Method and apparatus for common thin-client NC and fat-client PC motherboard and mechanicals

摘要

Components and circuitry, including a common microprocessor, are combined into a single motherboard that is common to both a Personal Computer (PC) and a Network Computer (NC). The motherboard is capable of receiving a riser card. Riser cards specific to either a NC or a PC are designed to provide functions that are not present on the common motherboard. Connector slots such as Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) are available on a PC riser card to accommodate additional circuit boards. Devices such as a hard drive, CD ROM drive, etc., may be installed utilizing appropriate connectors on a PC specific riser card that are not required or available on the NC. A riser card for the NC will accommodate a compact flash card connector or various other expansion cards that provide functions specific to the NC.