Texas Instruments has found a solution to the problem of
hot and noisy computers by splitting them in two and moving the
hottest and loudest components off the desktop and away from the
user.
Hewlett-Packard and Intel developed a concept PC in 2001 that
consisted of two components - a computing component and an end-user
interface - linked by a USB 2.0 cable up to 5m.
However, the split-chassis design demonstrated by Texas
Instruments at the Computex 2004 exhibition in Taipei uses a PCI
Express connection up to 4.3m which offers greater throughput than
a USB 2.0 link, said John Byrum, an applications engineer at Texas
Instruments.
"The big advantage is PCI Express is mainly software," Byrum
said, noting that Windows XP and other operating systems see the
cabled PCI Express connection as an internal bridge between two PCI
Express controllers.
"There's no extra drivers you need," he said.
By comparison, a USB 2.0 link would require the installation of
special drivers.
Texas Instruments' split-chassis design would allow a supplier
to produce a PC with two main parts: the computing component and a
smaller I/O (input/output) component.
The I/O component would contain memory card readers, an optical
disc drive such as a DVD-Rom drive, a hard-disc, IEEE 1394 ports
and USB ports for a mouse, keyboard and other peripherals.
The split-chassis concept shown at the show is still new and
requires further development, said Byrum, but the fundamental
design is sound, noting that suppliers such as HP have shown an
interest in the concept.
Sumner Lemon writes for IDG News Service