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 compatiblepersonal computers, 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. The book Hardware Design Guide for Microsoft Windows 95 was a predecessor to the PC System Design Guide. Unlike the PC System Design Guide, Hardware Design Guide for Microsoft Windows 95 only focused IBM PC Compatables and Windows 95. In PC-97, a distinction was made between the requirements of a Basic PC, a Workstation PC and an Entertainment PC. In PC-98, the Mobile PC was added as a category. In PC 2001, the Entertainment PC was dropped.
Final version. First to require IO-APICs to be enabled on all desktop systems. Places a greatly increased emphasis on legacy-reduced and 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.
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."
Color coded sound card connector on a Sound BlasterA simple block diagram on how to wire a basic computer stereo setup according to the PC System Design Guide.
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. As many of the connectors look similar, particularly to a novice PC user, this provided another visual aid to make it easier for people to connect peripherals to the correct ports on a PC. This color code was gradually adopted by almost all PC and motherboard manufacturers. Some of the color codes have also been widely adopted by peripheral manufacturers.
Analog line level audio output for surround optional side stereo.
Icons
Another long lasting inpact of the PC System Design Guide is that it recommended a set of icons that were created by Microsoft. These icons first appeared in the Hardware Design Guide for Microsoft Windows 95. While the use of these icons were not required, they became de facto standard. This icon set was later officially extended by Hewlett-Packard and unofficially others.
Hewlett-Packard's official extensionsUnofficial extensionsIEC 60417, unrelated to the PC System Design Guide
↑Robert Bruce Thompson; Barbara Fritchman Thompson (24 July 2003). PC Hardware in a Nutshell (3rded.). O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. p.1.1 PCs Defined. ISBN0-596-00513-X. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
↑"Chapter 3 PC System". PC 2001 System Design Guide(PDF). Intel Corporation and Microsoft Corporation. p.52. Retrieved 2023-06-03. SYS–0047. A20M# is always de-asserted (pulled high) at the processor
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