VIA EPIA Mini-ITX Mainboard Leading the Small Form
Factor Trend
Computex 2002 highlights the growing momentum behind
the world’s smallest and most highly integrated motherboard form factor
Taipei, Taiwan, 6 June 2002 -
VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of
silicon chip technologies and PC platform
solutions, today announced surging support
for the VIA EPIA Mini-ITX mainboard, with Computex 2002 as the showcase for the
increasing number of products available from a greater number of manufacturers.
Since the introduction of the
VIA EPIA Mini-ITX mainboard at CeBIT 2002, the list of chassis manufacturers
building small form factor cases for the Mini-ITX has grown considerably with
Morex
Information Ent., Co., Ltd.,
G-Alantic Enterprise
Co., Ltd.,
Yeong Yang Technology
Group Co., Ltd.,
Chenbro Group,
and Casetek
leading the market. In addition, a large number of accessories such as PCI riser
cards, USB and Consumer Infra Red (CIR) modules and low power, small form factor
power supply units to help reduce the size and noise of Mini-ITX systems have
been introduced onto the market.
“We are seeing the appearance
of a whole new market out there for quiet, small form factor and highly
integrated systems for a variety of computing and multimedia applications,”
noted Richard Brown, Director of Marketing
for VIA Technologies, Inc. “The emergence of more and more suppliers of the
Mini-ITX mainboard and accompanying accessories validates the existence and
rapid growth of this segment.”
Morex Information Enterprise Co., Ltd.
is a leading supplier of Mini-ITX chassis in Europe and the USA. "The market is
turning towards inexpensive, smaller and more task specific PC systems, and the
Mini-ITX is the perfect platform for these systems," said Steven Lin, product
manager of Morex Information Enterprise Co., Ltd.
Another Mini-ITX front-runner
is BONA Computech
Ltd, with their impressive range of Mini-ITX
Chasses, PCI riser cards and
Lex barebones systems. “The
big advantage of our systems is that they are as versatile as the Mini-ITX
itself, with options ranging from small dual hard drive systems to tiny, fanless,
VIA Eden™ Platform based systems using an external power supply,” said Gary
Chiang,
Managing Director of BONA Computech, Ltd.
Biostar® Group,
Jet Way Information Co.
Ltd. and
BONA Computech, Ltd.
have also announced their intention to launch Mini-ITX mainboards in the near
future.
Due to the excitement and
interest that has been generated in the Mini-ITX form factor, a website called
Mini-ITX.com,
dedicated specifically to the Mini-ITX form factor, was launched recently. It
features news, reviews and availability information on all Mini-ITX mainboards,
accessories and chasses internationally.
Ultra Compact VIA EPIA
Mini-ITX
Mainboard
The new VIA EPIA Mini-ITX
motherboard provides system integrators and OEMs with a standardized ultra
compact yet highly integrated platform that can be utilized across multiple mini
PC, Information Station, Information Server, and Broadband Gateway product
lines. With a footprint that measures only 170mm x 170mm, the new VIA EPIA
Mini-ITX
motherboard is more than 33% smaller than any other motherboard form factor
currently available on the market. It also comes with a rich feature set that
includes a VIA C3™ processor (EBGA package), integrated AGP graphics and audio,
IEEE 1394, USB 2.0, TV-Out connector, Ethernet networking, and SPDIF 5.1 audio
channels that are not available on other small form factor motherboards.
Featuring a powerful
processor core available with native x86 execution, 192KB full speed L1/L2
cache, and MMXÔ
and 3DNow!Ô
support, the EPIA Mini-ITX delivers leading edge PC application and Internet
performance on an embedded platform and is fully compatible with a complete
range of MicrosoftÒ
WindowsÒ
XP, Windows 9x, Embedded Windows, and Windows CE operating systems as well as
all the leading versions of Linux. The VIA Eden Platform’s multimedia
performance is further enhanced by its integrated APG2X/4X graphics with full
3D/2D/video acceleration, including motion compensation for advanced video
applications. Market-leading thermal characteristics make the VIA EPIA Mini-ITX
the ideal solution for ergonomic fanless system designs for a variety of
innovative low profile, small form factors, and translate into lower energy
costs and longer battery life in mobile designs. The EPIA Mini-ITX is also
available with the VIA Eden™ Platform for ultra low power Information Appliance
designs.
More information about the
new ultra compact VIA EPIA Mini-ITX mainboard can be found at
http://www.viavpsd.com/product/epia_mini_itx_spec.jsp.
The VIA EPIA Mini-ITX mainboard is available from VPSD distributors worldwide;
further information on availability can be found at:
http://www.viavpsd.com/wheretobuy/where2buy.jsp.
A list of Mini-ITX mainboard manufacturers can be seen at
http://www.via.com.tw/en/VInternet/mini_itx.jsp.
About VIA Technologies, Inc.
VIA
Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator and developer of PC core logic
chipsets, microprocessors, and multimedia, communications, optical media and
networking chips. VIA delivers value to the PC industry by designing, marketing,
and selling high-performance VIA Apollo core logic chipsets for the full range
of PC platforms, and cost-effective VIA C3™ processors for Value PCs and
Internet Appliances, as well as developing complete solutions for the PC
platform through its VPSD Business Unit. Its customers include the world's top
OEMs, mainboard manufacturers, and system integrators. VIA is headquartered in
Taipei, Taiwan, at the center of the Greater China high-tech manufacturing
engine, and has branch offices in the US, China and Europe. The company is
listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE2388), and achieved annual revenues of
nearly US$1 billion in 2001. Additional information can be found at
www.via.com.tw.
