The Kontron S26361-F5000-R006 is a PCIe riser card specifically designed for Mini-ITX industrial motherboards. It serves as a system extension to integrate additional PCIe components such as network cards, storage controllers, or graphics cards into compact industrial computers. The card provides a PCIe-x4 interface and supports mechanical mounting of cards specified up to PCIe x16. This allows it to be used in systems that have a PCIe-x4 slot but require a more powerful card with greater bandwidth. The riser card is designed for use in specific enclosures from the SMARTCASE series, ensuring secure and stable installation.

Applications

The riser card is primarily designed for industrial applications where system functionality needs to be extended within compact enclosures. It is suitable for embedded systems, industrial controls, network and security solutions, where additional interfaces or performance enhancements via PCIe cards are required. Its use in enclosures such as the SMARTCASE S700, S710, S720, S711, and S730 enables flexible integration into existing system architectures without modifying the hardware base.

Features and Specifications in Detail

The Kontron S26361-F5000-R006 provides a PCIe-x4 interface for data transfer between the motherboard and the connected expansion card. Although the electronic bandwidth is limited to x4, the card mechanically supports PCIe cards with an x16 slot, enabling a wider selection of expansion cards. This is particularly advantageous when installing a high-performance graphics card or a high-speed network card in a system with a limited PCIe connector. The card requires no additional drivers, as it operates in standard compliance and is automatically recognized by most operating systems.

Technology Explained Simply

The PCIe riser card acts as a bridge between the motherboard and an external expansion card. It transfers data via the PCIe protocol, with the x4 interface enabling a specific data rate. The mechanical support for x16 cards means that physically larger cards can be mounted, even though the electronic bandwidth does not provide full x16 performance. This is a common solution in compact systems to ensure flexibility in selecting expansion cards without compromising system performance.

Compatibility and Accessories

The riser card is compatible with Mini-ITX industrial motherboards featuring a PCIe-x4 or PCIe-x1 slot. It is specifically designed for SMARTCASE series enclosures (S700, S710, S720, S711, S730), ensuring secure mounting and optimal positioning. The card is supplied in packaging units of 10 pieces, with the card designation D3318. No specific accessories are mentioned in the sources; however, the card is intended as a standard component for the specified enclosure configurations.

Installation and Mounting

Installation involves mechanically mounting the riser card into the designated enclosure, with the electrical connection made through the PCIe slot on the motherboard. The expansion card is then connected to the riser card. Mounting requires no special tools or additional components, as the riser card fits directly into the designated brackets of SMARTCASE enclosures. The card is designed to function without additional drivers or software configuration.

Operational Advantages

Using the Kontron S26361-F5000-R006 enables flexible system expansion in compact industrial computers without altering the physical form factor of the system. The mechanical support for x16 cards expands the range of available expansion cards, while the x4 interface is sufficient to meet most requirements in industrial applications. The simple installation and driver independence reduce maintenance effort and increase system reliability.