Patent ID: 7170757
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
1. A field changeable graphics card for use in a computing device, comprising: a printed circuit board; a plurality of mechanical keep-out zones defined on the printed circuit board, the keep out zones being adapted to accommodate a plurality of on-board components; a card connector zone disposed along a first edge of the printed circuit board; one or more support holes disposed proximate to a second edge of the printed circuit board, wherein the second edge is located opposite the first edge and the support holes are sized to receive supports adapted for maintaining the graphics card in a substantially parallel, spaced apart orientation relative to a motherboard, wherein the field changeable graphics card resides in an independent, spaced-apart position relative to the motherboard, and wherein the plurality of mechanical keep-out zones comprises: a graphics processing unit zone located on a first face of the printed circuit board and disposed proximate to a center of the printed circuit board, the graphics processing unit zone sized to receive a graphics processing unit; a first memory zone disposed between the graphics processing unit zone and the second edge of the printed circuit board, the first memory zone being sized to receive up to two pieces of memory; and a second memory zone disposed between the graphics processing unit zone and a third edge of the printed circuit board, wherein the third edge is substantially perpendicular to the first and second edges and the second memory zone is sized to receive up to two pieces of memory.