Habey USA announced a compact, Mini-ITX-based signage PC based on a dual-core 1.8GHz Intel Atom D525 processor. The EPC-6563 offers up to 4GB DDR3 RAM, dual SATA bays, dual mini-PCI Express slots, plus gigabit Ethernet, USB, and HDMI connectivity, and is available on Amazon.com starting for just $200.

Habey's EPC-6563 is touted as a digital signage media player, but is also applicable to audio server, thin client, and vending machine applications, says the company. The computer is almost identical to the EPC-6568 released in November, except for two important changes.

On the minus side, Habey has removed the Nvidia Ion 2 GPU (graphics processing unit). As a consolation prize, the company has replaced the dual-core, 1.66GHz Intel Atom D510 with a dual-core, 1.8GHz Atom D525.

Although the D525 uses the same Pineview architecture and onboard graphics as the D510 — with considerably less graphics oomph than you would get from the Ion 2 — the extra clock rate should help compensate. Even better, the computer is available for $60 less at a slim $200.

Habey's EPC-6563

Both computers are based on a previously released mini-ITX board called the MITX-6564. In our October coverage of that product, we noted that Habey was already offering three embedded computers based on it, but the new EPC-6568 and similarly sized EPC-6563, measuring just 8.85 x 7.87 x 2.16 inches, appear to be the smallest variant yet.

Since then, Habey has also released a 1U, barebone server computer for $260, based on the same board, called the EPC-6566.

Aside from the processor switches and the price, the EPC-6563 appears to be identical to the EPC-6568. Supplied in a barebones configuration, the EPC-6563 accepts up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM via two SODIMM slots, according to Habey. The device also has two Mini PCI Express slots, and room for two 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drives.

EPC-6563 rear panel

The EPC-6563's interfaces, pictured above, all derive directly from the coastline of the MITX-6564. From left to right, they include an HDMI port, a VGA port, an S/PDIF optical digital output, two USB 2.0 ports, a gigabit Ethernet port, a headphone output, and a microphone input. Operating system support for the PC includes Linux, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Embedded Standard, and Windows Vista, Habey says.

For more details, see the spec list below, as well as our previous EPC-6568 coverage

Features and specifications listed by Habey for the EPC-6563 include:

• Processor — Intel Atom D525 clocked at 1.8GHz
• Chipset — Intel NM10
• Memory — Up to 4GB DDR2 via 2 x SODIMM slots
• Storage — 2 x bays for 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drives
• Expansion — 2 x Mini PCI Express slots
• Networking — 1 x gigabit Ethernet port
• Other I/O:
  • 2 x USB 2.0
  • 4 x internal USB 2.0
  • 1 x COM (internal) via pin header
  • VGA
  • HDMI
  • audio — mic in and headphone out
• Power — 12V DC via external AC adapter
• Operating temperature — 14 to 122 deg. F (-10 to 50 deg. C)
• Dimensions — 8.85 x 7.87 x 2.16 inches

Further information

The Habey EPC-6568 is available now starting at $200 at Amazon.com. More information may be found at Habey's EPC-6563 page.

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