VIA launched an updated version of its EPIA Mini-ITX mainboard at CeBIT 2006. Based on a 6-layer PCB and measuring in at 17cmx17cm, the EPIA EN-series sports the all-new VIA C7 processor family, starting at 1.5GHz (12W) and running up to 2.0GHz (20W TDP). VIA's CN700 digital media IGP includes a host of basic features and VIA's UniChrome Pro graphics. Southbridge features include Gigabit LAN and RAIDable SATA2.
The package will appeal to the user looking for quietness before, say, pure performance.
Looking for something smaller, then the newest iteration of the EPIA N-Series Nano-ITX could be ideal. The PCB measures just 12cmx12cm and adds in the VT8237R southbridge in addition to an integrated VIA Luke CoreFusion platform (Eden N CPU and CN400 northbridge). Video is provided by VIA's integrated UniChrome GPU with hardware-assisted MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 acceleration, although scant little else.
VIA showcased the Nano-ITX board inside a chassis designed to be installed into your car. Neat, eh?
Axper releases SKUs based on S3 Graphics Chrome S25/S27 GPUs
VIA/S3 Graphics have managed to recruit Axper, the low-cost arm of Gigabyte, who has selected to market S3 Graphics' S25 and S27 Chrome GPUs, both of which can be run in multi-GPU mode on VIA's K8T900 for AMD's CPUs and the forthcoming PT900 for Intel processors. Whilst the Chrome S27 is touted as a midrange card, it packs in a core speed of 700MHz; currently the fastest pure MHz speed available from any SKU.
Axper better get busy and place a few heatsinks on its boards, huh? :)
