Intel® Core™ Ultra 5/7/9 Processors (Series 2) CPU type: Socket (LGA1851) Chipset: Intel® W880/H810 DDR5 Memory up to 96GB 6400MT/s Industrial computing has reached a point where edge devices are expected to handle workloads that were once reserved for data centres. Machine vision, AI inference, and high-bandwidth data capture are now routine at the edge, but they demand hardware that can combine performance with reliability in demanding conditions. Plus, when specifying industrial PCs, one of the biggest challenges is balancing today’s performance requirements with tomorrow’s uncertainties. Buy too little, and you’ll face an expensive upgrade cycle; over-specify, and you'll waste budget on unused capability. The Advantech MIC-780 directly addresses these requirements. As part of the MIC-7000 family of modular IPCs, it brings Intel® Core™ Ultra processors into a rugged, compact, fanless system that can be tailored for a wide range of applications through modular expansion that allows its role to evolve over time. What’s more, systems are often deployed in locations where direct access is difficult or impossible, like those in remote substations and secure facilities. When a fault occurs, dispatching engineers is costly, time-consuming, and disruptive to operations. Beyond its processing power and rugged design, the MIC-780 offers remote manageability for a complete package that can deliver server-class performance at the edge, while maintaining the durability and adaptability required for long-term industrial deployment. Not sure if the MIC-780 is right for you? Find out more about what it has to offer in our article below. Performance Designed for the Edge with Intel® Core™ Ultra Despite its small size, the MIC-780 isn’t limited in power. It supports Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors, with options ranging up to 24 cores and 36MB of cache. Paired with dual-channel DDR5 memory (up to 128GB) and PCIe Gen 4 NVMe storage, the platform offers a level of performance that was previously confined to rackmount servers. This processing capability is delivered in a compact, 195 x 80 x 240mm chassis weighing just 3.8kg. Despite the small form factor, the MIC-780 supports three independent 4K displays (two HDMI, one DisplayPort), allowing it to serve as both a compute engine and a control interface. For industrial AI, vision inspection, or real-time analytics, this level of performance density is a significant advantage. This makes it well-suited to applications where local visualisation is as important as raw processing, such as inspection systems or control rooms. The option to configure different processor SKUs (35W or 65W) allows integrators to balance performance with power efficiency and thermal limits depending on deployment needs. Rugged Engineering for Harsh Industrial Conditions In industrial settings, performance alone is meaningless if a system can’t survive in the field. The MIC-780 is designed for operation in -20 to 60 °C environments (depending on CPU selection), with IP40 dust protection, 3 Grms vibration tolerance, and resistance to shocks of up to 20G. A wide 12V to 36V DC input range allows integration into diverse power environments such as factory floors and transportation systems, all without the need for extensive external conditioning. The fanless design further reduces points of mechanical failure, an important consideration for continuous, unattended operation. Future-Proof with Modularity A core advantage of the MIC-780 is its modularity. Built on Advantech’s MIC-7000 architecture, the system supports a range of i-Modules, Flex I/O, and iDoor options that extend functionality far beyond the base chassis, meaning the platform can be adapted to meet very specific requirements without redesigning the whole system. The i-Modules, iDoor, and Flex I/O add functionality such as: Additional Ethernet ports (GbE or 2.5 GbE, with PoE options). Legacy COM interfaces for serial-based equipment. Extra NVMe or HDD bays for storage-heavy workloads. PCIe slots for GPU or accelerator cards. This means the same MIC-780 unit can serve as a compact controller today and be upgraded into an edge AI platform or storage node tomorrow. Its Intel Core Ultra processors mean that expansion modules can be deployed confidently, knowing the host system has the compute and thermal headroom to handle them. Reducing Lifecycle Risk This modular approach extends the system's useful lifecycle, allowing it to evolve alongside applications rather than being locked into a fixed configuration. In industries where hardware lifecycles can span a decade or more, modularity reduces risk. Instead of replacing an entire system when requirements shift, operators can reconfigure the existing platform with new modules. This both lowers cost and simplifies certification or qualification processes, particularly in regulated sectors such as energy, transportation, or defence. Built for Unattended Operation For the MIC-780, its hardware design is only half the story. Just as important is the ability to keep that hardware monitored, updated, and controlled without being physically on site. Distributed edge deployments often face that challenge: how to monitor and maintain hardware when systems are deployed across large sites or remote locations. Advantech integrates Intel® vPro™/AMT technology, TPM security, and its own iBMC 1.2 (intelligent Baseboard Management Controller). Together, these allow administrators to: Power systems on or off remotely. Perform out-of-band monitoring, even if the OS has failed. Diagnose faults before dispatching engineers. Maintain security through hardware-level controls. For operators managing fleets of devices across distributed industrial networks, this level of access can mean the difference between hours of downtime and minutes of remote intervention, significantly lowering operational overhead. Secure, Remote, and Manageable Building on that foundation, the MIC-780 also includes a broad set of connectivity options out of the box, with up to four GbE LAN ports, four USB3.2 interfaces, and multiple RS-232/422/485 ports. This mix supports both legacy industrial devices and modern high-speed peripherals. To simplify large-scale management, Advantech’s DeviceOn platform provides a centralised interface for system health monitoring, firmware updates, and lifecycle management. From a single dashboard, operators can track CPU temperatures, power cycles, and system events across dozens or even hundreds of MIC-780 units. This improves uptime and enables predictive maintenance strategies by detecting early signs of failure. Best-Fit Applications That Benefit Most The MIC-780’s combination of compute density, rugged construction, and modularity makes it suitable for a wide range of demanding, edge deployments: Factory Automation and Machine Vision – Process-intensive workloads such as multi-camera inspection, AI-based quality control, or large facilities where hundreds of devices must be managed simultaneously. Energy and Utilities – Real-time monitoring and control in substations, pipelines, or grid edge locations, where regulations demand long-term hardware continuity and site visits can be costly. Defence and Security – Compact but expandable hardware platform for C4ISR systems, video surveillance, and secure communications. Useful for environments that require the integration of new communications or AI accelerators without redesign, or for secure or restricted areas where physical access is tightly controlled. Edge AI Inference – CPU-driven AI models or systems augmented with GPU/accelerator modules through PCIe expansion. Performance That Grows with You The Advantech MIC-780’s strengths don’t end at high performance. It’s the way performance can be adapted and extended, along with its remote manageability, that make it especially relevant to modern edge deployments. By building modularity into its design, Advantech has created an industrial PC that can shift roles throughout its lifecycle without being replaced. And with iBMC, Intel vPro/AMT, and DeviceOn integration, the system is designed to be controlled as easily from across a continent as from across the room. For engineers responsible for uptime and operational efficiency, the ability to see, manage, and act on edge hardware without leaving the control centre is not just convenient. It’s essential. The MIC-780 provides that capability as standard. At Impulse, our role goes beyond distribution. With Industry Insight and Technology Know-how at the core of what we do, we work closely with our customers to specify, configure, and support solutions like the MIC-780 throughout their lifecycle. Our UK-based technical team ensures that the systems you deploy today continue to deliver value tomorrow. If you’re considering the Advantech MIC-780 for your next project, our team can help you configure a system that meets today’s requirements while leaving room for tomorrow’s growth. For more information, please get in touch with our knowledgeable team at 01782 337 800 or email sales@impulse-embedded.co.uk.