Chapter 3
InternalComponents
7
Chapter 3 – Internal Components
SohowdoesbuildingblockapproachworkinsideanXi3Modular
Computer?Actually,therearethreemainaspectstointernalmodularity
withinthedesignandmakeupofanyXi3ModularComputer.
The Classic Motherboard
Thestandardmotherboardofacomputerisaprintedcircuitboardthat
holds/containsallofthevariouscomponentsanddevicesononePCB,
includingtheprocessor(s),RAM,storage/harddrive,externalcommunica-
tionports,powersupply,etc.InthecaseofanXi3ModularComputer,this
isnotso.
X7AModularComputersutilizetheXi3ComputerArchitecturetodividethe
classicmotherboardinto3interconnectedbutseparateboards,specifically
•TheXi3ProcessorBoard,and
•TwoXi3Input/Output(I/O)Boards.
TheXi3ProcessorBoardislocatedinthemiddleofthe3boardsshown
totherightanditcontainsthemicroprocessororbrainsofyourX7A
ModularComputer.TheRAM(orshort-termmemory)foryourX7AModular
Computerisalsohousedonthismodule.
The Primary I/O Board and Secondary I/O Board
ThePrimaryI/OBoard(PIO)ontherightsideofthe
illustrationisresponsibleforhandlingthemajorityofall
externalcommunications,asthisiswhereuserscan
accessandconnectmostcablesanddevicestothe
X7AModularComputer.The(PIO)andtheSecondary
I/OBoard(SIO)arealsotheboardsmostlikelytobe
updatedand/orreplacedasnewcapabilitiesand/or
functionsareintroducedintothemarketplace.
NotonlydoesthisabilitytoreplaceaPIOandSIO
makeitpossibletoextendtheusefullifeofyourX7A
ModularComputerforyearsbeyondtoday’sstandard
of3to5years,italsomeansthatyouwillbeableto
changethemainpurposeofyourcomputerinthe
future.Inotherwords,ifyoupurchasedthisX7AModularComputerforbasiccomputingpurposes(suchaswordprocessing,
surfingtheWeb,email,andthelike),youmightdecidetotransformthismachineintoaHomeAutomationcomputerinthe
future:adevicethatcontrolsyourheating,airconditioning,lighting,securitysystemandmore.Andmakingsuchachange
couldbeassimpleaschangingthePIOorSIOBoardinyourX7AModularComputerwithanewboardandconnectingyour
ModularComputertoyourhomenetwork.
OptionalPIOandSIOBoardswillbeavailablefromXi3CorporationandAuthorizedXi3Partnersinthefuture.
Xi3ModularComputercomponents
beingremovedfromtheChassis
ConnectedBoards
SecondaryI/OBoardProcessorBoardPrimaryI/OBoard
Summary of Contents for X7A
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