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Mobo for Vertically Challenged Devices
An anonymous reader writes "VIA is shipping an ultra-low profile mini-ITX mainboard suitable for flat TVs, LCD-panel computers, and other vertically challenged devices. The Epia MS uses a minimalistic I/O backplate and SODIMM memory for a slimmer form-factor, and is VIA's first mini-ITX board available with a fanless 1GHz Eden embedded processor. The board has several processor options, but they all include the PadLock Ace hardware RNG and AES encrypt/decrypt features that are now supported by the Linux and BSD kernels."
Aren't flat TVs depth challenged rather then vertically challenged? Unless of course you lay it on the ground and stand over it to watch it.....
Now we can finally build our own WiFi Surfboards!!! Apart from the crazy ones, mobos like this will probably open up a whole slew of new uses.
Help a college student
To a linux-y iMac? IE a very small, compact all in one computer that runs linux? Could make some serious inroads for linux on the desktop. A think the appeal of the iMac lies in that it is small, easy to hook up(no rats nest), and has astehtic value.
Making a cheap version of this could definatly have market potential(esp. since you can control the hardware, it makes plug and play linux even easier)
What with the aes padlock - does the chip have a FPU? Are they going to start bringing the prices down. The ECS Ubuddy was dirt cheap, but ECS abandoned ITX. I spent 12 weeks in RIA hell, finally got a Ubuddy with a new mobo that I had to put a P-4 in. Oh well. Is their linux drivers better - was hell getting Mndrake 8.2 and 9.1 up on the 733 mhz mobo? I finally got a machine that rocked, and then the fan was spluttering and ECS eventually said they abandoned that mobo due to the voltage regulator. Oh well, Mark
Home users want the kind of power that will decode an Mpeg-4 stream smoothly.
Some of us want enough power to decode MP3s.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Sounds like a good fit for a lot of security-related applications--rackmount DMZ servers, firewalls, central controller for various physical security devices (biometrics controlling electronic locks on doors, etc.) I knew that the hardware RNG and AES-encrypt/decrypt functions were supported by OpenBSD a while ago (don't ask me when...I think by the time 3.4 came around. Confirmation?) It's no small feat to have them in other kernels, and bodes well for OSS applications. I'd assume it's also low-power due to the small form factor, which is another plus. Can't check the article, as my manager's about to breathe down my neck. :)
While there are indeed fanless mini-ITX systems, this ain't one of them.
You were 80% angel, 10% demon. The rest was hard to explain. - Over The Rhine
"Math in a song is good."-Linford
Via needs to get rid of all onboard connectors and replace them all with handy-dandy pinouts on the mainboard instead. Would make for some WAY easier modifications, as you can mount the connectors wherever the hell you want them and then wire them to the mainboard, instead of trying to force the mainboard into some awkward angle just so you can plug in the mouse and keyboard...
Hate me!
According to the pictures on Linuxdevices.com this board is neither specially thin (why make only one row of I/Os on the backplate if the power connector and CPU cooler are thicker?) nor fanless (apart from the fact that a fan needs room above it as well!)
But ... that heatsink it quite large, they might as well have put all the interfaces on the back panel!
Maybe it they removed the PCI slot and put some of the other interfaces along that side of the board they could truly make it an expandable thin system? Also if they upgraded to the CN400 chipset in addition...
* reasonably happy owner of a VIA Epia800 - mainly because I got it 20 months ago and it hasn't depreciated one bit since *
Has someone really proven that the apparent quantum randomness is really random?
-Mike
They take less power, and there already exists a (several in fact) DC-DC converter for them. It's a daughterboard/PSU that clips right on the mobo's atx connector, and takes 12VDC in. Ie; wire it right up to your car, or the 12V line of another PSU (ie embed another computer in an open drive bay), or a wall-wart, etc.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
as normal PC components get smaller and cheaper, why not just let them use standard device? so that we can hook the digital tv to the internet, which will update its codec periodically in case there's something new out.
The first guy who will come out with a laptop-form factor chassis for those motherboards will make a killing, a bit like the "lunchbox" chassis of yesteryear.
We'll be able to crank-out custom laptops make to suit our desires without having to contend with proprietary crap which won't properly run [insert favourite non-proprietary open-source/subversive operating system]...
Anybody have any experience using the VIA EPIA boards for DVD and video playback? I'm specifically interested in the MII 12000 for creating a MythTV box. I was also thinking MicroATX, but Pentium 4's and Athlon XPs run hotter and draw more power than the C3. I'd like to keep the power supply and CPU Fan and as quiet as possible.
Extreme Tech was decidedly underwhelmed by the M10000 while mini-itx.com seems to think is fine. The mini-itx review seemed a little hand-wavy though.
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In X-Windows the client serves YOU!
According to the _article_, there are two CPU models : one requiring the "fansink" (oy!) and one without (800MHz).
What perfect timing! I had a Netgear modem gateway die on me and its metal case is small (7" x 10")and sturdy. However, it's a skosh too shallow to fit an Epia 800 because of the serial and parallel ports (stupid legacy ports!!!!).
Screed