VPX vs. VME - What’s the Difference?
Organisations running long-lifecycle embedded systems often reach a point where they must decide whether to continue with VME-based platforms or move to a more modern architecture such as VPX. Both standards have been widely used in defence, aerospace, transportation and industrial applications, but they serve different needs. This guide outlines the key differences to help you understand which is right for your next project or system refresh.
A Quick Introduction to VME and VPX
VME (VERSAmodule Eurocard) is a parallel bus computer architecture introduced in the early 1980s. Known for its rugged Eurocard mechanical format, stability and exceptional backward compatibility, VME became the go-to standard for mission-critical systems with long deployment lifecycles.
VPX (VITA 46/48), developed in the mid-2000s, is the next-generation evolution designed to accommodate high-speed serial fabrics, significantly greater bandwidth and much higher compute performance. It keeps the modular Eurocard concept but offers a modern connector and signal design suited to today’s data-intensive applications.
VME vs. VPX Comparison Table
| Feature | VME | VPX |
|---|---|---|
| First introduced | Early 1980s | Mid-2000s |
| Bus architecture | Parallel bus | High-speed serial fabrics |
| Bandwidth | Typically up to a few hundred MB/s (with VME64x/2eSST) | Multi-GB/s performance |
| Connectors | Traditional VME connectors | High-density Multi-Gigabit VPX connectors |
| Ruggedisation options | Standard conduction- and air-cooled variants | Enhanced rugged standards (VITA 47, VITA 48) for defence/aerospace |
| Backward compatibility | Strong – designed to protect legacy investment | Limited – new backplane and ecosystem required |
| Ideal use cases | Proven, stable platforms in long-life programmes | High-performance, data-heavy, next-generation systems |
Why Choose VME?
VME remains in service worldwide because of its stability, maturity and long-term support. It is particularly suited to:
Programmes with extended field lifetimes of 10–30+ years
Systems where reliability and certification have already been established
Applications that don’t demand cutting-edge bandwidth but require proven rugged performance
Many organisations continue to upgrade VME systems by refreshing processor cards rather than replacing entire platforms, dramatically reducing cost and risk.
Choose VME if your focus is on:
Extending life of deployed systems
Minimising redesign, certification, and programme disruption
Proven technology with long-term supply chain support
Why Choose VPX?
VPX was designed to address the limitations of VME when it comes to modern computing. It provides:
High-speed serial interconnects for advanced data processing
Support for GPUs, AI workloads, multi-core processors and sensor fusion
High-density, rugged mechanical designs for defence and aerospace environments
Faster I/O, higher bandwidth and scalable data fabrics such as PCIe, Ethernet, and Serial RapidIO
It is the preferred choice when building brand-new systems requiring cutting-edge processing speeds, complex data handling and future performance scalability.
Choose VPX if you need:
Significantly higher performance and data throughput
Support for AI, sensor fusion, and modern compute workloads
A platform for future-proof next-generation systems
Is VPX a Replacement for VME?
VPX is best seen as the successor to VME, but not a direct plug-in replacement. Migration requires design changes due to the new backplane, connector technology and system architecture. For many programmes, a hybrid approach is common:
Continue supporting VME for legacy systems
Adopt VPX for new designs requiring advanced performance
Many organisations run both, as they serve different stages of a product or platform lifecycle.
Concurrent Technologies provides solutions for organisations looking to maintain or upgrade VME-based systems, as well as those adopting VPX for high-performance applications. Whether you’re extending the life of existing platforms or architecting the next generation of embedded computing, our boards and systems help bridge the gap.