DESIGN
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This smallest form factor is ideal for specialized applications in which space is at a premium. PC/104 features a self-stacking design that does not require a card cage or other interconnect support. With only 13.4 sq in. of surface area, PC/104 SBCs are typically more costly to the manufacturer or have less I/O capacity than larger formats. PC/104 products provide a single ISA bus connector that allows data transfer at about 8 Mb/sec. PC/104-Plus products include both ISA and PCI bus connectors that support high-speed I/O devices (such as video frame grabbers) with data transfers up to 133 MB/sec.
EPIC
The newly formed EPIC standard is sized midway between the EBX and PC/104 form factors. With about 29 sq in. of surface area, this bolt-down SBC format can provide much of the performance and I/O capacity of the larger EBX size, while fitting more conveniently in compact applications. The EPIC standard was designed to accommodate real-world I/O connectors. This eliminates I/O transition cables and simplifies cabling in many applications.
STD 32
The legacy STD 32 bus product is a passive backplane-based format. It is renowned for its ruggedness, expandability, and ease of maintenance. It is especially effective in applications requiring large amounts of standard or specialized I/O. Systems with 10 or 20 I/O boards and hundreds of I/O points are easily configured.
EBX
The well-established embedded board expandable (EBX) format is an excellent balance of size, economy, and functionality. With 46 sq in. of surface area, this bolt-down SBC format supports embedded designs with higher performance CPUs and generous on-board I/O functions. The EBX form factor is the most effective cost and size solution for the majority of OEM applications.
