Via is sampling a mini-ITX motherboard for x86-based consumer devices. The Epia EX board runs Linux, is powered by a 1-1.5GHz C7 processor, and combines standard PC I/O with consumer electronics I/O such as composite, component, and S-Video, S/PDIF audio, and LVDS and DVI display interfaces.

(Click for larger view of Epia EX)

Traditionally, Via's “Epia” boards have been available direct to consumers, suggesting that the Epia EX boards could prove popular with DVR (digital video recorder) hobbyists and other mini-ITX enthusiasts, if widely distributed. The board does appear to be slated for “limited” distribution through Via's retail channel, beginning sometime this month.

Via currently appears to be shipping an Epia EX “starter kit” aimed at OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and consumer device designers. The kit includes a version of the Epia EX board based on a 1.5GHz C7 processor. The Epia EX board is also expected to ship in a passively cooled version featuring a 1GHz processor.

Epia EX back-panel I/O
(Click for larger view with labels)
Via says the Epia EX's extensive array of consumer and PC I/O reduces the need for add-in cards and compatibility testing. Consumer I/O includes ports for composite, component, and S-Video, S/PDIF audio, and onboard connectors for LVDS and DVI displays. Standard PC I/O includes USB 2.0 and IEEE-1394 peripheral connectivity, SATA II RAID, and 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet with optional gigabit Ethernet.

The Epia EX board is the first Via mini-ITX board to use the company's CX700M2 integrated northbridge/southbridge. The CX700M2 appears to be the latest in Via's CX700 line, introduced last April, and augmented in September with the launch of the CX700M, presumably the CX700M2's direct predecessor. The CX700M2 features built-in hardware decoders for popular multimedia formats, and supports Via's external, ASIC-based encoders for standard high-definition television formats.

The Epia EX board additionally integrates a hardware HDTV encoder based on a Via ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) with “Advance ProScale” technology. The encoder is said to be capable of scaling input resolutions from VGA to XGA (640×480 to 1024×768) to standard HDTV formats, including 720p and 1080i.

The Epia EX board supports up to 1GB of DDR2 400/533MHz memory.

Availability

The Epia EX-series motherboard is “available now for developers,” Via says, with sample quantities also available through authorized distributors in late January. Via will demo the board at the “[email protected]'s” press event at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week.

Other recent arrivals in Via's Epia line of consumer mini-ITX boards include the high-performance Epia EN and the low-powered Epia CN.

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