August 1, 2025
Subject: Obsolescence of EXC-4000 Carrier Boards
Date: August 1, 2025
Document Update Date: November 5, 2025
PCN Effective Date: November 5, 2025
PCN Status: Final Notification
PCN Type: Obsolescence Notice
Products Affected:
- EXC-4000PCI
- EXC-4000PCIe
- EXC-4000cPCI
- EXC-4000VME
- EXC-4000VXI
- EXC-664PCIe
Description and Reason for Change:
As noted in our previous announcement — Excalibur | 4000 Obsolescence Notification — the 96-pin mating connector used for our EXC-4000 family of carrier boards has been obsolete for several years. We issued an early warning to help customers plan ahead.
To minimize disruption, we took multiple steps:
- Developed the EXC-8000 family, which supports the same module types as the 4000 family, with improved capacity and a modern connector.
- Upgraded our 4000 half cards to support the full range of M4K modules.
- Secured a large last-time buy of the 96-pin connectors to extend the lifecycle of the 4000-product line.
That connector inventory is now depleted. As a result, we are officially declaring the EXC-4000PCI, EXC-4000PCIe, EXC-4000VME, EXC-4000cPCI, and EXC-4000VXI boards obsolete as of Date of this document. We can offer the carrier boards without the mating connector or the cable for use with existing projects that need a card replacement.
Migration Guidance
We would like to highlight several points to ease your transition:
- API Compatibility: The M8K modules for the 8000 family use the same API as the M4K modules - no code recompilation is required.
- Channel Count: Some M8K modules have a lower channel count than their M4K counterparts. However, since 8000-series boards can accommodate more modules, no additional chassis slots are needed. In fact, users benefit from increased dual-port RAM per channel.
- Module Equivalency: Some modules — such as all MIL-STD-1553 modules and the 5-channel ARINC-429 module — are functionally identical between M4K and M8K versions.
- For applications requiring only one or two modules, the EXC-4000PCI(e)HC supports up to two M4K modules and is fully compatible with the EXC-4000PCI(e) boards - again, no code changes are needed.
- We also offer the EXC-8000cPCI board to meet cPCI requirements.
Note:
- Please contact your local representative to discuss alternative solutions and migration paths.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or to discuss your specific application requirements. Our team is committed to supporting a smooth transition with minimal disruption to your engineering efforts.
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Obsolete Part Number
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Replacement Part Number
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EXC-4000PCIe
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EXC-4000PCIeHC - for up to 2 modules {uses different connector}
EXC-8000PCIe {uses different connector}
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EXC-4000PCI
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EXC-4000PCIHC - for up to 2 modules {uses different connector}
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EXC-4000cPCI
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EXC-8000cPCI – {uses different connector}
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EXC-664PCIe
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EXC-8000PCIe with AFDX module(s) {uses different connector}
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EXC-4000VME
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No replacement
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EXC-4000VXI
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No replacement
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