DT Research DT166: Hardware 

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The DT166 is small - hence the extra photo to compare it with a Neoware Capio/CA5/etc.

Specifications

The basic specs are:

Processor
Type    Speed	Geode GX533 400MHz
Memory
Flash    RAM	64Mb 128Mb (fixed)
Video
Chip    Max resolution	CS5535 1280 x 1024 16-bit colour
Ports
Network    USB    Serial    Parallel    PS/2	10/100 4 x USB1.1 0 0 None
Power
Plug    Input    Off    Running	Coax: 5.5mm/2.5mm 12V 1.2A (from label) 0W ~9W
Dimensions
W x H x D	14cm x 3.3cm x 13cm

The DT166 runs Linux. There is no date of manufacture.

Origins

As you might guess by the logo in the corner of the front panel this unit has been badged by somebody else. The label on the bottom makes reference to www.gorabbit.net - but this domain no longer exists. It was part of bosanova.net who are now called 10zig.

A few years ago DT Research did still offer a DT166 for sale (the DT166LX), but this is now part of the WebDT range and is based on the LX800. The 2017 version appears to be fitted with 512MB of RAM rather than the 128MB of the earlier versions. Late 2019 there appears to be the DT166CR based on an Intel Atom Quad core processor. Further details of the LX800 version can be found under the 10Zig RBT-820 entry.

Processor

Linux cpuinfo reports:

PCI

00:01.0 Host bridge: National Semiconductor Corporation Geode GX2 Host Bridge (rev 21)
00:01.1 VGA compatible controller: National Semiconductor Corporation Geode GX2 Graphics Processor
00:0d.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8100/8101L/8139 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter (rev 10)
00:0f.0 ISA bridge: National Semiconductor Corporation CS5535 ISA bridge (rev 13)
00:0f.2 IDE interface: National Semiconductor Corporation CS5535 IDE
00:0f.3 Multimedia audio controller: National Semiconductor Corporation CS5535 Audio
00:0f.4 USB controller: National Semiconductor Corporation CS5535 USB (rev 06)
00:0f.5 USB controller: National Semiconductor Corporation CS5535 USB (rev 06)

Power Supply

The DT166 requires an external 12V power supply. The label on the bottom of the DT166 reads "12V 1.2A". Unfortunately the plugs on my standard 12V power supplies don't fit the DT166. Whilst the diameter of the socket suits the usual 5.5mm plug, the central pin on the socket is a 2.5mm fitting rather than the more popular 2.1mm fitting. For testing purposes I ended up using a universal power supply which had a range of interchangeable tips.

CMOS Battery

The battery for the CMOS memory is a CR1220 rather than the more usual CR2032. I guess they decided a smaller battery was easier to fit in.

Expansion

Flash: The Flash memory in the DT166 is a Disk-On-Module (DOM) plugged into a standard 44-pin IDE connector. I've removed it and fitted a Compact Flash adaptor in its place and successfully booted Linux from various CF cards.

RAM: As you can see in the photograph the RAM is soldered to the motherboard and so is fixed at 128MB.

Click on the photo for a larger version.