In today’s industrial landscape, edge AI workloads are becoming more diverse—ranging from machine vision inspection to autonomous data logging. Engineers face a recurring question: Which rugged edge computer best fits my deployment needs?
Premio offers two powerful options:
- RCO-6000-RPL: Ruggedized and Fanless Computing for Harsh Environments. Designed for flexible I/O, validated GPU acceleration, and modular storage, this platform combines fanless reliability with hot-swappable fans when thermal loads rise. Its EDGEBoost technologies make it highly adaptable for real-world deployments.
- VCO-6000-RPL: Machine Vision Computers. Purpose-built for GPU density and sustained inference performance, this system supports dual FHFL GPUs, multiple PCIe slots, and active cooling for high-throughput vision workloads.
Both systems share Intel’s 12th/13th Gen Core™ CPUs, DDR5 memory, and industrial-grade ruggedization, but the right choice depends on your priorities—balanced GPU + I/O integration versus dual-GPU horsepower.
Who This Guide Is For
- Manufacturing & automation engineers deploying AI inference at the edge
- System integrators scaling proof-of-concept to production lines
- Technical teams balancing camera I/O, storage, and GPU throughput at the edge
Quick Pick: 30-Second Decision
- ✅ Choose RCO-6000-RPL if you need validated GPU acceleration, NVMe hot-swap, or RAID through EDGEBoost Nodes, plus modular I/O flexibility through EDGEBoost I/O (PoE, M12, 10GbE, USB, 5G/AI/NVMe) in a rugged, fanless-ready system.
- ✅ Choose VCO-6000-RPL if you need dual GPUs, multiple PCIe slots, and active cooling for sustained, vision-heavy workloads.
When to Choose RCO-6000-RPL (I/O + GPU Balanced)
The RCO-6000-RPL is built for rugged edge deployments that require validated GPU acceleration alongside flexible I/O expansion. Its modular design is powered by three key EDGEBoost technologies:
1. EDGEBoost I/O Modules (EBIO)
Customize connectivity and workload acceleration with modules such as:
- EBIO-4ETH / EBIO-4ETH-M12: 4× GbE LAN (RJ45 or M12, optional PoE)
- EBIO-D10G: Dual 10GbE RJ45 for high-bandwidth networking
- EBIO-4U3: 4× USB 3.0 ports
- EBIO-M2BK / EBIO-2M2BK / EBIO-M2MK: M.2-based modules that support AI accelerators (e.g., Hailo-8), NVMe storage, or 5G with dual-SIM connectivity
2. EDGEBoost Nodes (EBND)
Expand performance with carriers that provide:
- Validated GPU acceleration (NVIDIA T1000, RTX A1000, A2000, 2000 ADA, 4000 SFF ADA)
- Hot-swappable NVMe or SATA storage bays for local data logging
- Hardware RAID options (RAID 0/1/5/6/10) for redundancy
- Extra PCIe slots for future scalability
3. Rugged Fanless Design with Hot-Swap Cooling
Fanless by default for sealed deployments, with an optional hot-swappable fan module to maintain thermal stability under intensive GPU or NVMe workloads.
Together, these technologies make the RCO-6000-RPL a balanced edge AI computer that scales I/O, GPU, and storage based on application needs—while staying reliable in harsh industrial environments.
Best for: Deployments that need a balanced mix of GPU performance, modular I/O, and hot-swappable storage—such as multi-camera industrial gateways, robotics controllers, or autonomous systems.
When to Choose VCO-6000-RPL (GPU-First)
The VCO-6000-RPL is purpose-built for GPU-intensive machine vision and AI workloads that require sustained performance and throughput across long production shifts.
- Dual-GPU Capacity: Supports up to two FHFL GPUs in the VCO-6000-RPL-4E (4-slot) configuration, or one FHFL GPU in the 3E (3-slot) model. Validated GPUs include NVIDIA T1000, RTX A2000, RTX 4000 ADA (SFF), and RTX 4070, ensuring scalable options for inference and vision workloads.
- Expanded PCIe Resources: Provides 2× PCIe Gen4 x16 slots and 1× PCIe Gen3 x4 slot (4E model), giving engineers flexibility to combine GPUs with frame grabbers, FPGA cards, or additional accelerators.
- High-Speed Storage Options: Offers hot-swappable SATA or NVMe bays (2× or 4× drives), paired with RAID support (0/1/5/10) to balance performance and data redundancy for video capture or training data.
- Active Cooling: Built with industrial-grade active cooling (hot-swappable fans, optional secondary fan), ensuring consistent GPU and NVMe performance under heavy loads.
- Dedicated GPU Power Rail: Delivers up to 600W of auxiliary 12–48VDC power dedicated to GPUs and NVMe drives, while isolating CPU power for stable operation during intensive AI processing.
- Rugged Reliability: Withstands 20G shock and 3 Grms vibration even with GPUs installed, while maintaining a wide operating temperature range for demanding industrial environments.
Best for: High-density machine vision inspection lines, metrology systems, smart retail analytics, and energy grid monitoring where dual-GPU throughput, hot-swappable storage, and active cooling are essential for sustained industrial AI performance.
At-a-Glance Comparison
|
Feature |
||
|
CPU |
12th/13th Gen Intel® Core™, LGA1700, 35W |
12th/13th Gen Intel® Core™, LGA1700, 35W |
|
Memory |
DDR5 up to 64GB, ECC/non-ECC |
DDR5 up to 64GB, ECC/non-ECC |
|
GPU Capacity |
1× GPU via EDGEBoost Node (validated: NVIDIA T1000, A1000, A2000, RTX 2000 ADA, RTX 4000 SFF ADA) |
Up to 2× full-length GPUs (validated: NVIDIA T1000, A2000, RTX 4000 ADA SFF, RTX 4070) |
|
PCIe Expansion |
EDGEBoost Nodes for PCIe Gen4 GPU, NVMe hot-swap, RAID controller, or extra PCIe slots |
3-slot (1× PCIe Gen4 x16, 2× PCIe Gen3 x1) or 4-slot (2× PCIe Gen4 x16, 1× PCIe Gen3 x4) |
|
I/O Extensibility |
EDGEBoost I/O modules (PoE/M12 LAN, 10GbE, USB, 5G/AI/NVMe) |
Universal I/O + PCIe cards |
|
Storage |
Hot-swappable U.2 NVMe or SATA SSDs (7mm/15mm); RAID 0/1/5/6/10 supported |
Hot-swappable SATA (4×7mm or 2×15mm) or U.2 NVMe (2×15mm); RAID 0/1/5/10 supported |
|
Cooling |
Fanless design + hot-swappable fan |
Active cooling + hot-swappable fan |
|
Operating Temp |
-25°C to 70°C (base); -25°C to 45°C (with GPU) |
-25°C to 70°C (35W CPU) |
|
Shock & Vibration |
Up to 50G / 5 Grms (base); 20G / 3 Grms (with GPU) |
20G / 3 Grms (with GPU) |
|
Dimensions (W×D×H) |
240 × 261 × 166.9 mm |
157 × 340 × 240 mm (3E) / 177 × 340 × 240 mm (4E) |
|
Certifications |
UL, CE, FCC Class A; industrial EMC |
UL, CE, FCC Class A; industrial EMC |
Recommended Use Cases
RCO-6000-RPL: Ruggedized and Fanless Computing for Harsh Environments
- Ideal for ruggedized AI gateways, robotics controllers, and autonomous platforms where I/O diversity and GPU acceleration must coexist.
- Example: A factory automation plant deploying dozens of GigE and M12 industrial cameras for quality inspection. The RCO can consolidate video streams using EBIO PoE/M12 modules, transmit data over 10GbE uplinks, and log inspection results to hot-swappable NVMe storage—all while running inference on a validated NVIDIA GPU (e.g., RTX A2000). Its fanless sealed chassis prevents dust ingress and, with optional hot-swappable fans, maintains thermal stability in spaces where ambient heat is a challenge.
VCO-6000-RPL: Machine Vision Computer for GPU-Intensive AI
- Suited for high-throughput, GPU-heavy vision systems where dual GPUs drive parallel pipelines for maximum inference performance.
- Example: A semiconductor cleanroom inspection line using multiple high-resolution cameras to detect microscopic defects. The VCO-6000-RPL, configured with dual RTX 4000 ADA GPUs, can simultaneously run anomaly detection, OCR, and segmentation models at high frame rates. With hot-swappable NVMe or SATA drives in RAID 10, it ensures continuous logging of massive datasets, while its active cooling and 600W auxiliary power rail keep GPUs stable over long production shifts.
Conclusion
Both the RCO-6000-RPL Ruggedized and Fanless Computing and the VCO-6000-RPL Machine Vision Computers deliver Intel’s latest hybrid-core CPUs, DDR5 memory, and rugged industrial design, but the key difference lies in how each platform scales GPU and I/O at the edge. The RCO-6000-RPL is the balanced choice, offering one validated GPU via an EDGEBoost Node, hot-swappable NVMe or SATA storage, and modular I/O flexibility—making it ideal for rugged, adaptable deployments in harsh or space-constrained environments. By contrast, the VCO-6000-RPL is the throughput-first choice, built to support dual GPUs with expanded PCIe resources and industrial-grade active cooling, ensuring sustained performance for high-density machine vision and AI workloads. Still unsure which fits your application? Share your camera count, FPS targets, I/O requirements, and storage strategy, and our engineers will help you map to the right platform. Contact us at sales@premioinc.com to get started.