GE PACSystems RX3i CPU Modules IC695CPE330-ABAF

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE PACSystems RX3i Series Technical Notes

The GE PACSystems RX3i platform is one of the most widely deployed programmable automation controller (PAC) architectures in global heavy industry. Installed across petrochemical complexes, nuclear power stations, offshore oil & gas platforms, and continuous-process refineries, the RX3i backplane-based architecture has served as the control backbone for critical infrastructure since its commercial introduction in the early 2000s. Its universal backplane design — accepting both legacy Series 90-30 I/O modules and native RX3i high-speed modules — made it the preferred migration path for facilities running GE Series 90-70 and Series 90-30 systems. As of 2026, the RX3i series has entered a mature/end-of-active-development phase; GE Vernova continues to provide long-term maintenance releases but no new hardware form factors are planned. This makes lifecycle extension sourcing — including certified refurbished and new-surplus units — a primary procurement strategy for plant engineers worldwide.

The Evolution of PACSystems RX3i Architecture

The RX3i platform was introduced by GE Fanuc Automation (later GE Intelligent Platforms, now GE Vernova) as a unified control architecture designed to consolidate the Series 90-30 and Series 90-70 product lines. The original RX3i chassis used a 125 ns instruction cycle CPU (IC695CPU310) with a dedicated backplane bus operating at 32-bit width. Subsequent CPU generations — IC695CPU315, IC695CPU320, and the IC695CPE330 family — progressively increased onboard RAM, added integrated Ethernet ports, and introduced support for IEC 61131-3 structured text and function block diagram programming natively within Proficy Machine Edition.

The IC695CPE330-ABAF represents the current-generation embedded CPU with dual Ethernet ports, 64 MB user memory, and support for up to 32 racks via PROFINET I/O. It is backward-compatible with all RX3i I/O modules and supports hot-standby redundancy configurations when paired with IC695RMX128 redundancy memory xchange modules. The transition from IC695CPU310 to IC695CPE330 variants introduced significant changes in firmware management: CPE-series modules use embedded flash storage for OS and application retention, eliminating the CompactFlash dependency of earlier CPU3xx units. Facilities still operating CPU310 or CPU315 hardware face increasing firmware support constraints and are advised to evaluate CPE330 or CPE400 migration paths.

PACSystems RX3i Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

CPU & Controller Modules

• IC695CPE330-ABAF: Dual-Ethernet embedded CPU, 64 MB user RAM, PROFINET controller, IEC 61131-3
• IC695CPE330: Standard dual-Ethernet embedded CPU, 64 MB user RAM, base firmware revision
• IC695CPU320: Single-slot CPU, 10 MB user RAM, CompactFlash-based OS storage
• IC695CPU315: Entry-level RX3i CPU, 5 MB user RAM, single Ethernet port
• IC695CPU310: First-generation RX3i CPU, 1 MB user RAM, legacy backplane bus only
• IC695CPE400: High-performance embedded CPU with edge computing capability, Linux-based runtime
• IC695CPE302: Compact embedded CPU, single Ethernet, 64 MB RAM, cost-optimized variant

Discrete & Analog I/O Modules

• IC694MDL754: 32-point 24VDC discrete output module, source type, 0.5A per point
• IC694MDL655: 32-point 24VDC discrete input module, positive logic
• IC695ALG600: 8-channel universal analog input, ±10V / 4–20mA / RTD / thermocouple
• IC695ALG704: 8-channel analog output, ±10V / 4–20mA, 16-bit resolution
• IC695ALG616: 16-channel analog input, voltage/current, high-density format
• IC695ALG728: 8-channel analog output with HART pass-through support

Communications & Network Adapter Modules

• IC695PNC001: PROFINET I/O controller, manages up to 128 I/O devices, 100 Mbps
• IC695ETM001: Ethernet interface module, 10/100 Mbps, Modbus TCP / SRTP / EGD protocols
• IC695PBS301: PROFIBUS DP master module, up to 125 slave devices, 12 Mbps
• IC695CMM002: Serial communications module, dual RS-232/RS-485, Modbus RTU / DNP3

Power Supply Modules

• IC695PSA040: 40W AC power supply, 120/240VAC input, 5VDC / 3.3VDC backplane output
• IC695PSD040: 40W DC power supply, 24VDC input, backplane-compatible
• IC695PSA140: 40W AC power supply with enhanced diagnostics and status LED array

Redundancy & Specialty Modules

• IC695RMX128: Redundancy memory xchange module, hot-standby CPU synchronization
• IC695SRM001: Standalone redundancy module for simplex-to-redundant system upgrades