Product of the Week: Kontron’s K4021-U mSTX Industrial Motherboard Powered by Intel Core Processors
October 27, 2025
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Today’s evolving industrial applications require support for high-performance computing and advanced AI capabilities in digital signage, kiosks, POS/POI applications, and other industrial use cases. Applications like these are often embedded within compact environments, which means that the solutions supporting them must also provide the aforementioned capabilities, including flexible connectivity, reliable power, and robust I/O options, all within a single solution.
The K4021-U mSTX industrial motherboard from Kontron is powered by the Intel Core Ultra Processors with advanced Intel UHD Graphics Gen12 based on the Xe architecture built directly into the MTL-U processor. This is designed to support complex AI workloads with an integrated NPU providing up to 11 TOPS dedicated AI performance for AI acceleration, as well as improve media capabilities and energy efficiency as an integrated graphics solution.
The K4021-U mSTX Industrial Motherboard in Action
The K4021-U mSTX system is equipped with DDR5-5600 SODIMM memory technology with a maximum of 96 GB.
The system also supports flexible connections with two DisplayPort V1.4a for direct video output, one USB Type-C with DP Alt mode / USB3.2 Gen2x2 for high-speed data transmission, and one USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 Support, including onboard connectors for Embedded DisplayPort and Dual-Channel 24-bit LVDS panels.
For reliable Ethernet connectivity, the industrial motherboard features one Intel i219LM GbE LAN (with iAMT support), which enables remote system monitoring and control. Additionally, the system includes one Realtek RTL8126 5 GbE LAN (with Teaming) for further high-speed networking support.
Continued I/O and connectivity support is available via 8-Bit GPIO for device control or monitoring, and two RS-232 onboard for flexible communication.
The K4021-U mSTX supports storage and expansion for Wi-Fi via the following:
- 2× SATA 6G
- 2× M.2 Key M (PCIe Gen4 x4)
- 1× M.2 Key B
- 1× M.2 Key E (WLAN)
Getting Started with Kontron’s K4021-U mSTX
The industrial motherboard solution enables integrated audio codec support with onboard HD audio. The system also equips a hardware-based TPM for system security and encryption via the
Intel integrated iTPM V2.0. The K4021-U mSTX also supports an onboard HW Watchdog.
Additional Resources:
- Product Page: https://www.kontron.com/en/products/k4021-u-mstx/p186072
- Datasheet: https://www.kontron.com/download/download?filename=/downloads/datasheets/k/k4021-u_data-sheet_en_kontron.pdf&product=186072
Tiera Oliver is the assistant managing editor at Embedded Computing Design. She is responsible for web content editing, product news, and story development. She also manages, edits, and develops content for ECD podcasts, including Embedded Insiders.
She utilizes her expertise in journalism and content management to oversee editorial content, coordinate with editors, and ensure high-quality output across web, print, and multimedia platforms. She manages diverse projects, assists in the production of digital magazines, and hosts company podcasts by conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders to deliver engaging and insightful discussions.
Tiera attended Northern Arizona University, where she received her bachelor's in journalism and political science. She was also a news reporter for the student-led newspaper, The Lumberjack.
