COM Express Type 6 vs Type 10 vs Type 7: Which Module Should You Buy?
COM Express defines several pinout types. Three of them cover almost all new industrial designs: Type 6, Type 10 and Type 7. Choosing the right one is the first and most important decision, because the pinout determines your carrier board design.
COM Express Type 6: the all-rounder
Type 6 is built for graphics-rich x86 systems: up to 3 digital displays plus LVDS/eDP, up to 24 PCIe lanes, 4 SATA ports and 8 USB ports. It comes in Compact (95 × 95 mm) and Basic (125 × 95 mm) sizes with processors from Intel Core i3 to Xeon and AMD Ryzen Embedded.
- Best for: HMIs, machine vision, medical displays, test and measurement, digital signage
- Browse: Type 6 Compact – Core i5, Type 6 Basic – Core i7
COM Express Type 10: the mini module
Type 10 squeezes an x86 computer into 84 × 55 mm with soldered memory. It offers fewer interfaces (up to 4 PCIe lanes, one main display plus LVDS/eDP) but is unbeatable for compact, low-power and rugged devices.
- Best for: handhelds, drones, robotics, compact edge AI
- Browse: Type 10 – Intel Atom, Type 10 – Intel Core Ultra
COM Express Type 7: the server-on-module
Type 7 removes display interfaces and adds up to 4× 10 GbE and 32 PCIe lanes. It runs server-class processors such as Intel Xeon D and Atom C.
- Best for: edge servers, network appliances, 5G, storage
- Browse: Type 7 – Intel Xeon D, Type 7 – Intel Atom C
Quick decision table
- Need displays? Choose Type 6 (or Type 10 if size is critical).
- Need 10 GbE and many PCIe lanes, no display? Choose Type 7.
- Need the smallest possible x86 board? Choose Type 10.
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Not sure which type fits? Our engineers review your requirements and recommend a module and carrier board approach. Request a quote or see all computer-on-modules.