CPU card
Encyclopedia
A CPU card is a printed circuit board
(PCB) that contains the central processing unit
(CPU) of a computer. CPU cards are specified by CPU clock frequency and bus type as well as other features and applications built in to the card.
CPU cards include peripheral component interconnect
(PCI) cards, modular PC card
s, industry standard architecture
(ISA) cards, PCI extensions for instrumentation (PXI
) cards, embedded technology extended (ETX)
cards, and many others. CPU cards are often used to expand the memory, speed, bandwidth, or embedded applications of an existing computer system. PC cards are typically used to expand a system’s embedded applications. PC cards include modules for audio and video applications, data communications, and embedded storage. PXI cards are used for data acquisition and control systems, making them suitable for real-time measurement applications. ETX cards are used in industrial applications to augment a computer system’s embedded applications. ETX cards contain all the functionality necessary to run the PC in a compact space.
CPU cards that are used to augment existing computer backplanes typically have ISA or PCI connectors, and can be plugged into the backplane
without any additional configuration. CPU cards for use in computer backplanes are typically half-sized. The CPU card contains the PC functionality and communicates with the other cards plugged into the backplane through a computer bus. CPU cards may also be called expansion cards or expansion boards, and offer a variety of embedded applications from modems and wireless networking to graphics and video controllers to RAID
controllers.
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board, or PCB, is used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive pathways, tracks or signal traces etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. It is also referred to as printed wiring board or etched wiring...
(PCB) that contains the central processing unit
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
(CPU) of a computer. CPU cards are specified by CPU clock frequency and bus type as well as other features and applications built in to the card.
CPU cards include peripheral component interconnect
Peripheral Component Interconnect
Conventional PCI is a computer bus for attaching hardware devices in a computer...
(PCI) cards, modular PC card
PC card
In computing, PC Card is the form factor of a peripheral interface designed for laptop computers. The PC Card standard was defined and developed by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association which itself was created by a number of computer industry companies in the United States...
s, industry standard architecture
Industry Standard Architecture
Industry Standard Architecture is a computer bus standard for IBM PC compatible computers introduced with the IBM Personal Computer to support its Intel 8088 microprocessor's 8-bit external data bus and extended to 16 bits for the IBM Personal Computer/AT's Intel 80286 processor...
(ISA) cards, PCI extensions for instrumentation (PXI
PXI
PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation is one of several modular electronic instrumentation platforms in current use. These platforms are used as a basis for building electronic test equipment, automation systems, modular laboratory instruments in science, and the like. PXI is based on...
) cards, embedded technology extended (ETX)
ETX (form factor)
ETX, standing for Embedded Technology eXtended, is a highly integrated and compact computer-on-module form factor that can be used in a design application much like an integrated circuit component...
cards, and many others. CPU cards are often used to expand the memory, speed, bandwidth, or embedded applications of an existing computer system. PC cards are typically used to expand a system’s embedded applications. PC cards include modules for audio and video applications, data communications, and embedded storage. PXI cards are used for data acquisition and control systems, making them suitable for real-time measurement applications. ETX cards are used in industrial applications to augment a computer system’s embedded applications. ETX cards contain all the functionality necessary to run the PC in a compact space.
CPU cards that are used to augment existing computer backplanes typically have ISA or PCI connectors, and can be plugged into the backplane
Backplane
A backplane is a group of connectors connected in parallel with each other, so that each pin of each connector is linked to the same relative pin of all the other connectors forming a computer bus. It is used as a backbone to connect several printed circuit boards together to make up a complete...
without any additional configuration. CPU cards for use in computer backplanes are typically half-sized. The CPU card contains the PC functionality and communicates with the other cards plugged into the backplane through a computer bus. CPU cards may also be called expansion cards or expansion boards, and offer a variety of embedded applications from modems and wireless networking to graphics and video controllers to RAID
RAID
RAID is a storage technology that combines multiple disk drive components into a logical unit...
controllers.