DFI

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DFI Inc.

Parent		Qisda Corporation
Website	www.dfi.com

DFI (Diamond Flower Inc) is a Taiwanese industrial

services.

DFI was founded by Y.C Lu on July 14, 1981, developing and selling electronics components and add-on cards in the beginning. However, DFI switched to the production of motherboards after searching for potential markets and deciding to focus on the strengths of DFI. Targeting the new growing market in motherboard products, DFI announced the Patent License Agreement with Intel Corporation to build partnership with Intel in 1990 and has been developing and manufacturing motherboard products since 1992. With continuous dedication, DFI quickly gained a reputation in Asia-Pacific region after five years and was awarded Top 10 Motherboard Manufacturer in CRN Magazine from the year 1997 to 1999. Starting from 1998, DFI began to follow the strategies of Intel by releasing Intel 440BX series motherboards, 810 motherboards, and 810e motherboards to worldwide markets. Since its growing advances in manufacturing motherboards, DFI was awarded the Intel Global Demo Board manufacturer award in 1998 and 1999 respectively.

Catering to the growing market of high-end motherboards, DFI developed advanced overclocking motherboards, the LanParty series, which has proven to be a valuable segment for small powerful computers that meet the requirements of end users in the 2000s.^{[citation needed]} DFI introduced the junior lineup (“JR”) with two products, p45 and 790gx, in the beginning, which has since been extended with Nvidia and X58 chipsets. There are other LanParty series like LT, DK(Dark), and Lanparty UT.

With blossoming business in the market, DFI went public and launched its initial public offering (

.

Since DFI planned to focus on developing embedded system products, not only did they stop developing Consumer Product Line, but also started establishing embedded system developments and designs in 2011 to expand its industrial computer business.

History

1981–1991

In 1981, Y.C Lu founded DFI Electronics Components Inc. in Taipei, Taiwan; mainly supplying and exporting electronics components with $1 million in capital. During the first year, DFI earned a revenue of $30 million. In 1984, DFI established facility in Taipei and began manufacturing and selling computers and peripherals. When the capital increased up to $10 million, the Sales (Revenue) Growth Rate of DFI also increased to 300% and DFI successfully expanded its operations to the American regions as well as earning nearly $1 billion in revenues. In 1987, with the capital of $30 million, DFI started to establish facility in Hsi-Chih City, Taiwan. At the same time, DFI planned to stretch its product line into the European markets, starting with Germany and England. As of 1988, the facility relocated to Hsi-Chih City, which was the major facility of DFI. With the expansion of production line and the addition of Automatic Test Equipment (ATE), DFI not only upgraded the quality of products, but also released a handheld scanner. As of 1989, DFI added Computer Aided Design System (CAD) to its facility to manufacture more products like computer mouse, handheld scanner, personal computer, and add-on card, etc. In 1990, DFI announced its Patent License Agreement with Intel Corporation and became the first company with an assembly production line in America to enable technical support service in cooperation with Intel. DFI's capital increased to $196 million and expanded its facility to 1,900 square feet in 1991.

1992–2000

As of 1992, DFI introduced ICT and

in Computer World Magazine in China. In early May of the same year, DFI launched 810 motherboard to the market, following the release of Intel and had already gone into mass production worldwide. The 810e motherboard was re-awarded Intel Global Demo Board and was launched to the market in September, 1999. DFI went public and launched its initial public offering (IPO) on 15, January, 2000. During the same year, DFI founded Diamond Flower H.T. Group (BVI) Inc.

2001–2005

In April 2001, DFI's facilities added the seventh

i.MX53 processors.

2006–2010

As of 2006, GE became the vital investor of DFI, benefiting from a large amount of DFI's business as well as acquiring 100% equity of DFI-Japan. With the acquisition cost of NTD 24.55 million, it allowed DFI to completely devote itself to in-depth industrial computer market in Japan. In the following three years, the consolidated revenue growth rate in ACP (Applied Computing Platform) business increased over 51%. DFI then launched a product line based on

Intel 960 Series Chipsets (code name: Crestline), including different form factors consisting of SR100-L20C Mini-ITX motherboard and SR330-L microATX motherboard. In the same year, DFI also launched a product line based on Intel 945P Chipsets (code name: Lakeport), covering different form factors like G7L331-B microATX motherboard and LT600-D ATX motherboard. As of 2007, DFI's capital increased to NTD1.14 billion as well as a 65.77% equity of DFI-ITOX with acquisition cost of NTD 234 million. To guarantee exceptional quality and reliability of products under rigorous quality standards, DFI's products were approved by QC080000, WASO14001, and Green Partner certifications in 2007. DFI launched a product line based on Intel G41 Chipsets (code name: Eagle Lake), inclusive of EL109-N Mini-ITX motherboard, EL339-B microATX motherboard, and EL620-C ATX motherboard, as well as HNVR320-EL embedded system. In 2007, DFI also released a product line based on Intel Q35 Chipsets (code name: Bearlake), ranging from BL100-NE/PE Mini-ITX motherboard, to BL330-B microATX motherboard, to BL631-D ATX motherboard, As of 2008, DFI's capital increased to NTD 1.19 billion, acquiring 100% equity of YAN TONG TECHNOLOGYLTD with acquisition cost of NTD 187.26 million, as well as increasing the capital to DFI-Japan to JPY 280 million. In 2008, DFI released a product line based on Intel GM45 Chipsets (code name: Cantiga), ranging from CA900-B COM Express Basic, to small form factor CA230-BF Mini-DTX board, to CA101-D Mini-ITX motherboard, to CA331-P microATX motherboard. Furthermore, DFI launched a product series based on Intel Atom Processor Z500 series (code name: Silverthorne), offering from ML905-B11C/B16C COM Express, to small form factor ML936-B11C/B16C board, to CS910-ML embedded system. In the same year, DFI also kicked off a full range of product series which were based on Intel 945GSE Chipsets (code name: Navy Pier), covering from NP102-N16C Mini-ITX motherboard, to NP905-B16C COM Express Compact, to NP951-B16C small form factor 3.5" SBC, to ES122-NP embedded system. As of 2009, DFI's capital increased to NTD 1.21 billion. And DFI launched a lineup including PT330-DRM microATX motherboard, PT631-IPM ATX motherboard, and HNVR320-PT embedded system based on Intel Core/Intel Pentium Processors (code name: Piketon). In 2010, DFI's capital increased to NTD 1.202 billion. DFI also launched a product line including CP100-NRM Mini-ITX motherboard, CP330-NRM microATX motherboard, CP908-B COM Express Compact, and ST101-CP embedded system based on Intel Core/Intel® Celeron® Processors with Mobile Intel QM57 Chipset (code name: Calpella).

DFI also launched system-on-module Qseven, QB700-B + Q7951, which was powered by Intel Atom E600 series processors (code name: Queensbay). In the end of 2010, DFI launched LR100-N18D/S/M Mini-ITX motherboard, LR905-B18D/S/M COM Express, and EC200/210/220/221 embedded system, which were based on

Intel Atom® D525/D425 series processors (code name: Luna Pier).

2011–2018

In May 2011, DFI's process-on-order factory in China was transformed into Sole proprietorship, which was capitalized with US$2.5 million. To expand its industrial computer business, DFI established a system engineering department to fulfill highly dedicated researches and design developments for the future. In 2012, DFI launched a product line based on

line to the factory to scale up its facilities and production capability.

Popular products

As of 2012, DFI stopped consumer product line and no longer produced high-end gamer boards such as the LanParty series for end users

DFI-ACP

DFI is also manufacturing motherboards for various industrial purposes. DFI-ACP is a Wintel based platform provider for non-PC business, products range from board level, open frame, add-on boards to barebone systems.^[2]

References