Attention Single Board Computer Guru's \ VOGONS

Attention Single Board Computer Guru's

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First post, by Rhuwyn

Posted on 2016-10-14, 22:02

Rhuwyn Offline

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I've never gotten very much into Single board Computers. I've only done some work on ones that were already built. I came accross a deal for a passive backplane in a fairly compact chassis. It has 3 PCI and 4 PISA slots. the PISA slots are confusing to me. All I can find is that many of the Single Board Computers require the PISA slot. If you can ONLY use it for that however then why are there four of them? I also read that it has the ISA signels on the top edge and the PCI signels on the bottom edge so does this mean I can use either a ISA or a PCI card in these slots as well as the actual SBC?

Also, would an older ISA SBC work in a PISA slot?

Any other general knowledge about SBCs and their backplanes I should know before attempting anything?

Reply 1 of 3, by gdjacobs

Posted on 2016-10-15, 05:39

gdjacobs Offline

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http://cyberresearch.com/content/tutorials/tu … 2.htm?printer=1

Yes, PISA slots are designed to be compatible with ISA cards. Conceivably, they work with an ISA SBC, but obviously a PISA SBC will be more versatile.

All hail the Great Capacitor Brand Finder

Reply 2 of 3, by luckybob

Posted on 2016-10-15, 06:17

luckybob Offline

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The whole point of SBC's is to have everything on one board, and LOTS of room for LOTS of expansion cards. As such, the backplanes are 99% DUMB. ISA is just going to work. PCI, is a bit different and will require bridge chips for >4 slots.

A pisa slot is the combination of ISA and PCI. That's all. The old way of doing SBC's was identical to VLB cards. If a board has more than one pisa slot, it generally means you can choose the location of the SBC. ONLY ONE SBC. You should be able to plug an ISA card in a PISA slot, but not a pci card. <= dont quote me on that, not 100%.

Just get the long version, they tend to be cheaper anyway.

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

Reply 3 of 3, by gdjacobs

Posted on 2016-10-15, 07:36

gdjacobs Offline

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Yes, the PCI contacts need a deeper edge connector (which will be incompatible with PCI edge connectors anyway).

All hail the Great Capacitor Brand Finder

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