NATICK, Mass. - The PC/104-Plus architecture, which incorporates a fast stackable PCI connector in addition to the standard ISA connectors of original PC/104 boards, has seen steady growth in CPU module boards since its introduction, say analysts at Venture Development Corp. (VDC) in Natick, Mass.

Now, after periods of incremental gains on share of the PC/104 family CPU module market, PC/104-Plus is projected to rapidly acquire share as it challenges standard PC/104 for the leadership position, VDC analysts say.

By 2010 sales of PC/104-Plus CPU modules will trail PC/104 CPU modules by only $12.6 million, in comparison to the 2005 difference of $24 million, according to VDC’s Global Market Analysis of the Stackables Market.

PC/104-Plus has leapfrogged PCI-104 as the next major architecture in the PC/104 market using the faster PCI bus. Many expected that PCI-104 would be the architecture of popular choice among those wanting to make use of the PCI bus on PC/104 boards. However, it appears that the backward compatibility with the ISA bus offered by PC/104-Plus in addition to PCI is more desirable than offering PCI with PCI-104 because ISA remains “good enough” for many PC/104 applications.

PCI-104 CPU Modules will continue to gain market share in the PC/104 Family CPU module market between 2005 and 2010, and are projected to grow to $11.6 million. PC/104-Express CPU modules are also expected to growth steadily through 2010 once a standard is passed and those products are introduced.

For more information contact VDC online at www.vdc-corp.com.