PC/104-Plus modules edge closer to leadership of the PC/104 family

MARCH 15--The PC/104-Plus architecture, which incorporates a faster stackable PCI connector in addition to the standard ISA connectors of original PC/104 boards, has seen steady growth in CPU module boards since its introduction. Now, after periods of incremental gains on share of the PC/104 family CPU module market, PC/104-Plus is projected to rapidly acquire share as it challenges standard PC/104 for the leadership position.

According to the recently released report Global Market Analysis of the Stackables Market by Venture Development Corporation (Natick, MA, USA; www.vdc-corp.com), by 2010 sales of PC/104-Plus CPU modules will trail PC/104 CPU modules by only US$12.6 million, in comparison to the 2005 difference of US$24 million. PC/104-Plus has leapfrogged PCI/104 as the next major architecture in the PC/104 market, utilizing the faster PCI bus. Many expected that PCI/104 would be the architecture of choice among those wanting to make use of the PCI bus on PC/104 boards. However, it appears that the backward compatibility with the ISA bus offered by PC/104-Plus in addition to PCI is more desirable than offering PCI with PCI/104 because ISA remains "good enough" for many PC/104 applications.

PCI/104 CPU modules will continue to gain market share in the PC/104 family CPU module market between 2005 and 2010 and are projected to grow to US$11.6 million. PC/104-Express CPU modules are also expected to growth steadily through 2010, once a standard is passed and those products are introduced.