Introduction to NLX Form Factor
Advantech is going to introduce the first industrial NLX half-size CPU card to our partners soon, and later on more NLX backplanes. We provide the following article as an overview of the new NLX form factor.
What is NLX?
NLX is a common form factor that can accommodate low profile system designs in the automation industry. A low-profile NLX form factor carrying both PCI and ISA signals through riser cards is ideal for industrial PCs and embedded applications. It provides more system-level design options and integration flexibility, thus lowering the total cost of ownership.
Why adopt the NLX form factor?
An NLX motherboard is a low-profile motherboard, designed to improve upon existing low-profile form factors and adapt to new market trends and technologies. NLX is supported by a broad supplier alliance including Intel, HP, IBM and other major PC system companies. NLX specifications and other information are available at the following web site URL: http://www.teleport.com/~nlx
Features of the NLX form factor
- Carries both PCI and ISA signals within a compact half-size CPU card
The NLX form factor's ingenious two-layer gold finger configuration has resulted in greatly reduced form factor dimensions (only 204 x 122 mm). It enables both PCI- and ISA-bus signal transmission on the same compact half-size CPU card.
- Broadens IDE and FDD connector options
On the NLX backplane (or riser card), there are IDE and FDD connectors designed for more flexible linking of IDE and FDD devices. You may choose to connect your IDE or FDD device to a connector either on the NLX half-size CPU card or on the NLX backplane. This gives you better access to components and I/O connectors.
Benefits of an NLX system
- Supports new technology
NLX supports future CPU and PC technologies such as chipset solutions and memory technologies.
- Preserves your current ISA investment
NLX can accept your current ISA-bus add-in cards, whereas such add-in cards cannot be used with PCI-bus CPU cards. Thus your current ISA investment can be preserved with no waste.
- Provides upward growth potential for PCI
NLX form factor can help you upgrade your system with more PCI devices. This potential is particularly important following the announcement of the PC '98 alliance standard whereby the PC industry will phase out support for the ISA bus in desktop PC systems. (N.B. PCI-bus add-in cards cannot be used with ISA-bus CPU cards.)
- Enhances system stability and performance
NLX physically separates the PCI and ISA buses (unlike PISA, where the PCI- and ISA-bus gold fingers are intercrossed). This avoids signal interference during simultaneous high-volume PCI and ISA data transmission, thus greatly enhancing system stability.
- Lowers operation and maintenance costs
NLX preserves your current ISA investment and improves access to components, thereby reducing labor costs for maintenance and upgrading.
Advantech's NLX solutions
Advantech aims to provide a complete range of industrial-grade NLX half-size CPU card system solutions, including NLX passive backplanes and chassis with power supplies. Please refer to the diagram below. We will introduce our new products in the near future, including the PCN-6351/L card, NLX backplanes, and the IPC-644 four-slot wallmount IPC chassis.
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