Press Releases

MICRO INDUSTRIES INTRODUCES MATX61 MOTHERBOARD TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM SUPPORT FOR APPLIED COMPUTING APPLICATIONS

matx61

ISA/PCI Expansion Slots Offer Needed Flexibility

Westerville, Ohio - January 15, 2001

Today Micro Industries Corporation introduced the mATX61, a highly integrated motherboard that offers electronics original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) something other, new ATX boards don't - expansion slots configurable for ISA or PCI support.

The MATX61 offers a unique combination of both the peripheral component interconnect (PCI) standard and an industry standard architecture (ISA) bus, providing OEMs with the high performance, long-term support, and upgradeability they need for applied computing applications.

Because the MATX61 is backward-compatible with earlier ATX technology, it can extend the life of existing products without changing its architecture. Developers can use their current system's peripheral cards to connect up to seven ISA slots or a combination, such as three ISA, one ISA/PCI, and three PCI expansion slots.

The MATX61 also supports high-performance Intel® Celeron™ and Intel® Pentium® III processors and an Intel 440BX chipset, which has performance capabilities to handle the most demanding applications. Both the processors and the chipset are included in the applied computing roadmaps from Intel and support the long-term needs of embedded applications.

According to Michael Curran, president and CEO of Micro Industries, the MATX61 fills a void left by the industry's overall shift from ISA to PCI architectures for ATX form factors. "ATX motherboard designs typically change with the demands of the desktop market, which poses a challenge for anyone designing for embedded applications," said Curran. "Today it's typical to find companies using ATX motherboards in the field that are no longer supported by the supplier. This is a particular issue with industrial applications, which often require more than two or three expansion slots. Most desktop motherboards made today are plug-and-play and do not have the number of expansion slots necessary for embedded systems."

The MATX61 motherboard solves this problem by rolling both the ISA and PCI support into one motherboard. "The MATX61 enables customers to extend the life of their existing products, while providing the versatility they need to bring new ones to market," said Curran. "And because it is a Micro Industries product, customers can be confident they'll receive the long-term service and support they need to keep those products running smoothly for many years to come."

Bernie Hoos, program manager at Mitel Corporation, plans to incorporate the new MATX61 into Mitel's products. "We chose Micro Industries' MATX61 for its unique technology, and for the stability and long-term support we need to push our products forward," said Hoos. "The MATX61 gives us a cost and performance advantage we can't get with other ATX motherboards, and it saves us from the tremendous support costs typically incurred with frequent system upgrades."

Features of Micro Industries' MATX61 Offer Unique Benefits to OEMs

Availability and Price

The MATX61 is available immediately in the United States and Europe. Volume OEM pricing starts at $350 (U.S.) for the base configuration. Unit quantities are available at higher prices. Prices are subject to change without notice. Products can be ordered by calling Micro Industries' Customer Service Department at 800-722-1842. A complete listing of product features is included in the attached table.

About Micro Industries

Micro Industries Corporation, founded in 1978, is an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company that provides electronic engineering, manufacturing, and system integration resources to OEMs. Micro Industries helps customers translate their product requirements into low-cost standard, custom, and semi-custom product solutions for embedded and integrated computer systems. Its 52,000-square-foot facility in Westerville, Ohio, serves as corporate headquarters and houses an EPA Zero Discharge manufacturing facility that meets both ISO 9001 94 and ISO 14001 standards. The manufacturing facility has fully automated conventional and surface mount assembly lines for both prototype and production requirements.

Micro Industries' new 37,000-square-foot facility in Columbus, Ohio, supports the system integration operations with advanced e-commerce capabilities and is located in the Rickenbacker Foreign Trade Zone. The company employs a dedicated staff of engineers focused on product design. For more information visit http://www.microindustries.com.

Note: Micro Industries is a registered trademark of Micro Industries Corporation. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks and Celeron is a trademark of Intel Corporation. All other legal marks are property of their respective owners.

Micro Industries Corporation

MATX61: ATX Motherboard with ISA bus support

Complete Listing of Product Features

Form factor

Processor