PC System Design Guide: Difference between revisions

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{{originalMore researchcitations needed|date=FebruaryApril 20162023}}

{{Short description|Series of hardware design requirements and recommendations}}
The '''PC System Design Guide''' (also known as the '''PC -97''', '''PC -98''', '''PC -99''', or '''PC 2001''' specification) is a series of hardware design requirements and recommendations for [[IBM PC compatible]] [[personal computer]]s, compiled by [[Microsoft]] and [[Intel Corporation]] during 1997–2001. They were aimed at helping manufacturers provide hardware that made the best use of the capabilities of the [[Microsoft Windows]] operating system, and to simplify setup and use of such computers.

Every part of a standard computer and the most common kinds of peripheral devices are defined with specific requirements. Systems and devices that meet the specification should be automatically recognized and configured by the [[operating system]].

==Versions==

Four versions of the PC System Design Guide were released. WithinIn each versionPC-97, a distinction was made between the requirements of a ''ConsumerBasic PC'', ana ''OfficeWorkstation PC'' and an ''Entertainment PC''. In PC-98, the ''Mobile PC'' was added as a category. In PC 2001, the ''Entertainment PC'' was dropped.

Four versions of the PC System Design Guide were released. Within each version, a distinction was made between the requirements of a ''Consumer PC'', an ''Office PC'' and an ''Entertainment PC''.

{| class="wikitable"

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! Date

|-

| PC -97

| February 9, 1998

|-

| PC -98

| December 31, 1998

|-

| PC -99

| July 14, 1999

|-

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|}

===PC -97===

Required:

* 120 MHz [[Pentium (original)|Pentium]], MIPS [[R4000|R4x00]], Digital [[Alpha 21064]] (EV4) or [[PowerPC|IBM PowerPC]] architecture (latter three only under [[Windows NT]])

* 16 MB RAM

Initial version.

* Introduced color code for [[PS/2 keyboard]] (purple) and [[PS/2 mouse]] (green) connectors

===PC -98===

(Not to be confused with NEC's incompatible [[PC-98]] series)

===PC 98===

Aimed at systems to be used with [[Windows 98]] or [[Windows 2000]]. Required:

* 200 MHz Pentium processor with [[MMX (instruction set)|MMX]] technology (or equivalent performance)

* 256 KB [[L2 cache]]

* 32 MB [[Random -access memory|RAM]] (recommended: 64 MB of 66 MHz DRAM)

* [[Advanced Configuration and Power Interface|ACPI]] 1.0 (including power button behavior)

* Fast [[BIOS]] power-up (limited RAM test, no floppy test, minimal startup display, etc.)

* BIOS [[Year 2000 problem|Y2K]] compliance

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It was published as {{ISBN|1-57231-716-7}}.

===PC -99===

Required:

* 300 MHz CPU

* 64 MB RAM

* [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]]

* Comprehensive color-coding scheme for ports and connectors (see below)

Strongly discouraged:

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===PC 2001===

Required:

Final version. First to require IO-[[Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller|APIC]]s to be enabled on all desktop systems. Places a greatly increased emphasis on legacy-reduced and [[legacy-free PC|legacy-free]] systems. Some "legacy" items such as ISA expansion slots and device dependence on MS-DOS are forbidden entirely, while others are merely strongly discouraged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freeopenbook.com/pc-hardware-nutshell-3/pchardnut3-chp-1-sect-1.html |accessdate=January 4, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711032416/http://www.freeopenbook.com/pc-hardware-nutshell-3/pchardnut3-chp-1-sect-1.html |archivedate=July 11, 2011|isbn=0-596-00513-X|page=1.1 PCs Defined|edition=3rd|title=PC Hardware in a Nutshell|publisher=O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.|authors=Robert Bruce Thompson, Barbara Fritchman Thompson}}</ref>

* 667&nbsp;MHz CPU

* 64 MB RAM

Final version. First to require IO-[[Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller|APIC]]s to be enabled on all desktop systems. Places a greatly increased emphasis on legacy-reduced and [[legacy-free PC|legacy-free]] systems. Some "legacy" items such as ISA expansion slots and device dependence on MS-DOS are forbidden entirely, while others are merely strongly discouraged.<ref>{{cite webbook|url=http://www.freeopenbook.com/pc-hardware-nutshell-3/pchardnut3-chp-1-sect-1.html |accessdateaccess-date=January 4, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711032416/http://www.freeopenbook.com/pc-hardware-nutshell-3/pchardnut3-chp-1-sect-1.html |archivedatearchive-date=July 11, 2011|isbn=0-596-00513-X|page=1.1 PCs Defined|edition=3rd|title=PC Hardware in a Nutshell|publisher=O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.|authorsauthor=Robert Bruce Thompson, |author2=Barbara Fritchman Thompson |date=24 July 2003 }}</ref>

PC 2001 removes compatibility for the [[A20 line]]: "If A20M# generation logic is still present in the system, this logic must be

terminated such that software writes to I/O port 92, bit 1, do not result in A20M# being asserted to the processor."<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.tech-insider.org/windows/research/acrobat/001102/03sys-2001.pdf |publisher=Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation. |title=PC 2001 System Design Guide |chapter=Chapter 3 PC System |quote=SYS–0047. A20M# is always de-asserted (pulled high) at the processor |page=52 |access-date=2023-06-03 }}</ref>

== Color-coding scheme for connectors and ports ==

[[File:Soundblasterlive1024 2connectors.png|thumb|Color coded [[sound card]] connector on a [[Sound Blaster]]]]

Perhaps the most end-user visible and lasting impact of PC 99 was that it introduced a [[color code]] for the various standard types of plugs and connectors used on PCs.<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/pcguides.mspx PC 99 System Design Guide], Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation, 14 July 1999. Chapter 3: PC 99 basic requirements ([http://download.microsoft.com/download/win2000pro/PCG/1.0/NT5/EN-US/pc99v1a.exe PC 99 System Design Guide (Self-extracting .exe archive)]. Requirement 3.18.3: Systems use a color-coding scheme for connectors and ports. Accessed 2009-02-05</ref> As many of the connectors look very similar, particularly to a novice PC user, this made it far easier for people to connect peripherals to the correct ports on a PC. This color code was gradually adopted by almost all PC and [[PC motherboard|motherboard]] manufacturers. Some of the color codes have also been widely adopted by peripheral manufacturers.

{{multiple image

| total_width = 230

| direction = vertical

| image1 = Shuttle XS29F - Backview (3565351519).jpg

| image2 = Mini-itx-motherboard.jpg

| footer = Color-coded motherboard [[ATX#Connectors|ATX connectors]]

}}

Perhaps the most end-user visible and lasting impact of PC 99 was that it introduced a [[color code]] for the various standard types of plugs and connectors used on PCs.<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/pcguides.mspx PC 99 System Design Guide], Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation, 14 July 1999. Chapter 3: PC 99 basic requirements ([http://download.microsoft.com/download/win2000pro/PCG/1.0/NT5/EN-US/pc99v1a.exe PC 99 System Design Guide (Self-extracting .exe archive)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216004214/http://download.microsoft.com/download/win2000pro/PCG/1.0/NT5/EN-US/pc99v1a.exe |date=2007-02-16 }}. Requirement 3.18.3: Systems use a color-coding scheme for connectors and ports. Accessed 2009-02-05</ref> As many of the connectors look very similar, particularly to a novice PC user, this made it far easier for people to connect peripherals to the correct ports on a PC. This color code was gradually adopted by almost all PC and [[PC motherboard|motherboard]] manufacturers. Some of the color codes have also been widely adopted by peripheral manufacturers.

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! colspan="2" | Color / [[Pantone|Pantone value]] !! Function !! Connector on PC

|-

! colspan="5" | User[[Computer inputmouse|Mouse]] and [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]]

|-

! style="background-color: #00DD7700c389;" | &nbsp;&nbsp;

! [[Green]] / 3395C

| [[PS/2 connectorport|PS/2]] [[MouseComputer (computing)mouse|mouse]] / [[pointing device]]

| rowspan="2" | 6-pin [[Mini-DIN connector|mini-DIN]] female

|-

! style="background-color: #d0a0ff8b84d7;" | &nbsp;

! [[Purple]] / 2715C

| PS/2 [[KeyboardComputer (computing)keyboard|keyboard]]

| 6-pin mini-DIN female

|-

! style="background-color: gold#cc8a00;" | &nbsp;

! [[Gold (color)|Gold]] / 131C

| [[Game port]] / [[Musical Instrument Digital Interface|MIDI]]

| 15-pin D female

|-

! colspan="5" | General [[input/output]]

|-

! style="background-color: white#25282a;" | &nbsp;

! [[WhiteBlack]] / 426C

| [[Universal Serial Bus#USB 1|USB]] 1
| lowUSB speedType andA full speedfemale

| USB Type A receptacle

|-

! style="background-color: black;" | &nbsp;

! [[Black]]

| [[Universal Serial Bus#USB 2.0|USB 2.0]] high speed

| USB Type A receptacle

|-

! style="background-color: #00B2EE;" | &nbsp;

! [[Sky blue]]

| [[USB 3.0|USB 3.0 SuperSpeed]]

| USB Type A SuperSpeed receptacle

|-

! style="background-color: yellow;" | &nbsp;

! [[Yellow]]

| [[USB 3.0|USB 3.0 SuperSpeed]] Always On even if the PC is turned off

| USB Type A SuperSpeed receptacle

|-

! style="background-color: red;" | &nbsp;

! [[Red]]

| High-power [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] (more than 500 mA current available)

| USB Type A receptacle

|-

! style="background-color: grey#707372;" | &nbsp;

! [[Grey]] / 424C

| [[IEEE 1394]] (FireWire)

| 6-pin FireWire 400 or 9-pin FireWire 800

|-

! style="background-color: #f040a0840b55;" | &nbsp;

! [[Burgundy (color)|Burgundy]] / 235C

| [[Parallel port]]

| 25-pin [[D-subminiature|D]] female

|-

! style="background-color: turquoise#007377;" | &nbsp;

! [[Teal (color)|Teal]] or [[Turquoise (color)|turquoise]] / 322C

| [[Serial port]]

| 9-pin [[D-subminiature|D]] male

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! colspan="5" | [[Video card|Video]]

|-

! style="background-color: blue#003594;" | &nbsp;

! [[Blue]] / 661C

| Analog monitor

| [[VGA connector|15-pin VGA]] female

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| [[Digital Visual Interface|DVI]] female

|-

! style="background-color: yellow#ffc72c;" | &nbsp;

! [[Yellow]] / 123C

| Video out: [[S-Video]]

| 4-pin [[Mini-DIN connector|mini-DIN]]

|-

! style="background-color: yellow#ffc72c;" | &nbsp;

! [[Yellow]] / 123C

| Video out: [[Composite video]]

| [[RCA connector|RCA jack]]

|-

! style="background-color: black;" | &nbsp;

! [[Black]]

| Digital audio/video

| [[High-Definition Multimedia Interface|HDMI]] or [[DisplayPort]] female

|-

! colspan="5" | [[Sound card|Audio]]

|-

! style="background-color: pink#e68699;" | &nbsp;

! [[Pink]] / 701C

| Analog [[microphone]] audio input (mono or stereo).

| rowspan="5" | 3.5&nbsp;mm [[TRSPhone connector (audio)|TRS]]

|-

! style="background-color: lightblue;" | &nbsp;

! Light [[blue]]

| Analog [[line level]] audio input

| 3.5&nbsp;mm [[TRS connector|TRS]]

|-

! style="background-color: palegreen;" | &nbsp;

! [[Lime green]]

| Analog line level audio output, front stereo (speakers or headphones)

| 3.5&nbsp;mm [[TRS connector|TRS]]

|-

! style="background-color: black;" | &nbsp;

! [[Black]]

| Analog line level audio output, rear stereo (surround speakers)

| 3.5&nbsp;mm [[TRS connector|TRS]]

|-

! style="background-color: orange#6cace4;" | &nbsp;

! Light [[Sky blue]] / 284C

! [[Orange (color)|Orange]]

| Analog [[line level audio output, center and [[subwoofer]] (surroundaudio speakers)input.

| 3.5&nbsp;mm [[TRS connector|TRS]]

|-

! style="background-color: silver#a9c47f;" | &nbsp;

! [[SilverLime (color)|SilverLime green]] / 577C

| Analog line level audio output, side stereo (surround speakers).

| 3.5&nbsp;mm [[TRS connector|TRS]]

|-

! style="background-color: orange#eca154;" | &nbsp;

! [[Orange (colorcolour)|Orange]] / 157C

| DigitalAnalog audio output (coaxialfor S/PDIF)the center speaker and [[Subwoofer]]

| [[RCA connector]]

|-

! style="background-color: black#ad7c59;" | &nbsp;

! [[BlackBrown]] / 4645C

| DigitalAnalog audio output (opticalfor S/PDIF)"right-to-left" speakers.

| [[TOSLINK]]

|}

==See also==

* [[ATX]]
* [[Legacy-free PC]]

* [[Multimedia PC]]

* [[Sound card]]

* [[IBM PC–compatible]]

* [[PoweredUSB]] (proprietary high-power USB extension using other color-coded ports)

==References==

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==External links==

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141127014030/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34585 Legacy PC Design Guides] – Microsoft Download Center

'''PDF versions:'''

*[http://tech-insider.org/windows/research/1997/0711.html PC -97 System Design Guide]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303173857/http://www-pc.uni-regensburg.de/hardware/TECHDOK/Pc98.pdf PC -98 System Design Guide]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930060636/http://www-pc.uni-regensburg.de/hardware/TECHDOK/PC_99_1.pdf PC -99 System Design Guide]

*[http://tech-insider.org/windows/research/2000/1102.html PC 2001 System Design Guide]

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[[Category:Color codes]]

[[Category:StandardsComputer standards]]

[[Category:IBM PC compatibles]]

It was very good

it was very good