Since its launch, PICMG’s CompactPCI® standard has proved to be very popular among modular system designers, installers and users alike. However, the J2 connector of current CompactPCI® embedded computers cannot support the high density pin-out of high speed differential signals that many new applications demand. Any changes to the standard have to be made mindful of the need for backward compatibility to support investments in legacy PCI bus cards and backplanes fitted with 2mm Hard Metric (HM) connectors.