EDN HANDS-ON PROJECT: DOUBLE TAKE REASSESSING X86 CPUS IN EMBEDDED-SYSTEM APPLICATIONS

摘要

Designing an embedded system based on PC-indus-try building blocks is like dancing with the devil. The chips and subsystems, including add-in cards, hard-disk drives, optical drives, and power supplies, are low-cost and abundant, thanks to the high-volume-manufacturing efficiencies of the PC market. However, although you measure your design's anticipated production life span in years or even decades, the fickle fortunes and fast evolution of the PC industry drive rapid obsolescence of your raw materials. Design smartly, planning the ability to later upgrade, and you'll be able to nimbly sidestep any supply-chain potholes. Failure to plan for future substitutions and advancements, on the other hand, means you'll soon—and perhaps repeatedly猺edesign.