| Mini-ITX madness |
(Updated Feb. 18, 2005)
This WindowsForDevices.com guide to mini-ITX motherboards in the world of Windows Embedded provides an introduction to mini-ITX and aggregates news stories, project features, board announcements, and more. Read each article and follow the emergence of mini-ITX as one of the key form-factors for Windows Embedded based products and projects!
What is mini-ITX?
 Mini-ITX is an ultra-compact (6.7 x 6.7 in.) mainboard form-factor developed by Via Technologies Inc. Mini-ITX targets a new generation of quiet, small footprint, connected, information and entertainment systems and enables the creation of an exciting new generation of small, ergonomic, innovative, and affordable embedded systems through its high level of integration and vastly reduced size of less than 33 percent that of the FlexATX mainboard form-factor.
The mini-ITX form-factor, as originally defined by VIA
Key Mini-ITX resources: - Mini-ITX form-factor whitepaper -- The above drawing comes from VIA's original whitepaper defining the mini-ITX form-factor. The full mini-ITX whitepaper is available here (PDF download).
- Mini-ITX.com -- a website devoted to mini-ITX news and projects -- Mini-ITX.com provides comprehensive coverage of mini-ITX news, projects, and hardware, along with a mini-ITX FAQ and an online store for purchasing selected mini-ITX boards, enclosures, and other related hardware. details
- Epiacenter.com -- "The Mini-ITX Professionals" -- EPIA is VIA's designation for its line of mini-ITX mainboards. Along with news and forums, this site has extensive reviews of mini-ITX boards and related products. details
Mini-ITX boards
 World's fastest Mini-ITX mobo? -- Feb. 18, 2005 -- General Micro Systems is shipping what it claims is "absolutely the fastest" Mini-ITX motherboard. Powered by Pentium M processors at up to 2.3 GHz, the P620 Hawk is crammed with interfaces and expansion buses, and may also be the first Mini-ITX mobo to offer PMC expansion. details
 Mini-ITX mobo uses newest Via chipset, supports Windows Embedded -- Dec. 17, 2004 -- Commell is shipping a mini-ITX board said to offer advanced graphics features, based on Via's latest northbridge. The LV-667 is available with a variety of video port options, and targets PVRs, set-top boxes, gaming machines, kiosks, POS (point-of-sales/service) devices, and more. details
 World's first dual-processor mini-ITX mobo? -- Oct. 06, 2004 -- Via will ship its long-awaited "SP" mini-ITX board in November, followed in early 2005 by a "DP" model with dual nanoBGA embedded processors -- quite likely the world's first dual processor mini-ITX mobo. Both mini-ITX boards will feature a new northbridge supporting faster FSB (front-side bus), southbridge interconnect, and DDR memory speeds, and hardware MPEG-4 acceleration. details
 Mini-ITX SBC supports Intel Pentium M processors -- Aug. 04, 2004 -- Ibase Technology announced a Pentium M based single-board computer (SBC) in the 170 x 170 mm Mini-ITX format that is said to support Microsoft's latest Windows Embedded operating systems. The MB890 SBC boasts processor speeds up to 1.6GHz and provides integrated graphics capabilities. details
 Eden-based mini-ITX SBC supports Windows Embedded -- Jul. 27, 2004 -- BCM Advanced Research has introduced a Mini-ITX SBC (single board computer) intended for medical, POS, kiosk, and digital multimedia applications. The MX266 supports Via Eden processors ranging from 400MHz to 1.0GHz. The board's software support includes Windows XP Embedded and Windows CE 4.2 and 5.0. details
 New VIA mini-ITX board targets vertically challenged apps -- June 24, 2004 -- 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. details
 Next-gen VIA mobo touts speed, security, MPEG-4 -- May 27, 2004 -- VIA will preview its next-generation mini-ITX board for the consumer electronics market at next week's Computex 2004 in Taipei. The EPIA SP features a new graphics and memory controller hub (GMCH) supporting faster front-side bus (FSB), memory, and southbridge interconnect speeds. It also features a C3 processor clocked at 1.3GHz, integrated PadLock Hardware Security Suite, and MPEG-4 acceleration. details
 Mini-ITX board boasts die-shrunk Pentium M -- May 25, 2004 -- Single-board computer vendor Lippert announced mini-ITX form-factor board support for Intel's new Dothan processor, a 90nm die-shrink of the Pentium M released today by Intel. The Dothan chip includes 170 million transistors, compared with 77 million on the previous Pentium M, making lots more room for on-chip memory caches, according to Lippert. details
 Centrino-like mini-ITX board available passively cooled -- Jan. 17, 2004 -- German single-board computer vendor Lippert is shipping a passively cooled version of its Centrino-like Thunderbird mini-ITX board based on an Intel Pentium M running at 1.3GHz. An actively cooled version running at 1.6GHz has been available since mid-December, 2003. Additionally, Lippert is readying a number of mini-PCI expansion devices and PCI riser cards for the boards. details
 Transmeta spins Crusoe-based mini-ITX mobo -- Jan. 07, 2004 -- Transmeta introduces two reference platforms to support device and system designs based on its Efficeon TM8600 and Crusoe TM5900 processors. Interestingly, the Crusoe TM5900 reference platform (pictured on the left) is implemented in the increasingly popular mini-ITX motherboard form-factor. details
 Mini-ITX P4M motherboard soars to 1700MHz and beyond -- Dec. 17, 2003 -- Taiwanese industrial computer board supplier Commell pushes the speed envelope for the compact mini-ITX mini motherboard form-factor, with the release of a mini-ITX board that supports Intel's mobile Pentium 4 processors at clock rates in excess of 1.7GHz. details
First Pentium M based mini-ITX SBC runs Windows CE, XP Embedded Sep. 03, 2003 -- Lippert GmbH introduces what is claimed to be the first mini-ITX form-factor motherboard to be based on an Intel Pentium M processor. The compact (6.7 x 6.7 in.) Thunderbird SBC features a Centrino-like architecture, with Intel northbridge and southbridge and a mini-PCI slot. details
 First mobile Pentium 4 mini-ITX SBC? -- Jun. 16, 2003 -- Commell announces what is claimed to be the first mini-ITX form-factor single-board computer (SBC) to be based on an Intel mobile Pentium 4 processor. Commell said its LV-670M SBC supports Linux and other embedded and desktop operating systems and targets VoD (video on demand), DVR (Digital Video Recorder), digital video broadcasting (DVB), streaming, surveillance, compression (MPEG), interactive servers, POS, Kiosk, ATM, Panel PC, transaction workstation, and terminal applications. details
End products based on mini-ITX and Windows Embedded
 Windows XP Pro powers digital radio broadcasting device -- Nov. 18, 2003 -- Want to set up your own digital broadcast station? Chipmaker VIA Technologies and WorldVibrations, a multimedia production company, say they have teamed up to create an easy-to-use "digital radio station" for on-the-air, Internet, corporate network, satellite, or in-house broadcasting purposes. details
 Windows XP Embedded powers CD/DVD duplicators -- May 21, 2004 -- MF Digital has standardized on mini-ITX as the architecture and Windows XP Embedded as the operating system for its EC (Endless Configuration) series of stand-alone CD and DVD copiers. The devices require no monitor, mouse, or keyboard but rely instead on a simple Copy/Compare keypad with backlit LCD display. details
News about mini-ITX
 The joy of mini-ITX -- Jun. 12, 2003 -- The Globe and Mail's "Chic Geek" Ian Johnson has discovered the mini-ITX motherboard form-factor, and he likes what he sees. In his article titled "Mini-ITX: Incredibly Tiny, eXceptionally cool," Johnson notes that "Mini-ITX motherboards are just starting to go mainstream, and they're real beauties if you want to save money and space. They're about the size of a CD jewel case and sell for between $75 and $200 (U.S.), depending on the speed of their built-in processor. All you have to do is add a case, memory and a hard disk, load an operating system and plug in a monitor, and you're off . . . " details
 VIA reveals next chapter of incredible shrinking motherboard saga -- Sep. 29, 2003 -- VIA CEO Wenchi Chen unveiled a prototype of the next evolution of his company's continually shrinking motherboard form-factor at the VIA Technology Forum last week in Taipei, Taiwan. VIA's Nano-ITX form-factor measures just 4.7 x 4.7 in. and represents the "smallest standard platform with full PC functionality," Chen said. details
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