System design to support either Pentium Pro processors, Pentium II processors, and future processor without having to replace the system board
US5918023A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/4068
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for designing a computer system which supports multiple processors of different types. A processor base board is separately connectable to a system board. The processor base board includes a number of connectors for receiving processor boards. The processor boards include a processor and, if necessary, a voltage regulator and voltage level converters. A right angle single edge contact connector is used on a Pentium II board to significantly reduce spacing requirements of adjacent processor boards. A conventional pin grid array type socket is used for a Pentium Pro processor board. A special mapping of bus request signals is disclosed for supporting four Pentium Pro processors or two Pentium II processors without requiring changes to the processor base board.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.