(Click here for a larger view of Via's AMOS-3000)
Via's Epia P700
(Click image for further information) |
Touted as having a "unique heat fin design inspired by classical Chinese architecture," the AMOS-3000 is said to be the first of a planned series of complete embedded computers from Via. Measuring just 5.3 x 5.15 x 1.77 inches, the device is built around a previously released
pico-ITX main board, the
Epia P700 (see below for further details).
According to Via, the AMOS-3000's chassis combines steel, aluminum, and copper, offering "superb heat dissipation." The little PC tolerates shocks up to 50G, vibration up to 5Grms, and operates over a temperature range of -20 to 60 deg. C (-4 to 140 deg. F), the company says.
The device is available with a choice of two Via processors, either the 1GHz
Via C7, or the 500MHz
Eden ULV. Both are supported by Via's
VX700, a core-logic chip that integrates the company's VN800 northbridge and VT8237 southbridge functionality.
According to Via, the AMOS-3000 accepts up to 1GB of DDR2 memory via a single SODIMM slot. Meanwhile, mass storage is courtesy of a 44-pin IDE interface, ready to accept a DOM (disk on module) flash drive. There isn't room inside the box for a 2.5-inch hard disk drive, but one may be added via an optional "storage sub-system expansion chassis," the company says.
Via's AMOS-3000
(Click either image to enlarge)As the photos above show, the AMOS-3000 sports VGA and DVI-D video outputs, a serial port, GPIO, gigabit Ethernet, four USB ports, and audio I/O. The device accepts 12VDC input power directly using the two terminals pictured, Via adds.
Features and specifications listed by Via for the AMOS-3000 include:
- Processor -- 1GHz Via C7 or 500MHz Via Eden ULV
- Memory -- Up to 1GB of DDR2 RAM via single SODIMM slot
- Storage -- DOM (disk on module), or 2.5-inch hard disk drive via external chassis
- Networking -- Gigabit Ethernet
- Other I/O:
- 1 x serial
- GPIO
- 4 x USB
- 1 x VGA
- 1 x DVI-D
- Audio line out, mic and line in
- Dimensions -- 5.3 x 5.15 x 1.77 inches (135 x 131 x 45mm)
- Weight -- n/s
- Power consumption -- n/s
- Operating temperature -- -20 to 60 deg. C (-4 to 140 deg. F)
The Epia P700The Epia P700 used in the AMOS-3000 was the third motherboard to ship using Via's tiny 3.9 x 2.8 inch pico-ITX format, following the initial
PX10000G and
PX5000EG. Compared to these earlier boards, the P700 added gigabit Ethernet, plus an integrated power adapter that lets it accept 12VDC power directly, and even power 5V SATA drives, without an external power daughterboard.
The P700, sans daughterboards
(Click to enlarge)The P700 also sprouted "wings," in the form of bundled "companion boards" that fit atop the linear pin headers located at the top and bottom of the main board, as seen above. The P700-A (below left) provides an RJ45 connector for Gigabit Ethernet, a VGA port, and a COM port, while the P-700B (below right) sports four USB ports and three audio jacks.
The P700-A (l) and P700-B (r) daughterboards
(Click to enlarge)Via's new AMOS-3000 appears not to use the identical daughterboards -- the complete box PC adds a DVI-D video output, for one thing -- but does leverage the P700's underlying modularity. And, while Via did not cite operating system support for the AMOS-3000, the P700 was said to be compatible with Windows CE, Windows XP Embedded, and Linux, all of which presumably carries over to the company's little box PC.
AvailabilityVia did not release pricing or availability for the AMOS-3000, but said the system will be on display next week at the
Embedded World 2009 conference in Nuremberg, Germany. The company will be located in Hall 12, booth #350.
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