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| The case is large enough to accommodate three PCIe cards, but it is also compact enough and rugged. |
In a significant move for the industrial computing sector, MSI's Industrial PC (IPC) division has announced the MS-C910E Edge AI Box, a robust and highly expandable system engineered from the ground up for intensive AI inference and automation workloads at the edge.
Designed to thrive in challenging environments, this new offering signals MSI IPC's deepening commitment to providing specialized hardware for the next wave of industrial digitalization.
Built Tough for the Industrial Edge
The first thing that stands out about the MS-C910E is its ruggedized, anti-vibration chassis. Its form factor takes inspiration from compact ITX designs but is scaled up with a clear purpose: to house substantial expansion hardware. This isn't a delicate server for a climate-controlled data center; it's built for factory floors, transportation hubs, and energy substations where shock, dust, and constant operation are the norms.
Measuring 285 x 217 x 431.1 mm and weighing 11 kg as a barebones system, its heft underscores its durable construction. The case is thoughtfully designed for thermal management, integrating a frontal smart fan with support for up to six additional fans on the top and sides, ensuring critical components stay cool under sustained processing loads.
A Powerhouse of Performance and Expandability
At its core, the MS-C910E is a barebones system built around an Intel R680E chipset motherboard with an LGA 1700 socket. This foundation supports a wide range of Intel's Core processors from the 12th, 13th, and 14th generations, giving system integrators flexibility in balancing performance and power requirements.
Memory support is impressive for its class, accommodating up to 96 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM via two SO-DIMM slots, crucially with ECC (Error-Correcting Code) support for enhanced data integrity in mission-critical applications. Storage is handled by a combination of an M.2 NVMe/SATA slot and two dedicated 2.5-inch SATA drive bays, allowing for fast boot drives and ample data storage.
The true expansion potential, however, lies in its PCIe slots. The system can accommodate three expansion cards via PCIe 4.0 x16, x8, and x1 slots. This is the key feature that enables its AI prowess, allowing integrators to install powerful desktop-grade GPUs or specialized AI acceleration cards to drive complex inference models directly where data is generated.
For a complete look at the full specifications and design, you can visit the official MSI IPC product page for the MS-C910E.
Connectivity Tailored for Industrial Integration
MSI has equipped the MS-C910E with a comprehensive port selection that speaks directly to industrial use cases:
- High-Speed Data & Networking: 8x USB-A 10 Gbps ports and 4x 2.5 GbE LAN ports facilitate connections to a multitude of sensors, cameras, and peripherals, and enable high-bandwidth network aggregation.
- Legacy & Control Support: 4x COM (serial) ports ensure compatibility with legacy industrial machinery, while GPIO (8-bit / 5-35V / Isolation 1.3 KV) connectors allow for direct control and monitoring of external equipment and signals.
- Multi-Display Outputs: 2x HDMI and 2x DisplayPort outputs support complex visualization and monitoring dashboards.
Broad Spectrum of AI & Automation Applications
MSI outlines a versatile range of applications for the MS-C910E, positioning it as a central compute node for modern industrial ecosystems:
- Smart Manufacturing: Powering real-time quality inspection, robotic guidance, and predictive maintenance on production lines.
- Intelligent Traffic Systems: Running automated toll collection, license plate recognition, traffic flow analysis, and adaptive signaling control.
- IoT Gateway: Acting as a robust central hub for aggregating, processing, and relaying data from vast sensor networks to the cloud.
- Security & Monitoring: Driving advanced video analytics for intrusion detection, facial recognition, and access point management.
- Energy Management: Monitoring and controlling equipment in renewable energy farms and power distribution stations.
- Logistics Automation: Optimizing warehouse operations with AI-powered inventory management, sorting, and autonomous vehicle coordination.
Availability and Pricing
As is standard with specialized industrial hardware, pricing and detailed availability for the MS-C910E Edge AI Box are not listed publicly. Interested parties, system integrators, and businesses are directed to contact the MSI IPC sales branch directly for quotes and configuration consulting tailored to their specific project needs. This direct engagement model ensures customers receive the support necessary to deploy these powerful systems effectively in their unique operational environments.
