Consider the facts below to help you determine the PC/104 solution that’s right for your project

First, let’s take a look at the PC/104 form factor

There is no substitute to the popularity of the PC/104 standard due to its modular flexibility, card-to-card bus feature, freedom of the standard PC platform, and increased speed-to-market capabilities. Advantech’s PC/104 product line offers full-featured CPU modules and a variety of PC/104 peripheral modules that combine small size, industrial grade construction and reliability, and open specifications. In addition, PC/104 enables software design on a familiar platform since most of the program development tools used for PCs also apply to PC/104.

The compact form factor and power functionality make these boards a perfect fit for a wide range of general and end-user embedded applications. As a PC/104 Consortium Associate Member and worldwide PC/104 solutions leader, Advantech’s PC/104 products strive to meet any embedded market demand.

Where to start

Selecting the proper PC/104 solution for your project should be based around several key needs:

• Your application should determine your expected expansion needs. When using this form factor, peripheral boards are easy to integrate and cost effective. Factor in future requirements ahead of time whenever possible.


• You need enough processing power for your PC/104 CPU board to perform the application’s tasks with dependable speed.


• You need proper chipset, memory, COM ports, and considerations for heat dissipation met.


• You should consider the desired longevity of the configuration, considering operating environment and hours of operation.

All of this is not meant to be overwhelming. In fact, there is a process below that makes it easy to select your motherboard in steps.

The Processor

The first question to answer when it comes to your PC/104 CPU board’s processor (CPU) is “what operating system will I be using?” If your system were to required Windows XPe™, then an AMD® Geode processor or above would be the best recommendation. If your application requires Windows XPe and also involves gigabyte Ethernet and considerable graphics processing, then the best recommendation may be the Pentium™ 4 or Celeron® processor to provide the multitasking and the speed required to perform these functions optimally.

Celeron	LV Pentium M	AMD Geode	VIA Eden

Manageable Form Factor

PC/104 boards measure 90.17 × 95.89mm (3.55” × 3.775”). When it comes to SBC form factors, The PC/104 is one of the smallest form factors available. This benefits you in terms of space and unit price savings.

PC/104-Plus

The pin-out for the PC/104 connector supports only ISA bus compatibility. PC/104-Plus form factor adds support for the PCI bus, in addition to the ISA bus of the PC/104 standard.

The form factors can be considered this way:

Advantech offers many peripheral modules in supporting this bus architecture. See the complete matrix here.

Expansion

While the PC/104 CPU board does not traditionally contain application-specific functionality, there is a wide selection of PC/104 peripheral modules covering a broad range of applications. This is mostly due to the long term acceptance of the PC/104 standard over the years. Popular among the PC/104 peripheral board expansion products are industrial communications expansion boards, video modules, converter and relay modules, and more.

You can view products covering each of these functions below:

• Industrial communication modules
  
  
• Video modules
  
  
• DIO, AD/DA converter modules
  
  
• Relay Output and Power modules
  

Memory

Be sure to consult your choice operating system’s memory requirements and allow for some flexibility. Choosing the minimum memory requirement may present a negative impact on any program or hardware design updates.

Chipsets

When you consider the multiple functions your PC/104 system will take on, take note that a higher grade of chipset may be in order. Generally, one chip of a chipset connects CPU to very high-speed devices, such as to RAM and graphics busses. A second chip connects the CPU to lower-speed peripheral buses. This simultaneous throughput enables better multitasking on a board that serves multiple functions (graphics processing and communications, for example). If you have a board that has these tasks to perform, and more, consider choosing the higher-rated chipset – of course, Advantech will ensure your selection is compatible with your chosen CPU.

Heat Dissipation

We all know that heat is the enemy of electronics, and with the compact enclosures that PC/104 adapts to comes the need to keep heat at bay. Some considerations to take into account:

• A PC/104 CPU board featuring a Pentium processor will require sufficient heat dissipation in order to operate over its lifetime. Smaller casings may pose a problem due to the close proximity of the casing walls that can keep heat trapped inside. If size remains a constraint, a chassis cooling fan may be required.



• When possible, plan for your enclosure to feature additional airflow to avoid heat problems. This will be on your requirements list if you expect the system to perform in environments where heat is a factor.



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