Elitegroup Computer Systems
Encyclopedia
Elitegroup Computer Systems Co., Ltd , (ECS;) is a Taiwan
-based electronics
firm. It is the fifth largest PC motherboard manufacturer in the world (after Asus
, Gigabyte Technology
, ASRock
, and MSI
), with production reaching 24 million units in 2002. Many of these motherboards have been produced for OEM
customers and are used in systems assembled and sold by such brand-name companies as IBM
and Compaq
. Its main competitors are Micro-Star International
and ASRock
.
The company has since concentrated on broadening its product range. After ECS's purchase of laptop manufacturer Uniwill in 2006, the company has also been making its mark in the design and manufacture of laptops, desktop replacement computer
s and multimedia products. ECS computers are sold by Fry's Electronics
under the “Great Quality” (“GQ”) brand.
with operations in North America
, Europe
and the Pacific Rim
. The company merged with PCChips (Hsing Tech Enterprise Co., Ltd), a major manufacturer of low-cost motherboards, in 2005. In June 2003, ECS was selected for two years in a row for Business Week magazine’s exclusive Information Technology 100 list.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
-based electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
firm. It is the fifth largest PC motherboard manufacturer in the world (after Asus
ASUS
ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated is a multinational computer technology and consumer electronics product manufacturer headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Its product range includes motherboards, desktops, laptops, monitors, tablet PCs, servers and mobile phones...
, Gigabyte Technology
Gigabyte Technology
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. is a Taiwan-based manufacturer of computer hardware products best known for its motherboards. The company is publicly held and traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange .-Company:...
, ASRock
ASRock
ASRock Inc. is a manufacturer of motherboards, netbooks, and HTPCs, based in Taiwan and chaired by Ted Hsuu. It was established on May 10th, 2002 and invested by and subordinated to Asus.- History :...
, and MSI
Micro-Star International
Micro-Star International Co., Ltd is a Taiwan-based electronics company and one of the world's largest motherboard and video card manufacturers.-Overview:MSI is one of the top three motherboard and video card manufacturers worldwide...
), with production reaching 24 million units in 2002. Many of these motherboards have been produced for OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
customers and are used in systems assembled and sold by such brand-name companies as IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
and Compaq
Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation is a personal computer company founded in 1982. Once the largest supplier of personal computing systems in the world, Compaq existed as an independent corporation until 2002, when it was acquired for US$25 billion by Hewlett-Packard....
. Its main competitors are Micro-Star International
Micro-Star International
Micro-Star International Co., Ltd is a Taiwan-based electronics company and one of the world's largest motherboard and video card manufacturers.-Overview:MSI is one of the top three motherboard and video card manufacturers worldwide...
and ASRock
ASRock
ASRock Inc. is a manufacturer of motherboards, netbooks, and HTPCs, based in Taiwan and chaired by Ted Hsuu. It was established on May 10th, 2002 and invested by and subordinated to Asus.- History :...
.
The company has since concentrated on broadening its product range. After ECS's purchase of laptop manufacturer Uniwill in 2006, the company has also been making its mark in the design and manufacture of laptops, desktop replacement computer
Desktop replacement computer
A desktop replacement computer is a personal computer that provides the full capabilities of a desktop computer while remaining mobile. They are often larger, bulkier laptops...
s and multimedia products. ECS computers are sold by Fry's Electronics
Fry's Electronics
Fry's Electronics is a big-box store and retailer of software, consumer electronics, computer hardware, with in store computer repair and custom computer building services and household appliances with a chain of superstores headquartered in Silicon Valley...
under the “Great Quality” (“GQ”) brand.
History
Founded in 1987, ECS is headquartered in TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
with operations in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
. The company merged with PCChips (Hsing Tech Enterprise Co., Ltd), a major manufacturer of low-cost motherboards, in 2005. In June 2003, ECS was selected for two years in a row for Business Week magazine’s exclusive Information Technology 100 list.
See also
ECS also produces Acer computers.- AsusASUSASUSTeK Computer Incorporated is a multinational computer technology and consumer electronics product manufacturer headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Its product range includes motherboards, desktops, laptops, monitors, tablet PCs, servers and mobile phones...
(Pegatron) - Gigabyte TechnologyGigabyte TechnologyGigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. is a Taiwan-based manufacturer of computer hardware products best known for its motherboards. The company is publicly held and traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange .-Company:...
- ASRockASRockASRock Inc. is a manufacturer of motherboards, netbooks, and HTPCs, based in Taiwan and chaired by Ted Hsuu. It was established on May 10th, 2002 and invested by and subordinated to Asus.- History :...
- Micro-Star InternationalMicro-Star InternationalMicro-Star International Co., Ltd is a Taiwan-based electronics company and one of the world's largest motherboard and video card manufacturers.-Overview:MSI is one of the top three motherboard and video card manufacturers worldwide...
(MSI)