs (Type 10). Type Best for Typical applications Type 6 Balanced processing, graphics, and general I/O Industrial automation, HMI, robotics, machine vision, edge computing Type 7 High-speed networking and server-class I/O (more PCIe/Ethernet lanes, no display outputs) Edge servers, network appliances, communication systems, high-throughput compute Type 10 Compact Mini form factor for space- and power-constrained designs Space-constrained embedded systems where footprint matters more than raw I/O count COM Express Form Factors Portwell’s current COM Express modules ship in Compact and Basic form factors.  The PICMG COM.0 standard defines four sizes in total: Mini, Compact, Basic, and Extended. Form factor Dimensions When to choose it Mini 55 × 84 mm Space-constrained or portable embedded designs (paired with Type 10) Compact 95 × 95 mm Balance of I/O and footprint for most industrial systems Basic 95 × 125 mm Maximum I/O and expansion; space is not the limiting factor Extended 110 × 155 mm Highest I/O count, mainly seen on Type 7 server-class designs; limited market adoption to date COM Express Carrier Boards and Connector A COM Express module plugs into the carrier board through a high-density mezzanine connector defined by the PICMG COM.0 specification. Type 6 and Type 7 modules use two 220-pin connectors for 440 pins total, split across an A-B row and a C-D row. Carrier board design differs by type because the pinout differs: a COM Express Type 6 carrier board routes display and general I/O signals, while a Type 7 carrier board is wired for high-speed networking lanes instead. A COM Express Carrier Board built for Type 6 will not accept a Type 7 module, even though both use the same 440-pin connector arrangement. COM Express Vs COM-HPC, QSeven, and SMARC COM Express, Qseven, and SMARC are all Computer-on-Module standards, but they target different size and power classes. COM Express generally supports higher performance and more I/O, while Qseven and SMARC are smaller and lower-power, aimed at compact or battery-powered designs. COM-HPC is a newer, higher-performance PICMG standard positioned alongside COM Express rather than replacing it. It targets designs that need more I/O bandwidth and power than the COM Express connector can deliver, while COM Express remains the broader, more established standard for current industrial and embedded designs. How to Choose the Right COM Express Module? Start from the workload, not the module. The processor and type should follow from what the system needs to do; form factor and carrier board follow from what will physically fit. Processor: match required CPU/GPU performance to the workload (e.g., machine vision inferencing vs. basic HMI control). Memory: DDR generation and capacity the application needs now and after a planned upgrade. I/O: count required PCIe, USB, SATA, Ethernet, and display interfaces — this is usually what decides COM Express Type 6 vs COM Express Type 7. Power: system power budget, especially for fanless or battery-backed deployments. Thermal: cooling method and operating-temperature range for the install environment. Form factor: available space inside the enclosure — Mini, Compact, or Basic. Carrier board: whether a standard carrier board covers your interfaces or a custom one is needed. Not sure which module fits your application? Talk to a COM Express engineer COM Express Applications COM Express modules show up wherever an OEM needs a processor platform that can be swapped or upgraded without a full board redesign: Industrial automation and robotics Machine vision and industrial HMI Edge computing and Edge AI systems Medical equipment Transportation systems Networking and communication systems, particularly network appliances built on Type 7 Portwell COM Express Modules Portwell’s current COM Express lineup spans Intel Core Ultra 200 Series and 12th/13th Gen H/P/U processors, across Type 6 Basic and Compact modules: Product Module Type Processor / Platform Key Features Action PCOM-B65A COM Express Type 6 Basic Module Intel® Core™ Ultra 200 Series DDR5 · PCIe Gen 4 · USB 3.2 · 2.5GbE View Product PCOM-B658VGL COM Express Type 6 Basic Module Intel® 12th / 13th Gen H/P/U Processor DDR5 View Product PCOM-B659 COM Express Type 6 Compact Module Intel® 13th Gen P/U Processor DDR5 · PCIe Gen 4 · USB4 · 2.5GbE View Product Why Choose Portwell COM Express Modules? Portwell provides Type 6, Type 7, and Type 10 COM Express modules across multiple processor, memory, and form-factor options, built for OEMs and system integrators that need compact, scalable, application-specific embedded computing platforms. COM Express Module Supplier in India Portwell India supplies COM Express Type 6, Type 7, and Type 10 modules to OEMs and system integrators across industrial automation, machine vision, and network appliance projects. For pricing, lead times, or a spec-matched recommendation,