Venice and VeniceFLEX Comparison

Venice & VeniceFLEX Comparison

Gateworks manufactures two different families of SBCs:

  • VeniceFLEX - GW8xxx Board Series (ie GW8200)
  • Venice - GW7xxx Board Series (ie GW7200)

Both of these families are similar and use the NXP i.MX8M Family of SoCs but have other differences covered on this page.

Key Differences:

Expansion Slots:

  • VeniceFLEX has flexible sockets for wireless and other expansion.
    • These sockets can accept different Flexible Socket Adapters (FSA) to accommodate Mini-PCIe or different M.2 key cards
    • The M.2 sockets even feature buses such as UART, SDIO, and SPI which are not available on Mini-PCIe sockets
  • Venice has Mini-PCIe sockets, which can also use M.2 adapters when needed
    • Venice Mini-PCIe sockets feature PCIe and USB buses

Regulatory Certifications:

  • VeniceFLEX is CE-Ready, and has extra design features to pass various CE tests for European regulatory certification
    • Features optional isolated PoE adapter
    • Features increased ESD / EMI immunity
    • Features isolated CAN bus
  • Venice is designed to pass many regulatory tests in the USA.

Processor / CPU:

  • VeniceFLEX is only sold with the i.MX8M Plus SoC.
  • Venice family can use the i.MX8M Mini or Plus. (View Processor Comparison)

Dimensions:

  • VeniceFLEX is slightly larger due to the extra circuitry (isolation / protection) required to meet European CE requirements. A GW8200, which holds two Mini-PCIe or M.2 radios is 90x100mm.
  • Venice follows the same sizing Gateworks has been using for multiple genreations of SBCs. A GW7200, which holds two Mini-PCIe radios is 70x100mm.

Audio / Video / Multimedia:

  • VeniceFLEX is focused on data-centric networking applications and therefore does not expose any audio / video interfaces despite the i.MX8M Plus processor supporting it. (Note, PCM audio is supported on some expansion slots for something such as Bluetooth audio).
  • Venice exposes video and audio via MIPI interfaces on a dedicated MIPI header. More information is on the Venice MIPI Wiki page.

When To Choose VeniceFLEX:

  • European CE certification will be needed
  • A M.2 wireless radio utilizing the SDIO bus is being used
  • PCIe Gen 3 is needed over Mini-PCIe or M.2
  • Any M.2 cards are being used (the standard Venice family can use Mini-PCIe to M.2 adapters, but VeniceFLEX does not require adapters)

View VeniceFLEX SBCs

When To Choose Venice:

  • A great choice for standard applications
  • Using Mini-PCIe radios that utilize USB 2.0 or PCIe Gen 2
  • Budget conscious systems
  • Systems that don't need European CE certification

View Venice SBCs

Comparison Table:

Family Models Processor Expansion Video/Audio CAN Bus Certification Dimensions
Venice GW71xx, GW72xx, GW73xx, GW74xx, GW75xx
View Venice SBCs		 i.MX8M Mini or Plus Mini-PCIe Native (USB / PCIe Gen 2)
M.2 Adapters Optional (USB / PCIe Gen 2)
(NOTE1)		 MIPI Limited
(NOTE2)		 Ready for Standard USA Certifications ie 70x100mm (GW7200)
VeniceFLEX GW82xx, GW84xx, GW8xxx
View VeniceFLEX SBCs		 i.MX8M Plus Mini-PCIe Native (USB 3.0 / PCIe Gen 3)
M.2 Adapters Native (SDIO / I2C / UART / USB / PCIe Gen 3)		 None Dual, Isolated Ready for European CE Certifications ie 90x100mm (GW8200)
  • NOTE1: While the i.MX8M Plus SOM features PCIe Gen 3.0, the GW72xx and GW73xx use a PCIe switch that is a PCIe 2.0 switch. Contact Gateworks Sales for a custom design if PCIe 3.0 is needed. Because the GW71xx does not use a switch, it will be able to use PCIe 3.0 when the i.MX8M Plus SOM is loaded.
  • NOTE2: CAN Bus is supported on the i.MX8MP SoC, but there is not a transceiver. A transceiver can be added on an expansion board that plugs onto the expansion header on the GW72xx and GW73xx. CAN is not supported on the GW71xx. CAN is supported on the GW74xx with a transceiver loaded. Dual Isolated CAN is supported on the GW8200.