> In a way yes. In a way no. Take a look at your average PCI card
> (like, say, trident video, something not very expensive) What do
> you see ? couple of big chips, few discrete parts, lot's of
> connections.
[...]
> As for the actual design then a _lot_ of chip manufacturers give
> them to you so you would use their chips. In fact, the reason that
> there are different looking cards is because people either try to
> make something there aren't standard chips for, or try to cut costs
> and corners (more popular).
PCI cards are difficult to make - probably mostly because
- the have complex PCBs which make life interesting and expensive
for low volume
- the use big SMT chips, which are cumbersome to solder by hand or
again, in low volume
- the `big-chips' they use need to be programmed by the cluefull
so the BIOS knows that to do with them (if anything)
Anyone who can make PCI cards in low volume for a reasonable price or
is interested in some kewl hack toys, please please please contact me
off the list. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt if you were outside the US
either, but that may not be necessary.
-cw
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