Abstract: Devices for allowing peripheral devices, such as IDE and SCSI, to removably couple to a back plane of a computer system is provided using a PCI connector. One such device utilizes a printed circuit board, which maps the conventional pins of the peripheral device to 124 pins of the PCI connector. Another such device utilizes a back plane having a conventional female PCI connector that maps 124 pins to the appropriate number of lines for coupling to the motherboard. The mapping is not a one-to-one pass-through mapping. The result of the mapping increases data signal integrity and use of the PCI connector strengthens the physical connection by virtue of the 124 pins conventionally associated with PCI connections.

Abstract: A computer system includes a "motherboard" comprising two separate boards: an input/output (I/O) board and a logic board. The I/O board, which includes functionality for interfacing and controlling the computers input/output functions, is substantially platform-independent. It is secured into the housing in the manner of a conventional motherboard. The logic board, which includes a processor, processor controller and/or processor memory, is platform-specific. It is slidably (or otherwise easily) removable from the housing, e.g., without disassembly thereof.

Abstract: A computer system includes a "motherboard" comprising two separate boards: an input/output (I/O) board and a logic board. The I/O board, which includes functionality for interfacing and controlling the computers input/output functions, is substantially platform-independent. It is secured into the housing in the manner of a conventional motherboard. The logic board, which includes a processor, processor controller and/or processor memory, is platform-specific. It is slidably (or otherwise easily) removable from the housing, e.g., without disassembly thereof.