Industrial expansion platform
Four industrial expansion slots: 3 PCI + 1 PCIe x4
The BITECH AX-530EBT is a fanless industrial computer for equipment manufacturers, automation integrators and maintenance teams that need to keep existing expansion cards. Its distinguishing feature is three legacy PCI slots and one PCIe x4 slot available at the same time in a single computer.
This is useful when replacing an aging industrial host without immediately redesigning a machine’s PCI motion-control, data-acquisition or proprietary interface hardware. It is a practical starting point for staged upgrades, after the original cards, drivers, electrical requirements and mechanical fit are verified.
At a glance
3 × PCI + 1 × PCIe x4 · Intel Core i5-6200U · 4 GB DDR3 onboard · mSATA · 2 × Intel GbE · 2 × COM · 6 + 1 internal USB 2.0 · VGA · Line-out / Mic-in · 9–36 V DC · fanless
Planning a replacement? Request a compatibility review →Download datasheet (PDF)
01 · Compatibility plan
Why legacy industrial PC replacement needs a compatibility plan
Keeping an existing industrial PCI card in service can be worth more than moving to a newer processor. A production system may depend on a specific PCI device ID, a 32-bit driver, a serial configuration, a licence dongle or an unchanged operating-system image. If those dependencies are not documented, a computer swap can turn into extended downtime.
What the AX-530EBT is
A candidate platform for multi-card retrofits, qualified in stages before deployment.
- Card enumeration
- Driver loading
- Data transfer
- External I/O
- Power-cycle recovery
What it is not
A guarantee that every PCI / PCIe card or legacy Windows application will work without changes.
- No universal card compatibility
- No plug-and-play legacy migration promise
02 · Expansion
3 × PCI and 1 × PCIe x4, installed together
| Expansion interface | Slots | Typical project use |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional PCI | 3 | Existing DAQ cards, motion cards, fieldbus interfaces and machine-specific boards |
| PCIe x4 | 1 | Compatible modern communication, acquisition or interface expansion card |
This combination sets the AX-530EBT apart from two-slot PCI / PCIe computers. It is most relevant when a customer has several working PCI boards that must stay in one machine.
Before ordering, verify: PCI card keying and signaling voltage, PCIe lane and interface requirements, card height and length, card power, BIOS and resource behavior, OS drivers and cable clearance. A PCIe x4 slot alone does not make the system compatible with a graphics card or other high-power device.
03 · Specifications
AX-530EBT technical specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-6200U, low-power embedded-board implementation |
| System memory | 4 GB DDR3, 1333 MHz, onboard |
| Expansion slots | 3 × PCI + 1 × PCIe x4, available at the same time |
| Storage | 1 × mSATA slot |
| Ethernet | 2 × Intel 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet |
| USB | 6 × external USB 2.0 (4 + 2 across I/O groups); 1 × internal USB 2.0 for a licence dongle |
| Serial | 2 × COM; COM1 configurable for RS-232 / RS-422 / RS-485 |
| Video | 1 × VGA |
| Audio | 1 × Line-out, 1 × Mic-in (functional) |
| Controls | Power switch, reset switch, 2-pin remote power-switch terminal |
| DC input | 9–36 V DC, 3-pin Phoenix terminal |
| Cooling | Fanless aluminium chassis with raised, angled double-sided fins |
| Mounting | Vertical or horizontal |
| Dimensions | 215.0 × 193.2 × 192.0 mm (including mounting ears) |
| Packaging | 315 × 280 × 260 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 4.1 kg net / 5.5 kg gross |
| Operating temperature | -20°C to +65°C (complete-system validation depends on card heat and load) |
| Storage temperature | -40°C to +80°C |
| Legacy OS | Windows XP projects evaluated with card, driver and image compatibility checks |
04 · Interfaces
mSATA storage, VGA and proven industrial interfaces
mSATA storage
One mSATA slot for a qualified industrial SSD. Match capacity, endurance, temperature rating and software image to the application. A 2.5″ SATA drive is not assumed on this revision.
VGA & dual Intel Gigabit
VGA for legacy monitors or KVM equipment. Two Intel Gigabit ports for machine networks and supervisory systems.
2 × COM
COM1 can be set to RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485. Confirm the mode and pin assignment for the ordered unit in the wiring document.
Line-out & Mic-in
Both audio connectors are functional. Check driver support for legacy operating systems.
05 · Dongle & power
Internal USB dongle, remote switch and maintenance access
Internal USB licence dongle
One internal USB 2.0 port keeps a machine-specific licence dongle inside the enclosure instead of on an external port.
- Dongle driver support
- Licence transferability
- Physical clearance
Power and switch control
Front-panel power and reset switches plus a 2-pin remote power-switch terminal. The 3-pin Phoenix terminal accepts 9–36 V DC.
- Remote-switch wiring
- Startup behavior
- Power-loss recovery
A remote switch terminal on its own does not provide battery protection or automotive ignition control. Configure and verify the power behavior for the intended system.
06 · Cooling & mounting
Fanless aluminium cooling and vertical / horizontal mounting
Raised, angled fins on both sides of the aluminium enclosure move heat without a chassis fan. The system installs vertically or horizontally, depending on the mounting accessories and available clearance.
Dimensions
215.0 × 193.2 × 192.0 mm including mounting ears
Weight
Approx. 4.1 kg net, 5.5 kg gross; carton 315 × 280 × 260 mm
Temperature
Operating -20°C to +65°C ambient; storage -40°C to +80°C
With several PCI cards fitted, thermal sign-off should test the real CPU workload, populated slots, card power, enclosure ambient, orientation and worst-case conditions. The ambient range does not prove that any four third-party cards stay within their limits at +65°C.
07 · Legacy software
Windows XP and legacy software: qualification first
BITECH treats Windows XP as a supported project requirement for this product family. Because Microsoft ended Windows XP security support in April 2014, deployment needs careful isolation, controlled access and an application-specific driver check.
A sensible transition
- Create a recoverable disk image
- Record PCI card hardware IDs and driver versions
- Check mSATA boot and BIOS settings
- Verify the licence dongle
- Test recovery after unexpected power loss
- Confirm application bitness and driver compatibility
What this does not mean
- Every Windows XP driver is available
- The system can be exposed to the public Internet
- Windows 11 is officially supported on this i5-6200U configuration
08 · Applications
Industrial applications
Machine retrofits
Keep several PCI motion or industrial I/O cards during a controller-PC replacement.
Test & measurement
Reuse PCI DAQ, instrument-control or laboratory interface cards with an existing application.
Process equipment
Preserve proprietary PCI modules and serial communication while replacing failed host computers.
Maintenance spares
Qualify and document a replacement PC before an aging controller becomes unavailable.
These are candidate use cases, not claims of completed qualification for every card vendor or application.
09 · Engineering checklist
Engineering checklist: will your existing PCI cards work?
| What BITECH needs | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Card manufacturer, model, hardware revision and photos | Identify the actual slots, connectors, brackets and mechanical fit |
| All cards installed at once | Verify IRQ / PCI resources, coexistence, lane needs and thermal interaction |
| PCI signaling / keying and per-card power | Check the electrical interface and available slot power |
| Windows XP version, driver package and software build | Test the original production application, not just OS boot |
| SSD image, boot mode and USB licence-key details | Preserve application operation and disaster recovery |
| Environment, orientation, run time, ambient and power source | Set acceptance tests for continuous industrial operation |
| Order volume and replacement timeline | Plan BOM, sample validation, spare units and procurement |
Recommended acceptance sequence
Inventory hardwareRecoverable imageFit & driversSingle-card testsCombined workloadThermal & power-cycleApprove production BOM
10 · OEM & lifecycle
OEM integration and lifecycle planning
BITECH can review slot and I/O requirements, enclosure integration, software image and validation plans for an OEM or equipment retrofit project. Provide the real expansion cards and test conditions before requesting a fixed compatibility statement.
The Intel Core i5-6200U is listed by Intel as discontinued. For repeat production, available stock, approved substitutes, board revision, PCN / EOL handling, spares and any volume commitment are confirmed per project — see lifecycle management.
FAQ
AX-530EBT frequently asked questions
Are all four PCI and PCIe slots available in the same AX-530EBT?
Yes. The expansion board provides three conventional PCI slots and one PCIe x4 slot in the same chassis. Running the cards together still requires confirming electrical, driver, BIOS, power and thermal compatibility.
Which processor and memory are fitted?
The current configuration uses an Intel Core i5-6200U with 4 GB of onboard DDR3 memory running at 1333 MHz.
Does the AX-530EBT support 2.5-inch SATA or only mSATA?
The confirmed storage interface is one mSATA slot. Do not assume a 2.5-inch drive bay or connector unless the specific board revision documents it.
How many external USB connectors are available?
There are six external USB 2.0 ports, in groups of four and two, plus one separate internal USB 2.0 port for a software licence dongle.
Can both serial ports be configured for RS-485?
Only COM1 is confirmed as configurable for RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485. Confirm the mode of COM2 and the required COM1 pinout before ordering.
Can the AX-530EBT run Windows XP?
Windows XP is a supported legacy project target, but boot support, drivers and the original application must be tested. Microsoft no longer provides security support for Windows XP, so network isolation and controlled maintenance access are important.
Does the -20°C to +65°C rating cover four expansion cards at maximum load?
Not automatically. The ambient specification does not qualify every combination of four add-in cards. Test the actual card power, internal component temperatures, installation orientation and sustained workload.
Is the AX-530EBT guaranteed to be available for ten more years?
No blanket availability guarantee is given. The i5-6200U is a discontinued processor, so component sourcing and the lifecycle plan are confirmed with BITECH for each project.
Engineering RFQ
Request an AX-530EBT PCI card compatibility review
Replacing a machine controller with several PCI cards? Send us the details and BITECH will review the AX-530EBT against your cards, software and environment before quotation.
3 × PCI1 × PCIe x4
Attach to your request
- Card model numbers
- Driver package
- Operating system
- Power requirements
- Environmental conditions
- Purchase quantity