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PC/104 Consortium Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Formation and PC/104 Specification Introduction

March 27, 2012

LOS GATOS, CA - March 27, 2012 - The PC/104 Consortium is celebrating its 20th anniversary as well as the 20th anniversary of the introduction of its highly successful PC/104 standard for stackable computing modules.

PC/104 pioneered the embedded stackable computing concept. It started with the incorporation of the ISA bus and has grown to include the latest developments in computing technologies with PCI and PCI Express. The PC/104 architecture demonstrates that it is possible to successfully implement quickly evolving PC technology into embedded computing products by taking full advantage of PC market adoption, performance, scalability, and growing silicon availability worldwide. Simple and elegant in design, small but rugged in performance, PC/104 technology bridges the successes of the past with the promises of future innovation. As such, PC/104 products have permeated many industries including transportation, communication, industrial, medical, scientific instrumentation, and defense.

Len Crane, president of the PC/104 Consortium, saluted the PC/104 specification saying, "The stackable modules defined by the PC/104 specification are very unique in embedded computing applications - no other module specification is as robust. The PC/104 stackable concept has evolved to incorporate the latest in interconnect technology, expanding the performance and life of PC/104 modules to remain competitive today. The technical work of the PC/104 Consortium members ensures that PC/104 technology remains a top choice for embedded computing."

The PC/104 Consortium was established in February 1992 to allow companies to come together with the common vision of adapting desktop computer technology for embedded applications. The PC/104 specification was officially released in March of that year, the first meeting of the board of directors was held, and the rest is history.

About the PC/104 Consortium

PC/104, in use since 1987, is a small form factor, embedded PC physical and electrical interface standard that incorporated the XT and AT ISA buses found in desktop computers at that time. The PC/104 Consortium was established in 1992 to promote and develop the PC/104 stackable computer concept. When demand for a faster, higher bandwidth bus emerged, the PC/104 Consortium followed the desktop PC and added the PCI bus to complement the ISA bus. PC/104-Plus was introduced in February of 1997. By keeping the ISA bus and adding the PCI bus, this specification allowed an easy migration path for next-generation products while at the same time allowing for the leveraging of all PC/104 products available. While the PC/104-Plus specification defined a PCI only version, PCI-104 in 2001, it was not until 2003 that it was separated into its own specification. To meet the needs and demands of the embedded community now and into the foreseeable future, stackable PCI Express was added to the PC/104 architecture in early 2008 with the PCI/104-Express and PCIe/104 specifications. In 2004 and 2005 respectively, the EBX and EPIC form factors were adopted, both of which support all of the PC/104 Consortium's bus specifications: PC/104, PC/104-Plus, PCI-104, PCI/104-Express and PCIe/104.

The PC/104 Consortium is the focal point for the entire PC/104 industry including manufacturers and OEMs. The consortium's website at www.pc104.org provides a portal for information on current PC/104 architecture specifications, product offerings, news and events and an environment to advance and develop PC/104 architecture specifications that are consistent, stable, and compatible for long-term use.

The PC/104 logo, PC/104, PC/104-Plus, PCI-104, PCI/104-Express, PCIe/104, EBX, EBX Express, EPIC, EPIC Express are trademarks of the PC/104 Consortium in the United States and other countries. Other names and brands may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.


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